How had Mrs. Susan taken control of the conversation?
The moment Malinda realized this, she tried to speak and regain the initiative, but before she could open her mouth, Mrs. Susan had already taken her by the arm and started toward the study.
She gave Malinda no chance at all.
Malinda found this woman far harder to handle than she had imagined.
Ever since they began talking, although Mrs. Susan occasionally sighed or snorted, on reflection, she had maintained an elegant smile throughout.
Those sighs and snorts were more like little flourishes accompanying her words.
Yet they had drawn Malinda in.
Malinda admitted that the older generation's love stories were truly fascinating.
But she also warned herself not to get drawn in again.
What happened next, however, was something Malinda never could have expected-
"Why is there an ashtray here?"
"Why are there tobacco leaves soaking in this wine barrel?"
"Why are there stimulants in the little bottles on this bookcase?"
"And-
Why are there tulips here?"
As soon as she entered the study, Mrs. Susan swept her gaze around the room, and her expression darkened.
Then she took several deep breaths. When she looked at Malinda again, her gaze had turned solemn.
"Malinda, perhaps you don't quite understand what this child means.
But the first member of the fourth generation of the Creados family holds extraordinary significance for most of us.
He or she will carry our hopes.
So we must be extremely careful where he or she is concerned."
Mrs. Susan's solemnity... no.
To be precise, the word "us" coming from Mrs. Susan's mouth really made Malinda's scalp prickle.
With everything that had come before, Malinda had a rough idea of exactly whom that "us" referred to.
The woman who had left early because of something at home.