[ Hold please. There's a brief period of almost silence, broken only by what could be difficulty breathing, if only on the scale of a cold, and a snort.

Francis is snickering. And his voice is still high from the laughter when he finally manages to find enough air to speak. ]

My dear Count! [ A sigh. ] Come now. Men such as ourselves know better than to take gossip at face value. We both went up for the same job, certainly, but we ran a short, clean campaign and when I was elected, the rivalry was ended.

Certainly on my part, and I dare say, not that I wish to speak for her, that Raina doesn't give me a lot of thought, when she has her own ready made rival from her own world, Daisy.

[ Just giving that tidbit to you, Dooku, for giving him the laugh. ] Nothing like a good old fashioned cat fight, dear fellow.

[ He's now a little wistful. ] It's a pity, really, if she could get over the fact that we're not all obsessed with having dramatic relationships and some of us want to get on with our business, she would make for a... decent rival. She has the potential mind for it.

[ C'est la vie. ] Sufficed to say, if she's not on the council, it's not because of my 'ire'.