Chapter 240
My mother's hands tightened around her cup. "You're not remiss. You've been more than generous..."
"Nonsense." Grandmother Halton waved a hand dismissively. "Generosity is easy. Understanding takes effort. And I have not made the effort." She looked at me again. "So. Tomorrow. After breakfast. You will show me this tea set. You will tell me about your grandmother. You will tell me about your family."
I smiled, warmth spreading through me. "I would like that very much."
"Good." Grandmother Halton picked up her cup again. "Now. More tea. And then, perhaps, we can talk about something less serious. Like the seating arrangements."
The tension in the room eased a little more. We drank our tea, we ate our bread, and we talked about the wedding. We talked about the flowers, the music, the seating arrangements. We talked about everything and nothing, and slowly, the weight of the night began to lift.
