She watches as the Overlord considers, as he steps forward (dwarfing Lorne's six-foot-something frame) and lowers his voice to a murmur, audible across the room like the grumble of distant thunder. They converse for a while in an undertone, and she stays half-kneeling behind the table and tries to ignore Seth's increasingly unnerved glances down at her.

Finally the Overlord's stony face creases into something resembling a smile, and he inclines his massive head and turns to speak quietly to his bodyguard. Their words aren't audible, but don't need to be; he's clearly telling her to leave. Dismissing her for the night, or for the duration of the party.

Erica doesn't look happy, but she nods, and her lips shape what might be the words yes, sir before she turns to go.

Beth can't suppress the shudder of relief.