"That's not you, Hester, is it?"
Squinting against the light, it appeared to Mr. Frey now that the unexpected child was not one he was familiar with. Not one of the servants' brats and not his sister, although this one was about the same height; mother would never allow Hester to be so grubby.
His head was throbbing something fierce and he leaned against the doorframe to support himself.
"You're one to talk. When's the last time you were washed behind your ears, hm? Probably never," Victor snapped back.
"I like my filth here just how it is, thank you very much."

He pulled the blanket around his shoulders tighter to his body and stalked across the room towards the girl, disturbing several empty bottles as he went.
Glowering at her, he snatched back his wand.
"How did you get here, anyway? I thought I made sure the fireplace was incapacitated."
He went to kneel down before it unsteadily and started poking around the old ashes with his wand.

"You find yourself in Norfolk," he informed her.
"In my refuge of solitude, or what used to be."
He sighed.

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