“That’s kind of you,” Kristoffer said, with a barely-concealed snort and a disparaging air of I don’t know why you would. “I wouldn’t have.” Frida’s presence never added anything that he could see – but obviously he was her family, so he was obligated to have her around. (Miss Whitledge presumably liked having pureblood connections in society, else she would have dropped Frida’s friendship by now, surely.)

Kristoffer was so busy being condescending about his sister that he hadn’t actually noticed the implication in Miss Whitledge’s words. He had caught the slightest touch of a tone in it, though, the primness sounding almost impertinent. He raised an eyebrow, sure he’d imagined it. “You haven’t seen her, have you?” he added casually, supposing Frida had sensed him coming and made a timely disappearance so as not to be picked on tonight. Ah, well: he had Miss Whitledge to amuse him now instead.

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