บท 79: The Brooch I

Horace's lips pinched together in distaste.

"Emmeline, are you or are you not a granddaughter of the Hawthornes?" Once again, he thumped his cane against the floor, this time with more force. "How many times do you need me to tell you that a lioness does not consider the opinions of the sheep?"

The other businessmen around them nodded, and Matteo wondered if they knew they were the sheep in question.

"Grandpa!" Emmeline spluttered, scrubbing away at the tears that were still rolling down her face, with a look of shock in her eyes. He had never scolded her in public before! To think he was willing to go this far for Amelia Kentwood when he had only met her mere weeks ago.

Fine, if throwing tantrums wasn't going to work, she was going to have to use another tactic. She swallowed and pulled herself together, willing herself to display some form of composure even as she wanted to snap Amelia's stupid neck.