"Remarkable that they managed to get worse," Bastien says, tone mild and insult blunted by the kind of affection generally reserved for, say, a relative who's a horrible drag to have around but who's been very financially supportive and doesn't mean to ruin every dinner.

Nevertheless. Dismal.

"Here, sit down," he says, gesturing not to the table, but to the settee. "You and Benedict can catch up a moment while we—" eavesdrop shamelessly "—finish setting the table."