Edwin was only just waking when Charles returned, which was probably for the best as he would most certainly have jumped to the wrong conclusion if he woke to find Charles gone.

As it was, however, he just smiled at Charles' return, stretching, wincing briefly as it tweaked his shoulder, settling again almost immediately, kneading at it even as he greeted: "Already off and about with errands at this hour?"

Not that it was all that early any more, but the statement wasn't a jab at all, if anything it was warmly amused, as was the follow-up: "You've really taken to this like a fish to water, as the saying goes."