Miriam reentered the dining hall like a storm cloud.  The weight of her presence was felt immediately, and her polite smile made it worse.  Arthur did not look away as she was seated, stayed quiet until he was directly addressed.

He had to take another deep breath to stop himself from responding to Miriam right away.  While he might have sent her storming out of the room again, and wouldn't that have been nice, he also might have sent her throwing the table and its contents around the room.

Neither of those sounded like particularly bad outcomes, but Arthur did not want to risk dirtying his vest.  It was the only clean one he had left.

But the dessert plate before him did not look appetizing at all.  Perhaps it would look more edible smeared across Malachi's skin - but then they'd have to bathe again.  But then, wouldn't they have to anyway, after they were done with Miriam?

Arthur wished they had spoken more about the specifics of this evening.

"I wonder if it is your own friendships, Mrs. Brennan, that drives you to speak in such a fashion to your guests," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully.  "Or perhaps, the lack of them.  Your husband had since passed, is that correct?  I can - only imagine how lonely you must be."

Internally, Arthur repressed the urge to gag.

"Have you found no one to keep you company all these years?  You know you're a beautiful woman, I imagine you would have more of a choice of the men in London than any other woman."