Instinctively, she curled her hands into fists at her sides. Raleigh was correct, in one sense. Certain Alastrians did share a very, very secret handshake. The kind that was best left to privacy and romance.

But the truth was looming in front of her.

No one in Deerington cared. No one in Trench seemed to either.

What was the point in lying?

"No," she said, shaking her head. "It's just that..." She made a vague gesture up and down the front of her body, "...this isn't what I really look like."