I have to go out," she said, her words oddly curt and abrupt. "There‟s something...

I have to go out," she said, her words oddly curt and abrupt. "There‟s something I need to do."
"At half eight in the morning?"
"I‟ll be back soon," she said, hurrying toward the door. "Don‟t go anywhere."
"Well, damn," he tried to joke, "there go my plans to visit the King.