Benevolence beamed delighted at her friends response. ’perhaps you can be the face of the brand’ she gave a little hand flourish as though showing off an imaginary bracelet at her wrist. Pleased with how her little gift had gone down, she settled onto the sofa with her cup to hear the tea! ’Of course that Ben!’ she said, she didn’t know Reuben Crouch personally, only by reputation.

It wasn’t a good reputation, per sey – he was a rounder, a cad but a handsome and charming one. She understood why her friend liked him, all of the above not withstanding – he represented a sort of roguish freedom that Melody didn’t seem to think she would ever have. Girls of their rank and station were seldom so lucky. She was a rare exception – her parents early deaths left her with a business which meant financial freedom -she didn’t need to marry, there was no father to arrange a match for her. She had loved her father, but he was an old school pureblood – if he had lived chances are Benevolence would be married, or at least engaged by now. She feared that her fathers talk to Melody’s father might have given him the idea of making arrangements for Melody

’What has your Ben done now?’ she took a sip of her tea, ’Or not done, should I say…’