He had been about to return her joke, but the expression vanished almost immediately and Murdocks stomach dropped at her pronouncement and the forlorn expression evident on her features at the thought of being part of some scheme, that she was somehow being mocked or derided. He hadn’t even been aware that he had pulled away -well he was, but he wasn’t sure she had noticed that he was leaning in. He had presumed she had already realised, as he had what his sister was attempting here, but it appeared that the Sister In Law gave his sister the benefit of more doubt than an older brother did.

Murdock raised his hands in supplication, ’No, please Miss Allaway do not misunderstand me,’ he started, struggling for the words to explain. ’If you are a victim, it is only of my sisters attempts to draw out her sullen brother’ he explained, ’I believe she meant for us to…’ he explained, ’to spend time together’ he finished. Supremely uncomfortable at the thought of this poor woman being forced into his company. He wondered what lie Isobel had told to get her here. Murdock straightened self consciously – he was out of practice at this! It had been years since he had been last called upon to speak this way; expressing himself to any woman about anything other than his refusal to buy her another doll was a rusty skill indeed.

He procured his wand from his frock coats pocket and flicked it, a muffling charm casting around them. He was sure neither of them wanted WW reporting the contents of their conversation. He scrubbed his face with his hands. ’No one could consider you unfeeling Miss Allaway’ he answered honestly and with as much sentiment in his voice as his brogue could express. ’I believe this is, what the gossip columns would call…a set up.’ he finished sheepishly.

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