`` what do you think happened on that dance floor ? her body responded as it had done so many times previously . `` i do love your son , '' i said simply . the king moved to his desk , his hand hovering above a whip . then he caught a whiff of her blood . if she were guilty , she was doing a good job of hiding it . ned remembered the way the dog used to nudge his hand with his nose when he wanted to be petted-reminding ned he was there , ready for anything . 