Oh good Lord what had Percy just gotten himself into? It was clear that Lissy hadn’t actually been thinking of a ball until the word was out of his mouth and she was almost bouncing in her seat. If he hadn’t been doomed to start with he certainly was now.

“Even more people?” Percy echoed weakly. Merlin’s beard he was in for it now.

“Or perhaps you could host a ball and drop my birthday from the equation?” Like she was going to take that bait, but he had to try somehow. “Face it Lissy, I’m not exactly sought after. You’d have better attendance without my name marring it.”