[She regards him over her fingernails. Her brown eyes lose their humor, and pin Miles with great interest. If there's any good start, it's through the Vorkosigans.]

Dear old Pierre's last attempt at wooing has fallen through, as I'm certain you've heard. We've been talking about him naming an official successor, of course, the Counsel vote on the matter is particularly routine.

Except as of our last conversation, and a dearth of reputability in the immediate line, that successor is me.