Oh. Rommy hadn’t thought – hadn’t considered that both of Miss Montague’s parents were dead, and that she had no siblings to be recalled. There must have been an extended family somewhere, but Rosamund daren’t ask and put her foot in her mouth twice in a row. (Not when she was meant to be making things better here, and not worse.)

But she bit back the apology on the tip of her tongue, trying not to prod at the wound or make herself sound any more thoughtless. “Not at all,” Rommy answered almost brightly, at least finding no harm in being sincere. “After a few days of the holidays I am quite desperate to be back for a little peace and quiet,” she explained in a confidential tone, casting a glance at the mostly-empty ward. Her extended family – her grandmother Hermione – had hosted their usual run of society parties that had left Rosamund quite exhausted before Christmas had even begun.

“And my mother and brother are healers as well,” she added, “so it is quite unusual to have us all in the house together to begin with. We are all glad to escape. And, fortunately for me,” she said, trying for a smile and hoping Miss Montague was not offended by her prattling on, “in my ward today there is only pleasant company.”

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