"Too kind of you by far," Bellona insisted graciously, doubting very much that she would find herself anywhere near Tatiana Lestrange's wedding—and if she did, the witch hoped, it would only be after securing a match to call her own.

"But really, my dear, to the matter at hand—must we really wait for Angeline? I find my curiosity quite engaged," she steered the conversation (she hoped, deftly) away from her marital shortcomings.