Each second that ticked by with Bellona the only one seated at the small table caused tension to rise in her bones, blood, and mind. Though she did her best to stamp it down—firmly—the idea that the others had simply forgotten to tell her that plans had changed, that she was being stood up, kept recurring. And so, for once in their tumultuous friendship, it was with actual relief that she saw Antigone Lestrange approach—though her face, a careful mask of boredom and nonchalance, did not betray this relief in the slightest.

"Antigone!" she greeted her friend with the appropriate level of false enthusiasm. "It really has been too long—I had thought I might see you on Mrs. Abercrombie's little excursion, and when you weren't at the dinner table I wondered if you weren't one of the poor women to have gone astray—but of course, my fears on that score were swiftly put to rest!"

In truth, the only married member of their trio had missed a great number of events, though Bellona did not like to give her an opportunity to tout the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood, especially not given how naturally smugness came to Antigone's lips.