"Of course she has. Why should she bother with a milksop such as yourself?"
He'd never disliked anyone so much in his life, and on such short acquaintanceship. Joachim's mouth tightened at the corners as he looked Alderdice's clothes over. Doubtless the boy was a thief, and likely he'd stolen the passable garments for tonight's outing. The army had ways of dealing with thieves.
"If she has half a mind, she doesn't even know you exist." He was being terribly objectionable and he knew it, even if he didn't know why. He knew only that he very, very much did not like this Alderdice chap. The major pulled himself upright with the help of his cane, poked an unoccupied finger into Izzy's chest. A warning gesture.