While there may have been too many Wards to keep track of, there were not so many not-quite-adopted constables that Elijah walking in did not feel like a nightmare.

At first, she avoided his gaze. Would he recognize her? Tell her family? Use this against her and eke out a ‘freebie’?

Oh, oh God. She hoped the fellow she was meeting didn’t show up. What was it he’d said? Something odd, about gloves. Something she’d filed away immediately as ‘bizarre fetish’.

Her gaze shot to Elijah’s hands. Elijah’s perpetually gloved hands.

Oh. Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no this couldn’t be happening.

Lory smiled politely when Elijah stood by her, finally letting her eyes raise once more.

“Ruby,” she said, holding out her gloved hand for him to kiss. “Pleased to meet you.”