Except there were differences. No less important for being subtle. The ghost of Susan’s grudge no longer haunted her sleep, and when she saw McGraw, Esther would swear that there was something like fondness in the way Susan insulted him. While Esther might have embraced a lax attitude to academia, she was the one most likely to be found cleaning the communal kitchen, descaling the kettle, or ordering the food—and when she cooked, she locked her phone in her room to avoid distraction. So far, she’d only set the smoke alarm off once. And for Daisy, a return to routine was welcome, but it no longer felt necessary. If one of the boys suggested a spontaneous game of pool when she’d planned a late-night library session, she would accept. She felt confident enough that changing her plans wasn’t somehow letting other people down or even annoying them.

Still. That didn’t mean she wanted to be late for her Wednesday hot lunch in the S.U. with Esther and Susan. As the three of them queued, Daisy chatted contentedly to Esther, but Susan seemed on edge, checking her phone. All through the meal she kept glancing around, her revolting, ketchup-covered panini growing cold.

“Keeping your eye out for McGraw?” Esther said, with so much waggling of her eyebrows, they were in danger of falling off.

“Hmm?” Susan turned back to her friends with a distracted frown. “No. Actually. I’m looking for someone much worse . . .”

Esther and Daisy exchanged a look of alarm.

“. . . and there they are.”

As one, the three women looked across the fixed tables of the cafe area of the S.U. to see Jasper and Elise standing there, scanning the room. When Susan raised her arm to make the Zign of Zoise, Daisy nearly toppled off her chair in shock.

“Hey. Miscreants. Over here.”

Now that they had been exposed, Daisy struggled to see what it was that she’d liked about Elise. Sure, she was exceptionally pretty and well turned out, but as she approached, it seemed obvious to Daisy that her charm was an accessory she wore when someone was looking; it wasn’t a kindness that rose from within. Even Jasper’s boy-next-door vibe failed to raise so much as an eyebrow from Esther when he took the seat opposite hers.

“Daisy, we’re sorry . . .” Elise began.

“Not good enough.” Esther slammed a fist on the table, making the cutlery rattle on their plates.

But Susan shushed her before turning back to the erstwhile Brethren. “She’s right. We’re not interested in apologies.”

Daisy pressed her lips together to stop herself from objecting. Apologies were nice, but it seemed there was something else at play, judging by the look Susan was giving Elise, who sighed and took a package from her bag, a small padded envelope with the Zoise address on the front.

She laid it on the table and slid it across to Daisy.