Chapter 20: That’s Funny

Sean smiled into his teacup. Though he knew that Catherine was using him in her fight with her cousin, her words sent a secret thrill through him. Did she really find him handsome? He looked between Madison and Catherine. Madison's face had turned flaming red, and Catherine lividly turned pale. He put his teacup down and frowned.

"What's wrong, Sean?" Lawson asked, flashing his overly whitened veneers. "Is it too cold?"

"It's not to my taste," he said. "But we didn't come here for tea, anyway."

"I'm so sorry," Lawson said. "Melanie, I thought I told you to order the best tea."

"I did, dear," she snapped. "But you know how the servants are." She plastered a simpering smile on her face and looked at Sean, "It's so impossible to get good help these days."

"No," he said. "I don't."