Christabel's eyes narrowed, but this time in something like amusement, or at least amused exasperation. 'As I've already said Mister Daphnel, intelligent and humorous gentlemen are few and far between, too few to give the cut direct to the few that I encounter' she stated with an arch expression, and her voice dropped to ensure only he heard, 'and you didn't let me burn to death, so that gives you an extra point'

'but you are not yet entirely back in my good graces, she warned, 'I just feel much less like I might hex you - and I realised it would be pointless as you'd manage the consequences yourself' her words were full of threats and bluster but the tone was amused in spite of herself.

Her own defensiveness aside, having to think too much about why she had failed to secure a mate was disquieting. It was easy to blame Porphyria, and her choices, but the fact was that by the time she had gotten over him, and realized she would never reconnect with the gent again, her reputation was already set. Her voice dropped to ensure that only he might hear 'In future, if you wish to discuss such topics with a lady do it either in private or with some delicacy - outright and in public I would not recommend , the next lady you ask might turn you over to her brother for hexing.' She didn't explain to him why she hadn't summoned one of her brothers to defend her honour, mostly because she didn't think either would.

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