Bellona cast a small smile in her friend's direction, but doubted very much that Angel could do anything about it. It was not as though she had some sort of innate power over the scions of the society matrons, else they both would have long ago secured a husband. Not for the first time, Bella felt a twinge of relief at the fact that her friend—perfect, in her estimation, save her attatchment to Antigone—was also unmarried.

"Still," she sighed, "it would have been nice if Camilla had allowed me to secure my prospects before tramping all over them!"