She most certainly did not think poorly of him – not at the moment anyway – and it was on the tip of Gretchen’s tongue to say so when she stopped herself. Would it be too forward to say such a thing? He didn’t seem too concerned with propriety, which was part of the reason she liked him in the first place, but if she knew anything at all it was that young men could get away with far more than girls.

It made Waterford’s strange life seem quite understandable really.

“Well, at least I didn’t do that I suppose,” she said gratefully. She was not the fainting type by any stretch of the imagination, but she had also never apparated directly in front of a man she wanted to kiss her so there was a first time for everything. Perhaps he would have swept in to catch her? He hadn’t caught Jemima but he hadn’t kissed her…or at least Gretchen sincerely hoped he had not!

“I think I could stand to improve my aim though," she added with a twisting smile as she glanced up at him through her lashes.

---

Bee is tremendous, isn't she?