<blockquote>Damen steals Nikandros' thunder.
"I’m going to ride home tomorrow and begin preparations to ask for her hand,” Nikandros says, and Laurent smiles wider and says, “Oh, wonderful,” as Damen leaps to his feet with a thundering crash of chair against flagstone.
“Nikandros!” he shouts, papers flying, arms wide, “This— amazing! She sounds amazing! Congratulations!”</blockquote>
