That slight smile meant that his show of being unaffected had paid off, and Ford felt a slight jog of satisfaction at that. He didn't necessarily enjoy putting on a facade, but he did enjoy feeling as though he'd managed to get someone to like him, through whatever means that was. Not that he would pin too much hope on half a smile, but it was a start.

"Four," he answered, taking a drink of his wine. "Three sisters, one brother. And —" here he nearly said Mama out of habit, but at the last moment wondered if that might betray his charade of distance. "— my mother," he concluded instead, which was safer. "My youngest sister is just finishing Hogwarts, and the older two will be out this season. Now that we're finished mourning," he explained lightly. This was the sort of detail he expected Verity or Mama would have wanted him to work into the conversation sooner or later, and he was feeling rather proud of himself for having done it so seamlessly. He'd only been sitting here two minutes, but Macnair at least didn't dislike him yet and now he knew he had eligible sisters. He was doing exceptionally well at the whole being responsible for their futures bit (at least when it came to the girls); maybe if this continued to go well, Verity would forgive him for yesterday's dinner party. And Noble... might forgive him sooner or later. He hoped.