Though he had been the one to ask the question, Fitz could not help but wrinkle his nose slightly—he did not like to think of Desdemona Pettigrew in a sexual capacity.

"My sisters were as well," Fitz returned, "unless they pulled off some sort of marvelous coup without our mother knowing—an unlikely accomplishment. Indeed, although one does seem to know when young ladies shed their virtue in advance of exchanging rings, it does not generally seem to be something they are eager to do."

Even still today, Fitz had himself prised little more than kisses from women of a certain background, but Miss Gallivan's eagerness had him off balance.