Dear Prudence,
I recently joked that I was sadder about Natalie Dormer leaving Game of Thrones than about Anne Boleyn being beheaded (because Dormer also played that character on a different show). My co-worker Lucy, who’s generally OK but has a serious streak, said that Anne Boleyn’s beheading was more sad to her because she was “essentially murdered by her husband for not producing a son.” I wanted to lighten the mood and joked, “Thank goodness that doesn’t happen anymore.” Lucy shrugged and left the room, and it later occurred to me that she might have taken me seriously. I know I was being dense, but Lucy is a supervisor (albeit not mine) and I’m worried about this getting back to my boss (who can also be a serious woman). What should I do to smooth this over?
—Bad Joker