CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE – THE SIGNS OF A STORM

"Gregory," he barked without preamble. "What in the devil is going on here?" The blustering man in question seemed to deflate ever-so-slightly under the new arrival's withering glare. "Er...Vernon, old man! You're, ah, just in time for dinner, it seems." "So I perceive," Vernon Dryden – for Kayla recognized him now as one of Gregory's closest confidants – said dryly, surveying the chaos with ill-disguised disdain. "Do try and get your...brood...under control, won't you? This is meant to be a civilized society." "Yes, yes, of course." Gregory mustered a sickly smile, already gesturing for the servants to begin clearing away the detritus. "Kids will be kids, you know how it is!" Vernon's eyes narrowed, but he merely inclined his head at Kayla and Lance. "Mr. and Mrs. Storm. A pleasure, as always." With that, he brushed past them, ostensibly to take his place at the table, as the clean-up efforts kicked into high gear around them. Kayla felt her stomach churning – though whether fro