It looked as if it took everything in her power for Miriam not to mockingly repeat, what, now?

Instead, she blinked once and said, “yes, now.”

Without a word to excuse herself to the rest of the table, Miriam stood. Levi, Mara, and Malachi all turned their heads as she did, to watch her leave the room, though the latter quickly turned his gaze to his lover.

“Is she-…” he was not even sure what to ask. Whatever the two had exchanged, it had either bothered her enough to leave silently, or she was expecting him to follow after her.

She turned her head as she went through the door, nodding for the doctor to follow.

Malachi gave Arthur’s hand a squeeze, and then released it.