Yes, Ford was sure that Verity would appreciate a ball in her honor, or maybe one every week until she was married, but it wasn't really a matter of what Verity would appreciate. Ford would have preferred to be the sort of doting older brother who never denied anyone anything. Of course he would have. Ford wasn't sure that he really would have felt up to being the head of the family even if they had money, but compared to this it would have been so much easier.

Before he could respond to her first comment Grace moved towards him. Ford noticed with enough warning that he had time to set his water glass down on the little side table nearby, so that when she wrapped her arms around his middle he could return the embrace. It had been a while since she'd approached him like this, but he fell into the same posture he always had like it was muscle memory, putting one hand between her shoulder blades and the other on the back of her head and hugging her to his chest. Oh, Grace, he thought as he held her and listened to her talk about introductions.

"I couldn't make Mama do anything if I tried," he said a little wryly. "But the introductions won't be so bad. You'll already know some of the people who come," he pointed out. He thought to list off some examples, but the first two that came to mind were Lestrange (maybe not the best suggestion, given the association with the disaster at the dinner party) and the Crouches, who were cousins and almost didn't really count.

"You know," he added after a second, "I'm sure Verity would appreciate a ball in her honor, and if she likes once she's married she can throw one every day." So far his tone had been fairly light, but he softened it considerably as he continued, "But you deserve things, too."