Her mother, diligent at the tavern but abstaining from tobacco, had instilled a strict no-smoking policy.
Emma surveyed her surroundings, only to find an unknown gentleman comfortably seated in her kitchen.
Emma sprung to her feet, her wide-eyed gaze fixed upon the intruder. A cascade of questions flooded her mind. Why was he present, and what possible connection did he have with her?
The gentleman's eyes meandered over Emma's figure, pausing at the undone buttons of her bodice. A sly smile adorned his face, devoid of any friendly intentions.
On instinct, Emma tightened her collar, her eyes vigilant, and her jaw firmly clenched. The air brimmed with tension as uncertainty hung in the room, and Emma stood ready to confront this unexpected intrusion.
Suddenly, her mother emerged from the washroom, a perplexed expression on her face. "Hey, what's going on? Have you two been introduced yourself ?"
