“Miss Muchelney’s head tilted, the briefest of flinches before she forced herself upright again. ‘My father loathed being joked about. But science always wounds the ones who love her.’

Catherine bristled instantly. ‘Science does nothing of the kind,’ she retorted. ‘Science merely exists. She can’t raise a hand to anyone. It’s people who do all the wounding.’

Miss Muchelney was staring openly now, startled by Catherine’s vehemence.

Catherine was a little startled herself, and forced her tone into a gentler register.”

I love how BAD these two are at just having a basic conversation that doesn’t immediately upset each other, it’s delicious