Status Updates From Heritage of Shadows

"Ah, well. Let's enjoy today."

"Toby, you must let me share the expense," I said. "I shall be very happy to, and I can afford it because I'm really quite well paid."
"Fine," he said. "I'll take it out of the sitter's money I owe you."
"I don't want sitter's money; you know that."
"It's your birthday, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then just shut up, you daft girl."
"All right. And thank you. Are your paintings still selling, Toby?"

Don't be such a little fool, Hannah McLeod," I muttered to myself. "What did Toby Kent say, and wasn't it true? If you get kicked by a horse in Paris, there's no sense in blaming France."