When Stewart walked in, Gwendolyn White suddenly found that the strawberries in her mouth had lost all their sweetness.

"What is he doing here again?"

Briony looked just as surprised.

James got to his feet. "Mr. Wentworth, it's awfully late for uninvited guests. Don't you think you're overstaying your welcome?"

Stewart barely spared James a glance before turning to Gwendolyn and giving her a curt nod.

Gwendolyn's impatience was plain as day—she had no intention of entertaining him.

But Stewart seemed entirely unfazed by her attitude. He turned his attention to Briony.

Briony narrowed her eyes, regarding him with a chilly stare.

The tension in the room was almost palpable.

Stewart had an uncanny way of commanding any situation, always calm and detached, never giving anything away no matter how awkward things became.

As the elder in the room, Gwendolyn understood that Stewart wouldn't show up at this hour without a reason.

Her voice was cool as she said, "Mr. Wentworth, is there some urgent business that brings you here so late?"

With equal calm, Stewart replied, "I'm here to take my wife and daughter home."

"Little Nina's already asleep," Gwendolyn said. "I don't get to visit Northborough often, and I was hoping to spend a few days with Bryn. She and Nina will be staying here with me at the Skybreeze Retreat, so there's no need for you to worry."

Stewart raised a dark

frosty. "You should

into

rigid-neither side willing

his mouth to interject, but Stewart spoke

Northborough, and as her son-in-law, I really

on Briony, his tone casual. "Bryn, why don't you bring Mrs. Winslow over

Stewart call her "Bryn" sounded so jarringly

on her

here

thinly. "Of

that case, I'll have some groceries

Kavel

as well. Just a little gesture from your

at a loss for

he was determined to have this

rubbed her temples, resigned. "Do as you like. It's late. You should head home—we're

longer, then." Stewart's composure never faltered as

goodnight and turned to

didn't so much as glance at

James grumbled, dropping back into his seat. He looked at Briony. "Bryn, I'm t. He

her lips

behavior tonight left her strangely

was he scheming

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