“Two sisters and a brother,” Combeferre answers, smiling faintly, sadly, at the thought of the siblings he will never see again. Even if he somehow left this place, he knows what his future holds. As dreadful as it is, he would never dare attempt to steer if off-course.

But this is not the time for such melancholy thoughts. He offers Flavia a conspiratorial grin. “All younger. So do not say anything too disparaging about elder siblings, mademoiselle, or I shall be quite offended."