{ intrusion } after winning by force the indifferent hearts
Several things rapidly occur to Lillias after colliding with Martel's chest. First of all, she has to do something about the walls by her gate. Secondly, as much as she'd prefer to walk directly into Martel rather than, say, a brick wall - he's equally likely to make her stumble. Thirdly, gentleman that he is, even after he's realized who it is he's holding up under the elbow, there is no way that man is going to shout at her in front of the little girl hanging onto his shoulders. This last part becomes clear when his flatly annoyed surprise turns smooth and opaque and he pauses too long trying to come up with a response.
The fact that Ingrid doesn't seem to recognize her hurts more than Lillias could have anticipated; he's been thorough about keeping them apart and with a certain regretful awareness of her own maternal instinct ('poor') she'd let it alone, but- but. On the other hand, Ingrid is evidently the key to civility here and she doesn't know Lillias to be mad or disappointed, and here a plan begins to form.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she says, smiling broadly and taking a moment privately to enjoy the purely, wholly startled look of a man caught totally off-guard, "I really have to get something done about the stupid walls, I can't see a thing on the street coming out of my house-"
If she wants to find out what the hell he's doing in Bastia, she reasons, she has to keep them in her company. Ingrid too, so Martel will be reasonable. This means start talking and don't stop, and if possible talk more to the little girl than the mountain of irritation she's hanging onto.
Her own presence - which he seems puzzled by - is easily explained. Bastia had become home the first time they'd lived there, when the sense of isolation around their household had been almost a living thing of its own and the close little world made everything seem more real. She'd left for a while, traveled, but nothing else has that same quality; nothing else is so alive. It seemed dull in comparison, and even though living in Corsica isn't the same now, it's still home and it's still better.
Maybe that's what he needs persuading of. Lillias keeps smiling at him, since it seems to off-balance him so much, as she chatters with Ingrid about putting mirrors on them like cars have and casually joins their walk before Martel can formulate a protest.
Restraining orders are only applicable in one country, right?