Grace
Charles' lips twitched, and he nodded.
"Of course, Grace," he replied, his tone calm but tinged with something I couldn't quite decipher. "What's on your mind? Shall we adjourn to the kitchen or the living room?"
"Are you going to make fun of my brewing skills again?"
He grinned shrugged out of his coat and slipped his tie loose.
"I think I'll go for something neutral like water or hot chocolate."
We went to the kitchen and made our own mugs. Charles had hot chocolate, and I made myself a cup of tea before we went into the nearest parlor. The night was coming. The sun had set, casting long shadows across the room as Charles and I sat facing each other across the coffee table. The air seemed charged with tension, yet there was a palpable desire to clear the air between us.
