410 Lady Margaret studied Jacob Black for a long moment, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, she nodded, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Very well, Black. I’ll give you a chance to resolve this—your way." Alexander looked at l
411 With a cruel chuckle, Darwin sidled up to the cowering Alexander and placed a hand on his shoulder in a mockery of comfort. "Now now, chin up, Pennington. Every man makes mistakes. Though I must say, incurring the wrath of Jacob Black does take a special kind of talent." Alexander jerked away,
412 As she returned to the ballroom, lady Margaret could see the relief on Henry’s face, but she didn’t stop to offer any reassurances. There were still too many uncertainties, too many threats lurking in the shadows. Darwin quickly made his way to her, her eyes full of concern. "What happened, mo
413 "Save your pretty words, Pennington. We both know your apologies mean nothing." Darwin's eyes bored into him accusingly. "How many times have you dug yourself into a hole, only to charm and scheme your way out while leaving others to clean up your messes? You're as slippery as an eel." Alexand
414 The presenter, a tall man with slicked-back hair and a deep, commanding voice, stepped up to the microphone. He cleared his throat, and the murmur of conversations around the room slowly quieted. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice booming through the grand ballroom, “welcome to this
415 Darwin shoved his way through the frantic guests, heart pounding as he approached his mother. He could feel the tension mounting, like a wire stretched too tight, ready to snap. “Mother, we need to get you out of here,” Darwin said firmly, gripping her arm, his voice low but urgent. Lady Mar
416 Darwin’s mind raced as he pulled Lady Margaret through the chaos, keeping her low and out of sight. His heart pounded against his ribs, and questions surged through his mind, each one more urgent than the last. "Darwin!" Lady Margaret's voice trembled, gripping his arm tighter. "What is happen
417 Lady Margaret’s gasp was sharp and immediate. "Darwin!" she cried, her voice barely a whisper. Her eyes widened in horror, her face going as pale as a ghost. "They’re here for you! They’re here for you!" "Keep your voice down!" Darwin hissed, pulling her closer and ducking lower behind the ta