"If Professor Shacklebolt is as wonderful as you say," Balt answered, "I should be foolish indeed to even attempt to forbid it."

Not that he truly expected forbidding would do much good even if he were inclined. After all, Ruby was his daughter, and once certain of the rightness of a thing, was highly unlikely to abandon it.

"I confess, I am glad to hear it won't stop you from enjoying the trappings of the Season should you choose, even though the life of a debutante is not, pardon the pun, in the cards for you. I think, though, it best that I meet your professor—just to soothe any lingering, paternal concerns," he added with a wink of conspiracy.

Balthazar Urquart had never wanted anything but happiness for his children, even if such a thing did not look for them as it did for him. He knew that Topaz's circumstances had closed, locked, and downright vanished certain doors for them, and so while he might still hold minor misgivings, he was relieved and gratified that Ruby had found a path to walk that called to her so.