Belle scooped up the cards, studied them for a moment.  A moment that lasted longer than casual study should have.  She slid her feet out of her seat to the floor, leaned forward and picked up the deck of cards, returning the two she held to the pile, and shuffled it.  Then she  casually spread random cards out before her, and shuffled it again.<br/><br/>"My apologies, your grace."<em>Paydirt.</em>"I simply don't move in such circles that are directly concerned with your troubles."  Her tone of voice, her attitude had changed very subtly, she was turning her head slightly from side to side, noting who was near, and who might be listening.  In a rather coquettish way of course, brushing her hair back, rolling her shoulders slightly to move her bosom beneath her loose clothing. A  dancer/prostitute making a play for a high roller, not an on the alert spy whose next misstep would get her drowned in a tavern rain barrel.  If she was lucky.<br/><br/>"It occurs to me that your present service limits your advancement to your rightful place."<em>And here we go, because no dancer talks like that.</em>"I can possibly help with that.  If you will let me."