Gideon fumbled the plate, grabbed it up against, and turned towards the women. "Ben and I flatshare," he pointed out, knowing it would probably be futile. Maybe he should just say that they'd gotten divorced and Lucy was his rebound. Mrs. Montgomery would probably like that story better.
He dripped a little wax onto the plate and placed the candle firmly. He really didn't want Lucy telling his landlady any more about how she "took care" of him!