Derek observed again, that for the second time under the space of thirty minutes, his cousin's eyes had widened, more like bulging out. The first time had been when Leo had stepped into the Hall, interrupting the lame excuse he had conjured up to give his cousin who had seemed restless and impatient all of a sudden. The others hadn't noticed, but he had; perhaps because he was directly in front of her, or maybe because he had known her since birth.

Now staring at her and her bulging eyes, he wondered what she was surprised or shocked about. Then with a startling speed, he realized that these reactions he...