"I would not want to seem rude, madame, so I will meet the Peony when she is ready to converse.  I will gladly take a tour of this lovely city.  I will also give my sister and the Grand Minister a call regarding the offer of an embassy."

He stooped down to pick up his suitcase, but not before coughing politely into his hand.

"A-and please..." he said with a slight blush, "Just call me Septimus.  I was... never comfortable with titles.  It always made people regard me as inherently better than them, which I disagree with."