"You could never bore me," Juliana said, and although she did not really intend it as a compliment at the moment, the sentiment beneath it was not quite so vitriolic as it might have been. She did think Jupiter Smith was an interesting person, and had been quite delighted to get to know her over the past summer. Being inherently interesting could only get her so far, though, and Juliana's patience did not extend to cover her brother's heartbreak.

"What sorts of errands? I could use a few things myself," she continued; this was a lie, but Miss Smith didn't need to know that.