“Mal, can I have a word?”

Mal turned from where he was inspecting the weather with Mr Boden at the back door, to see Dillon in the kitchen. “Sure. Long as it’s only one.”

“How does Freya put up with you?” Dillon asked, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

“Must be my love-making skills.”

Mr Boden coughed politely. “I think I’ll go check on the generator, make sure there is no incursion of water. Unless you gentlemen require anything?”

“Nope,” Mal said, smiling slightly. “But I kinda like being called a gentleman.”

Mr Boden inclined his head and moved out into the rain.

“Whatever Freya sees in you, it isn’t your tact. Or breath-taking wit,” Dillon observed. “You scared him off.”

“I’m pretty enough to make up for it.”

“You keep telling yourself that.” Dillon grinned.

“That it? You just came to insult me?”

“As much fun as that is, no. I was actually wondering if you’d be going anywhere near Persephone. I overheard you saying you’d be leaving soon.”

“As it happens that’s probably our first port of call. But ain’t you already got a lift?”

“Alex and Ellen are heading back, probably this afternoon, but I think they’d like a little alone time.”

“I know the feeling.”

Dillon ignored the interruption. “So me and Breed wondered if we could come with you? There’s no ship leaving Lazarus that’s going anywhere near the Core for at least a month. We’d pay our way, of course, and while I wouldn’t mind some of that alone time with Breed myself, from what I heard of Phoebe and Rosemary’s plans …”

“That bad?”

“Even a sly feller like myself might not be safe.”

Mal laughed. “As much as I’d like to pass on that little trifle to ‘Nara, I conjure it’s better out of sight, out of mind. And we’ve got the space, since I presume you’ll be bunking up together.”

“We will. As long as you don’t think we’ll be corrupting minors.”

“I’m not so sure about Jayne, but I reckon the kids know about you and Breed. It ain’t like it’s the first time you’ve been on board.”

“Yes