Visiting the hospital again wasn’t exactly something she wanted to do. She didn’t mind visiting with Lieutenant Elton—despite idiocy over his sister, he was a pleasant-enough chap to have a conversation with—but the hospital itself . . . it had been worse than she’d thought it would be. Harder on her. But she couldn’t let that rule her.

Dot had proven herself a true friend last week. Margot would do the same.

Besides, going home to her empty flat wasn’t exactly appealing.

“Are you going to Mr. Herschell’s dinner party on Saturday?” Dot asked as they stepped out into the chilly air.

Margot glanced at her with what she hoped was a quelling look. “Why would I do that?”

Her friend chuckled. “Because everyone is invited, and from what I hear, he and Mr. Serocold will be performing for us. Sarah said they’re talented musicians, the both of them.”

Margot smiled. She could see musicians of far more talent whenever she pleased—she had only to tag along with Lukas and Willa. But Serocold and Herschell, two of the cryptographers, did have talent, to be sure. Maman had dragged her to a similar dinner party over the summer.

Tedious thing. At least until she’d been on hand for one of the always-entertaining debates between Dilly Knox—confirmed atheist—and William Montgomery—who’d even come to said dinner party in his clerical robes.

To Dot she only said, “I don’t imagine I’ll want to attend, no.”

“It could be good for you. To get out and do something, I mean.” Her cheeks flushed, and Margot didn’t think it was from the sting of the wind. “I know I am a fine one to speak of the merits of getting out.”

“I am out every day.” Though come to think of it . . . “Do you mean you want to go?”

“I don’t know. I won’t. I know I won’t. Not unless you needed the outing and required my company.”

A rather elementary equation, this. A single variable—Dot’s desires—combined with the known quantities of her fears and Margot’s presence. But the fears were substantial and negative, so the result would be too, unless the variable were large enough to overcome it. And the only way for Dot to make it so was to call upon her desire to be there for someone else. For Margot.

No, perhaps not so simple an equation. Because that same variable of Dot’s desires must be on the other side of the equal sign as well. She wanted to go. Or at least, she wanted to want to go.

Margot didn’t. But she’d learned long ago that wants must often be sacrificed when it came to maintaining relationships. “I’ll think about it. See how I’m feeling on Thursday and Friday.”