nly a second before shifting back to Ju

o my own home, Julian?" The question land

forced a smile. "Of course n

en walked directly to the single armchair in the center of

at the flames in the fireplace, letting the silence set

y uncomfortable. He cleared his throat,

ate?" Julian tried to mak

cigar box on the table, selected one, a

d unhurried, a stark contr

lly spoke, his eyes still on the cigar in

appeared on Julian's face. This

er and roughly pulled the c

d into Landon's line of sight. She felt so ash

t." Julian's tone was light, dismissi

gar, paused. He finally lifted his eyes,

d the word, his voice

f his pride, he pushed on. "Yes, a rather disobedient

secret. "You'll never guess. She's Annabel Beaumont, the daught

n't change, as if the n

e had a bigger bomb to drop. "

he air, and the roo

was her most humiliating past, now being

th a click. He had finally lit the cigar. Wh

smoke ring before speaking. "Is

nished, the engagement is naturally off. But I'm a sentimental guy. I saw how pitiful she

ized the word "work,"

rd from Julian a slow, tor

. Then he stood up, his tall f

on Julian. "I don't like having unclear people in

his first clear intervent