A scandal in the family had her fleeing back to her parents' house, where they were all trying to navigate the new world where Elsie was apparently reckless enough to be pregnant. (There was no other explanation in Lucinda's mind — courting couples didn't just elope unless they had a very good reason to, and she hadn't been born yesterday.)
The trouble with fleeing to her parents' house was that there was only so much of her mother she could handle, and she only allowed Sebastian a few minutes to himself before she headed outside and took a seat on the step next to him, slouching. In the news of the afternoon Lucinda had reverted to her most casual habits; slouchy posture, loud sighs, all the things she tried to contain when she was operating in professional or upper class society.
Lucinda made an impatient gesture for Sebastian's cigarette and ignored his swear. "Did you know about this?" she asked — her tone was sharp, but not so much as to be actively hostile. She had known it was a risk — although honestly she'd thought that things tapered out until Kirke and Elsie had started courting — but Sebastian and Elsie were close. He might have known they were being risky — although if he had, Lucinda would be obligated to strangle him, and that would certainly be a drag.
The trouble with fleeing to her parents' house was that there was only so much of her mother she could handle, and she only allowed Sebastian a few minutes to himself before she headed outside and took a seat on the step next to him, slouching. In the news of the afternoon Lucinda had reverted to her most casual habits; slouchy posture, loud sighs, all the things she tried to contain when she was operating in professional or upper class society.
Lucinda made an impatient gesture for Sebastian's cigarette and ignored his swear. "Did you know about this?" she asked — her tone was sharp, but not so much as to be actively hostile. She had known it was a risk — although honestly she'd thought that things tapered out until Kirke and Elsie had started courting — but Sebastian and Elsie were close. He might have known they were being risky — although if he had, Lucinda would be obligated to strangle him, and that would certainly be a drag.