Tristan stood there uselessly as Pippa yelled at him. He didn't defend himself. Rather, he watched her with an intense sorrow, as if for the first time he realized the horrors she had gone through. He had known about them and had felt sorry for her before. But seeing her now, after speaking to Miss Zimmermann, it suddenly hit him with full force. And he realized what a complete and utter arse he had been all these months.

He was still useless as Pippa sank down and Penelope and Mr. Blacke supported her. Quietly, he took the bullet out of the gun and pocketed it and put the gun down on the table, but he did not approach. "Yes, but not now," he answered Mr. Blacke in a hushed voice. He looked at his sister sheepishly. "You better administer that medicine, if you can make her drink it. She'll sleep better."