The clerk is just friendly enough to set Ben's teeth on edge, but he exchanges small talk nonetheless, saying the right things in the right places; the clerk will probably prove invaluable for information over the next day or so.

He procures a room upstairs for them -- the bridal suite, the only one currently available, and Ben swallows his bemusement.

"So this is the bridal suite? Now, I wonder how many brides've taken in this view?"

(He'll have to remember to tell Dan.)

Turning to Kate, he offers an elbow.