Vanessa smiled back," Naturally, I won't blame grandmother." She looked around then and said," You stood up so hurriedly. Are you planning to retire for the evening?"
Edmund paused. If he said he was planning to retire now, it might be presumed as them snubbing her. He smiled and shook his head," Not at all. We were simply stretching our legs. It has been a long evening."
"It has," Vanessa agreed pleasantly and then continued, "Then please, sit. We haven't had a chance to speak properly all night. And I didn't get a chance to introduce you Elliott yet. We've tried so many times but everytime something popped up..."
Before Edmund could reply, Margaret snorted." Of course you were unable to introduce your boyfriend to us in the past, because he did not exist!"
