Thomasina's father was baffled by the invitation, having heard a few times that the eldest Dempsey son did not care for Thomasina. Thomasina was decidedly less baffled, but had no desire to explain her thought process to her father, and so let him be confused. They arrived a fashionable half-hour after the party began, and the party was large enough — and the garden large enough — that it was easy enough for Sina to find people to talk to. She was having a good time, mystery aside.

Sina was standing near the refreshments table when Mr. Dempsey approached. She took a sip of her wine before she replied to him. (Were his curls slightly wet? Sina could not exactly tell in this light, but if she was right, this would be excellent material for the conversation. She noted it.)

"Seeing as you came to my territory the other day —" Mr. Dempsey had ownership of all-or-most parties, but the Hospital was very much Sina's domain, never mind that he had actually been injured "— I thought I ought to return the favor." Her tone was amused; Mr. Dempsey could approach her with disdain, but he could not take away that Sina had seen him at his most vulnerable.

(Her secret? She'd sort of enjoyed it; not his injury, but the amount of time they'd spent together.)

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