[Bonus chapter] Severed ties (1)

"You need to join me for dinner tonight. We will be having a few couples over so do not think of burying yourself in any work. You are supposed to be retired which is the reason we moved away from Lockwood," said Priscilla.

On the opposite side of the table, Edmund sat reading a paper while the maids rushed around them to place breakfast on the table. 

"Edmund!" Priscilla called him again after no response. "Whatever is on that paper cannot be more important than what your wife is saying."

"I beg to differ," Edmund finally replied. If he continued to ignore her, his ears would only suffer. "I told you to give me proper notice when you want to entertain your friends. A day in advance is better."

"If you had come to bed while I was still awake you would have heard of it sooner. It isn't only my friends but yours as well. We haven't been around many of our peers since we returned. Well, you have not."