Lucy is speechless with anger, Clarissa is mistaken

Clarissa stopped at the door of her airship cabin. It was yet night. Lucy hoped Edmund had slept through her absence.

"Lucy..." Clarissa said, her chin trembling. "Lucy, I know you and Lady Catherine..." She trailed off, swallowed, and cleared her throat. "Lucy, do you fancy women? Do you fancy...me?"

Lucy's eyes widened as she looked in Clarissa's pleading face. Her own face flushed hot and scarlet and her throat constricted. An angry retort formed itself, but as much as it wanted to be said, to be hissed and spat into Clarissa's face, it could not be. Lucy stared at Clarissa, unable to speak.

"Oh, Lucy, you do!" Clarissa said. She sprang into Lucy's arms. Lucy staggered back in surprise, taking Clarissa's weight as the smaller woman lifted her legs and wrapped them round Lucy's hips.

Lucy blinked in astonishment and steadied herself against Clarissa's weight. Though Clarissa was petite, she was no longer the a slip of a girl Edmund had married, and her bum cheeks were broad and soft in Lucy's hands. "Lady Cl..." She stopped herself and coughed. "Clarissa, we cannot."

But Clarissa pressed her lips forward in a kiss.

Lucy lurched forward, feeling for the door handle, and opened it, fleeing the corridor before anyone saw her with Clarissa in her arms. Be asleep, Edmund, be asleep.