"Aye, I heard all of that," Ruth muttered, dropping the towel and studying her naked body in the mirror. "But I didn't know Miss Pearl was involved." Not that she cared. Or about the reporter. Or about the fact that Miss Pearl was a good person. To Ruth, she was a threat. But she wasn't about to start any fires if she didn't need to.

She threw her damp hair in different ways to note the effect. "Look, I don't think anyone will listen to what I 'ave to say, but I'll do what I can when t' time comes." Probably not. But it wouldn't matter by then if he broke her promise. By then she would have squeezed all she could out of this situation and they could finish each other off for all she cared. "But for now, I'm gonna have to play on Magnus' side if I want to continue this contract. Where are his gross underthings?"