“He’s an employee,” said Benni. “We’ve dealt with him. He’ll never see the inside of this house again, or the house of any reputable family. His sister is one of our guards too, did you know that? We’ve had to give her a warning.” He paused, studying her reaction. “What do you think of that?”

“It’s unfair, Papa, to both of them. It wasn’t his fault, and it certainly wasn’t hers. And we can’t help how we feel.”

“So. You imagine yourself to have fallen in love,” he said, sounding satisfied.

“Papa,” said Lovisa reproachfully. “How would you like it if I told you that you imagine yourself to have fallen in love with Mother? You can’t tell me whom I should love.”

“Indeed,” he said, making a triangle with his hands and resting his chin upon it. “You’ll think I’m heartless, Lovisa, but a daughter of the Cavenda family cannot fall in love with a house guard. Do you imagine your mother and I would set you up to live together?”

“Why should you? Do you think I won’t be able to find a profitable industry?”

“In fact, I think a lot of doors in Ledra would close to you if you lived like that with your own house guard. You excel in your politics and government classes, Lovisa. You know we expect you to follow in our footsteps, whether it’s as a Scholar or an Industrialist. Either way, it’ll require wiser decisions on your part.”

“Doors will always open to me, Papa!” Lovisa said. “I’m a Cavenda. If I married a house guard, I would still be a Cavenda.” In Winterkeep, when two people married, the surname of the wealthier person became their family name. The name Cavenda came from Lovisa’s mother.

“Parents can take a name away from a child,” her father reminded her quietly.

Lovisa looked into her own hands, trying not to show how astonished she was. Parents took names away from a child only if they were officially disowning that child. It was hardly ever done, except, perhaps, in cases of the social shame that came from raising a criminal. And not a minor criminal; one who murdered or raped, did truly inexcusable things.

Before Lovisa could think of the right response, the door swung open and Ferla swept in. Ignoring Lovisa, she advanced on Benni’s desk, glaring at him. Her hood lay against her back heavily, which meant that her fox was still riding inside it.

Benni stood to meet his wife, and when she held out her hand, silently took the object she offered, a bit flustered. Ferla was visibly seething at Benni, which was unusual. Even at the heights of her temper, she was rarely angry directly at Benni. Had he done something to upset her?