"In that case," she declared wryly, "my faith in my brother is well-founded."

No doubt her mother, if present, would have had Persephone laced into something decidedly less practical (and less comfortable) and seen her introduced only to the most notable men in the room (though given that the ersatz debutante was not exactly young, might have relented on the latter. For all she knew, Magnus may have been given directions to the same and simply chosen to ignore them.

"Though I suppose my faith in you must now begin to waver. Perhaps," she added, knowing full well he would likely do no such thing, "you might distract me with tales of your work, that I might forget your shortcomings."