The interruption saw Victor sitting up straighter. He followed Miss Dempsey to his feet, though he (hopefully) managed to look a little less caught in the act than she had. True, he wouldn't have chosen to sit there had her mother already been present in the room, but it wasn't as though they'd been doing anything wrong. Today, anyway.

"Mrs. Dempsey, a pleasure to meet you," he said, deciding to forge ahead with an greeting though she had not bothered to address him yet. "Your daughter has been an irreproachable host."

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