If she hadn’t already been suitably chagrined, Mrs. Thomasina Dempsey walking in had made her colour rise and her hands go clammy all over again. Jemima only knew her from a distance, but Mrs. Dempsey had been a terrifying figure in society even before her husband had become the Minister. She seemed too clever and too confident, the sort of person who would see cleanly through a lie.
So just as soon as she gathered her wits Jemima had been going to offer up the events as they had occurred, in a perhaps-desperate bid for sympathy, only – her eyes widened at him in newfound horror – he (...Mr. Greengrass, her brain would only later be able to supply) had changed the story. What was he talking about?!
Jemima opened her mouth to protest, but was forced to swallow her words. She had been going to confess to her fit of nerves, which was embarrassing enough even before him being here – but now if she made a different excuse it would only sound worse, as though she were lying. But her dress wasn’t broken! He hadn’t even been here! Couldn’t he just tell her he’d snuck out somewhere and come back in at the wrong time through the Floo? And now Mrs. Dempsey thought he had had anything to do with her undressing?!
“No, no, he didn’t – he was helping,” she said fretfully, slightly hysterical at having to have a conversation still not fully dressed. “He...” He had thrown her off with his line; silently, she implored him to back her up.
So just as soon as she gathered her wits Jemima had been going to offer up the events as they had occurred, in a perhaps-desperate bid for sympathy, only – her eyes widened at him in newfound horror – he (...Mr. Greengrass, her brain would only later be able to supply) had changed the story. What was he talking about?!
Jemima opened her mouth to protest, but was forced to swallow her words. She had been going to confess to her fit of nerves, which was embarrassing enough even before him being here – but now if she made a different excuse it would only sound worse, as though she were lying. But her dress wasn’t broken! He hadn’t even been here! Couldn’t he just tell her he’d snuck out somewhere and come back in at the wrong time through the Floo? And now Mrs. Dempsey thought he had had anything to do with her undressing?!
“No, no, he didn’t – he was helping,” she said fretfully, slightly hysterical at having to have a conversation still not fully dressed. “He...” He had thrown her off with his line; silently, she implored him to back her up.
