Ben was not at all sure that his family was happy about his return. Much as he might deny it, Ben would always be suspicious that Aldous had been looking for a reason to get him out of the way during Roman's Ministerial campaign, and that the whole ordeal with Melody Finch had just been the most convenient excuse. Either way, though, he didn't feel much like talking about his family to her — but he felt even less like letting her leave. Strange, wasn't it? He didn't know that he really had anything to say, but he didn't want to dismiss her so soon.

"All?" he asked incredulously. Nothing good was going to come of this line of questioning, he could tell already, but it was what had come to his lips and it was the only thing he could think to say at the moment. "Home from Canada and that's all? It's been two years — or maybe you've been too busy enjoying yourself in the season and hadn't noticed, with the time just flying by?"