The words struck a chord with Gretchen. As the orphaned middle child of a less-distinguished middle child she was used to being overlooked, and without the patronage of an influential family member (Kris had uncle Lucius, Tatiana had aunt Mariana and what did she have? Nephele as a guiding hand) she couldn’t see her lot changing unless she changed it herself.

“Blindness and stupidity do tend to go hand in hand.”

Her eyes pierced into Waterford’s face, unsure what she was going to demand, because surely it would be a waste not to demand something to keep her silence? Of course she could bide her time…an unspecified favour somewhere further down the line was surely more valuable than anything Waterford had this very moment?

“I won’t say anything,” she said coolly, the unspoken yet hovering between them. “Lock the door next time.”

---

Bee is tremendous, isn't she?