Ginny was right, of course — they had to be on her side. Not just because young ladies should stick together, but because she was a well-off soul risking her reputation for adventure. The unraveling tale was both romantical and tragic.

But Eloquence still felt rather sorry for the man. She wanted to know his story too. But then Ginny reminded her that the lady he was after had a brother on death's door, and Loq frowned that the man's motives could be so foul. Could was the operative word, though. They were only speculating, after all, and Rommy's utterance of devil's advocacy was not without merit...

Then came the slap. The silence. And the departure. Loq tore her gaze away to exchange alarmed glances with her friends, then joined the lingering silence following the couple's departure. Slowly, the silence was broken by a few tuts and titters, and then the noise levels in the tea room returned to normal (if not slightly higher).

"No matter the full story, he deserved that", Eloquence decided, slicing the small sponge cake in front of them and serving her friends. "He should not have grabbed her." The idea of a man lunging for her like that made her stomach jolt. "But I also think you're right, Rommy. If there was anything at the heart of that match, it was most evidently passion".