She paused mid-step and turned around.
Downstairs, Giselle spotted Balfour returning and quickly trotted over to him. âYouâre finally back. Iâve been waiting for you for ages!â
The manâs gaze darkened slightly at the sight of Giselle, clearly surprised. âWhat are you doing here?â
Balfour had no idea about Giselle coming over for dinner.
âAlyssa invited me for dinner. I thought she wouldâve told you!â Giselleâs peripheral vision caught Ivy standing at the top of the stairs, and she immediately reached out to help Balfour with his coat. âCome on! Take off your coat. Itâs warm inside. Let me hang it up for you.â
She was playing the part of the Howard familyâs lady of the house, waiting for her working husband to come home to help him out of his coat.
âNo need.â
Balfour turned his body, subtly avoiding her touch.
Watching from the staircase, Ivy saw this exchange and could not quite name the taste in her mouth.
She quietly returned to her room.
She decided to let the two of them show their affection downstairs if they wanted, not fearing Alyssa discovering their marriage plans. After all, it would not be her responsibility if things were revealed!
Having changed his shoes with the help of a servant, Balfour glanced at Giselle. âHow long have you been here?â
âIâve been here quite a while!â Giselle pressed her lips, showing a shy expression, âBalfour, Grandma Alyssa is so good to me. She even cooked dinner herself. I wanted to help, but she wouldnât have it!â
âIf Grandma invited you, then make yourself at home. Iâm going upstairs to change,â Balfour said distractedly before ascending the stairs.
He had seen Ivy going up.
Although Giselle had not managed to take his coat off, their interaction had been somewhat intimate, and that might have given Ivy the wrong idea.
Balfour reached his room and pushed the door open.
Just as he entered, he saw Ivy emerging from the bathroom wrapped only in a towel, her shoulders and back pale and glowing.
Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, Ivy instinctively pulled the towel tighter, covering her chest. âYou⦠Why did you come in?â
Balfour snapped back to reality, his tone mocking. âThis is my room. Is it strange that I enter?â
Ivy opened her mouth to argue but realized he was not entirely wrong.
Indeed, this was Balfourâs room, and he had every right to enter.
Seeing Giselle and Balfour so close together earlier, she had thought they would spend some time chatting downstairs and had not expected him to come up so soon. She had not even dressed after her bath!
Who would have thought Balfour would come up so quickly, leading to this awkward situation?
Ivy pouted, not wanting to face Balfour in such a state. She quickly grabbed some clothes from the bed and retreated into the bathroom to change.
Dressed and with a towel in hand to dry her hair, Ivy walked out, âGiselleâs still downstairs. Why did you come up so fast? Donât you want to keep her company?â
âWhat? You want me to spend time with Giselle that badly?â Balfour squinted, watching her dry her hair.
Ivy sat down at the vanity, busying herself with a brush through her hair, not wanting to look at his icy face.
Seeing them together earlier had actually made her feel quite uncomfortable as if she had been cheated on!
âNo, I just saw you two chatting away and figured you must have a lot to talk about. Surely youâd want to talk more.â Ivy forced a laugh, saying, âSo, I thought Iâd be considerate and stay in my room, not wanting to intrude or be a third wheel!â
Hearing her say that, Balfourâs expression turned darker.