It was his turn for confessions it seemed, and the tone with which he spoke told her he was no more thrilled with a cynical mate hunt than she was. Although given that most of the dreadful company consisted of spouses, and in some scandalous cases mistresses she wasn't sure how much luck he would have here. Maddie had been brought only because Georgi was too vain to go alone, but there were few single women here, at least few who were not otherwise tied to the gentlemen present. The rowdy crowd was more of a gentlemans club than an academic social circle, even the refreshments had not been catered with women in mind- whiskey and rum rather than wines or lighter spirits.

'Well then you have my sympathise with that Mister Fisk', she said with a rueful laugh, 'You might wish Antonia had finished you off, she might have been kinder than some of the mothers of
England.' For the first time in her life, she wished she had a drink in her hands, then at least she might have something to do with her hands, at the moment they were conspicuously idle and she was trying to avoid fidgeting, as she was prone to do when nervous. There were a myriad of questions crowding her brain, if he hadn't desired to continue their aqaintance, which she presumed was why he had ignored her letter, then why approach her here. He could have ignored her and she likely would never have known he was at the party.


'And pleased as I am that you remembered my name, you will find me 'Backus' in England rather than Kozlova' she explained a little sheepishly, part of her didn't really want to tell him that, it was nice not being the scorn of Witch Weekly with everyone she met, but it would do no good to hide it, he would likely know soon enough. There was nothing to be done about that.

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