ing Manor took alm

staring through the car window, watc

her, occasionally ch

try to make a good

urned from

ly am I sup

ions when you're asked.

gave a s

ow to beh

t say yo

you keep re

ret s

arrangement

it was

rrang

ooked down

ning to disli

ormous black gates. A security guard approached, exchan

e looked

onsiderably larger t

ained garden, with tall windows, stone pilla

e a luxury hotel t

ar st

s Bennett," the

breath before o

stepped out

s already waitin

Bennett. Mr Sterlin

nk y

ugh the entrance into a

ldn't help lo

led to the upper floor. Everything looked expensive, from the p

w me," the ho

allway and entered a co

eman stood nea

s wife, I

ret s

is my daughte

rling. Alexan

extended

to meet you,

kew

briefly before gestur

at. Alexander will

sat beside

towards the

ranger, she thought she deserved at lea

e some tea?" J

, pl

appeared almos

ith Margaret about the businesses,

listened

interested in asking her ho

an glanced

ld be he

his words, the sitti

ed in a dar

tte lo

der St

ir, his posture straight an

gave him an intimidating appearance. He looked younger t

n't sm

ng was something he had deliberate

his father

the

was deep

tured toward

ett. And this

yes moved tow

moment, thei

ng," she sa

a slig

rlot

was

Not even an attempt to make th

wards the seating area and

e," Jonatha

inishing

have ended

r glance

house o

han s

always be

hen nec

d her eyes, hidi

rst meeting to include an ar

oticed her

amusing, Mi

le disa

N

gest you pa

tte bl

him, surpris

cleared h

e haven't eve

dinner required

e an uncomfo

the floor would

d and informed them

han s

e to the d

lmost as impressive a

entre, decorated with fresh flower

e seat indicated

t the head of the table, w

with polite c

r business negotiations, while Margaret discussed

oncentrated

y, but she didn't want anyone

rlot

look

was speaki

es

ld are

ty-th

upat

itated

orking in a publ

posi

ial ass

dded

continue working a

e looked

thought

y n

has asked me wha

le beca

gave her a

wever, didn't

ly watc

u should start t

put down

ps I s

an int

verything she needs. There's no r

dn't look at

't aski

felt her c

tomed to convers

being spoken to as though she

ou something

raised a

ah

ant to ge

rly choked o

owly lowere

ked directly

seconds, he

he an

d agreeing to it are

absorbed

want this ma

I say

't exactly made it

cleared h

cuss the wedding arran

er igno

n remained o

omething clear

ightened

value my privacy, and I expect people i

tte li

is marriage, I expect

ld his

ould I expec

silence

leaned bac

s long as y

e nodded

s reas

ave expected a

up his glass and re

the adults continued d

te bare

a wealthy man who might b

uld make an entire room feel uncom

ended, Charlotte

ne show them around the house,

t going. It's

ed near the dini

ght, Ch

ned tow

ht, Mr S

xand

ed at hi

married, you might as

ther that was an invitati

ght, Al

nod

r mother toward

e evening a

the car and fast

turned to

el

through the windo

t very f

ther s

hrough a dif

erstan

to judge him

ed her head ag

ed him, Mum. I'

d away from S

the mansion disa

hree weeks befo

r three weeks would be enough to prepare he