CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN – CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT

So stunned was she that she barely registered the soft tread of approaching footsteps until a familiar voice piped up from the entrance to the corridor. "Mrs. Storm?" Julian craned his neck, eyes widening slightly as he caught sight of the two women in quiet conference. "Oh! Um, begging your pardon, I didn't mean to intrude. Only Sophie was getting anxious and asked if I could find you." Flushing slightly, Beatrice took an abrupt half-step backwards, her usual imperious mask slipping back into place. "Yes, well. I suppose I should return and...attend to the child." She paused, just for an instant, and shot Kayla an indecipherable look from beneath her lashes. "We'll continue this...conversation...another time, perhaps." Then she brushed past Julian without a second glance, leaving Kayla to stare bemusedly after her rapidly retreating form. A soft huff of exhaled breath across the top of her head drew Kayla's attention back to Julian, who was watching her with undisguised curiosity