The day had already been long, and the sun wasn't even clear of the hedge on the nearest hill yet. Lycoris was probably right that he ought to eat, but the alternative — neglecting to do so and then having hunger-driven dissociative bouts throughout the course of the trial's close — was somewhat enticing. Anything that gave him an excuse not to be paying attention. Not that it would get him out of anything very long. If their roles had been reversed he could have swooned to get himself out of the day if things got too oppressive, but men didn't have the leisure.

The thing was that no matter which way the verdict went, today was going to be exhausting. If the Spaans won then he would have to face his parents' disappointment this evening, and probably sit around while they dissected every bit of the trial with the solicitor. Would they want to keep trying? His mother wasn't the sort to give up on something she wanted.

If they won then he would have to face the girl this evening. That was worse, of course. His parents would move on eventually, stop talking about it and let him back to his old ways. If the girl came to live here then she would be here, forever. Or at least until she ran away.

"I know," he admitted. He paused to light his cigarette and gave a too-large shrug. "I'm not much hungry, at the moment."

---