He had come around to the idea in her absence. But oh, the reality of her! Zechariah watched her coolly; listened to her defense, and was unsurprised to find it lacking. Instead, he fixed a pitying look on her.

“You would be insane to back out of this in your state, Sonia,” he said softly, like he was speaking to an easily spooked animal. “Such fits of temporary insanity are common in this state.”

When she dropped her things, Zechariah smiled with hardly bitten back annoyance but went to fetch the dropped things nonetheless. He held a hand up to beckon her to stop when she bent.

“Catch your breath and rest,” he said, half-straightening out the papers before holding them out to her.