"Facts and certainties do seem to be in short supply," she agreed, making a face. "Unfortunately enough, most people consider hope to be a first resort, even though it's so . . . " She wrinkled her nose. "Unrealistic."

She was acting a bit more cynical than she actually was, but she had no real desire to talk about all the inspiring people she'd met in recent years and how they'd given her hope, just a touch of it, for what that was worth. It was no more likely that she'd tell him that than that she'd tell Polly that she was actually very clever, or that she'd let blood touch her lips again. Cynicism looked better on her than optimism anyway.