All the calm and warmth had vanished to be replaced by anger. Stuart held his arm in front of his mother. "What do...." He paused in mid-sentence and frowning. He looked closely into her eyes. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked sternly.
Madame Yates stood there without stepping back. The intensity between the two of them was building. Stuart's face was getting redder by the second, and finally, Edie stepped forward and touched his arm, "It's okay! I would like to go for a walk with your mother. What better place than the garden," Edie said, trying to reassure Stuart, but inside she was terrified to be alone with her.
"You don't know what she's like!" He squinted at his mother, his intense stare making her squirm.
"Well, shall we go," Madame said as she stood with her arms crossed.
"You're pleased with yourself! Aren't you?" Stuart asked. "I can see it in your face, that smug look of satisfaction, that curled lip with the slight sneer."