"How about the...the um..." he furrowed his brow and waved his hand vaguely, "...what exactly is it that you and the women are doing?"

She laughed.

Short lived, but much-needed relief relaxed her frame when she saw he would make no attempt at pursuing the last meeting's horror and pressure, and she managed a small smile afterwards, giving him a wry look.

"Men like to think that women can't bear to be without them, do they?" remarked Charlotte before touching a lock from her face. Slanting her gaze out the window, she bit the inside of her cheek before adding almost apologetically, "My father can get a touch carried away with his stories-"