bYvonne /bbput /bbon a /bbbrave /bbface, insisting /bshe’d leave with Susan out bof /bsolidarity, bbut in /bbtruth/bb, /bbshe was just /bbafraid /bbJustin /bmight turn his anger on her instead.

bThe /bbtwo /bbiof /i/bthem slunk away from the Hawksley estate.

bNow/bb, /bbonly /bbEdith /band Justin remained in the corner of the grand hall.

bAn /bbawkward /btension settled between them.

bEdith /bshifted the gift box in her hands, and took the initiative. “Mr. Hawksley, this is from my mother and me. Happy birthday–and thank you for everything you’ve done for my father.”

It was their first meeting; Edith felt she ought to be courteous and polite.

But to Justin, her formal manner sounded too stiff, almost rehearsed.

He didn’t like it.

Noticing the subtle change in his expression, Edith instantly wondered if she’d said something wrong–a reflex she’d developed after years with the Vance family.

Her mother–inw had been widowed young and was a sensitive woman. Whenever Edith identally said the wrong thing, her mother–inw would let her know with a frosty look.

As Edith racked her brain for a way to lighten the mood, Justin acted as if nothing was amiss. He took the gift from her, then gently took her hand, leading her toward the inner lounge.

“There are too many people around right now,” he said quietly. “Let me take you somewhere you can rest for a bit. It won’t be long.”

Edith sat nervously in the Hawksleys‘ drawing room for a while.

She was fine being alone with Justin, but with his parents–Father Benedict and Mrs. Sarah Hawksley–around, she was on edge. Their reputations for

unpredictability preceded them.

She understood, though. People in powerful positions often had their quirks–she couldn’t fault them for that.

But the more she tried to rationalize it, the more anxious she became.

It dawned on her, btedly, that turning up like this with a gift might make the Hawksleys think she was desperate to marry Justin.

15:07

Susan’s iwords /ioutside in the bgarden /bstill echoed in her ears.

A twice–divorced woman bwho /bcan’t even have children…

Edith frowned. Maybe she shouldn’t havee so suddenly. Now both the Sumners and the Hawthornes would feel awkward.

Since the gift was delivered, maybe it was best to say goodbye to the Hawksleys‘ staff and slip out quietly,

bBut /bjust as she started to rise, a small group of people entered the room, stopping her in her tracks.

Leading the way was an elegant woman, moving quickly and smiling brightly.

“Edith, isn’t it? My, you’ve grown up to be such a lovely young woman, she eximed.

Edith felt an unexpected warmth. Aside from her parents, hardly anyone called her by her first name.

Being called “lovely at her age made her a little embarrassed,

The woman came over and affectionately took her arm. “Don’t just stand there,e sit with us. We’ve had so many guests today–Mr. Hawksley and I haven’t been the best hosts, I’m afraid.”

She nced back at the middle–aged man following close behind, with Justin at his side.

Edith realized these must be Benedict and Sarah Hawksley,

She hadn’t expected them to be so weing–so weing, in fact, that she felt a bit overwhelmed.

Maybe that was just how things worked in high society: everyone greeted you with a smile first.

Justin immediately noticed Edith’s difort. He sat down beside her, casting a helpless look at his parents. “Mom, Dad, you’re scaring Edith.”

Edith? She blinked, startled for a moment by the way Justin said her name.

Sarah’s gaze was warm and sincere, lingering on Edith with open affection.

For the first time, Edith felt someone she barely knew look at her with such genuine kindness,

“Oh, Edith, Mr. Hawksley and I have been looking forward to meeting you for ages.

718

15.07

the west exect you toe by today it caught us by surprise, but it’s a wonderful

$ap Reed her brow Ryng to figure out exactly what Sarah meant

That she implying th should havee?

* Mether, Edith replied softly “Mrs. Hawksley, Mr. Hawksley, I’m

HAN 84-48ould have let you know beforeing over I didn’t mean to