He was just going to up and leave her to the wolves? (The lone wolf. Mrs. Dempsey and her expectant looks.) Jemima could not entirely blame him for this – obviously he had not known what he was arriving into, any more than she had expected to have to explain herself to anyone – but she felt a little bit abandoned, all the same. (Everyone would think far worse of her than they would of him, if anyone did mistakenly think something untoward had happened!)
At least she could cling to the knowledge that she had done nothing wrong. (Foolish, maybe, in hiding in here; but nothing unforgivable, she hoped.) All she needed was for Mrs. Dempsey to believe her.
“It was too warm, and I couldn’t think and I couldn’t breathe – my – my corset was too tight,” she mumbled, aware it sounded like a childish, plaintive complaint. “I meant to find the retiring room,” she added hastily, “but I got lost, and – then Mr., Mr. Greengrass came through the Floo?” There was a spark of hope in her eyes now, as she looked to him; surely he would have a better alibi than her, wherever he had been!
At least she could cling to the knowledge that she had done nothing wrong. (Foolish, maybe, in hiding in here; but nothing unforgivable, she hoped.) All she needed was for Mrs. Dempsey to believe her.
“It was too warm, and I couldn’t think and I couldn’t breathe – my – my corset was too tight,” she mumbled, aware it sounded like a childish, plaintive complaint. “I meant to find the retiring room,” she added hastily, “but I got lost, and – then Mr., Mr. Greengrass came through the Floo?” There was a spark of hope in her eyes now, as she looked to him; surely he would have a better alibi than her, wherever he had been!
