Her eyes narrowed when he mentioned his mothers disdain, but Adrestia tried hard to bite her tongue. It irked her immensely that his family didn’t appreciate what they had in him. His one mistake in boyhood shouldn’t still haunt him as an adult. Her father had seen the talent in the boy, and Adrestia at least could see the value in the man – more than just to the execution of her plan. There were a dozen things she could say, things she could snap out about his family, specifically his mother, but she angrily bit the inside of her mouth, her lip set in a hard line.

She settled for drawing her legs up onto the sofa, and extending a hand to rest indolently on his shoulder. Her head resting on her own shoulder, as though if she had been closer she might have laid it on his in a half hug. It was a small gesture, hardly an outpouring of emotion, but as much as she could manage, as much as she allowed herself, but it was meant to convey that she was team Peter, and that his mothers disdain was misplaced.

’I’m glad she appreciates the society you’ve elevated her to’ she noted – it was tactful, but barbed, it was the least she could do to control herself in public, since if it wasn’t for Peters talents she wouldn’t have access to the lifestyle she now did. The hypocrisy just about gagged her.

---