'Don't speak so cruely of your future brother in law'she derided snatching the letter, and scanning it's contents. The writing seemed sincere - painfully so, almost - was the word pathetic? She scanned the letter again - yes, yes, it was. And yet her brothers derision was worthy of riling up and if he hated the letters writer that seemed reason enough to lean into it.

'A writer' her tone sounding a little more impressed by the letter as she made a show of re-reading it. 'He would fit in well with us, think about he and Porphyria writing by the fire, father and mother would like him.' she filled her voice with girlish glee, a tone designed to annoy the eldest Dempsey progeny. 'You might be his best man, after all you've introduced us, after a fashion.'

---