Vivienne's POV
I gave him four days notice.
This was deliberate. Mrs. Kate's instruction had arrived on Sunday and I had sat with it for the rest of that day and most of Monday before calling Charles on Monday evening and telling him that my mother wanted to meet him and that I wanted him to understand what that meant before he agreed to it.
He was quiet for a moment after I said it.
Then he said, "When."
Not whether. Not why or what for or any of the questions a person asked when they were assessing the invitation for risk before accepting it. Just when. The question of someone who had already decided the answer and needed only the logistical detail to complete the picture.
"Saturday," I said. "Dinner. Her house."
"Alright," he said.
I looked at my ceiling. "Charles."
"Yes."
"I
