Bella had absolutely no knowledge of same-sex couples, nor had she ever pondered on the possibility, so she was left giving her cousin an odd look — what could possibly be so scandalous? — before blinking dismissively and moving on with the conversation. Not that Lucy gushing over the possibility of her boss as a suitor was any less scandalous than whatever Lucy had been going on about beforehand; on top of Mr. Langley being her boss, he was also below the Scrimgeour family on the social ladder. To marry him would be to see herself disowned, and though she expected that to happen at some point, Mr. Langley was the last person she thought would prompt it.

"No, Lucy. Not happening. Besides, I have reason to believe he's seeing another young lady!" There. If that wasn't enough to supply Lucy with her daily dose of gossip, then she didn't know what would. Though, from the tone she'd spoken in, Lucy might realize she was trying to deflect her prodding and then she'd be screwed.