As expected, the first and third granduncles were seated in the seats of honor at the head table. They were both taken aback when they saw Mrs. Sterling and Aurora arrive.
In the past, Mrs. Sterling would avoid banquets like this whenever she could. The reason was simple, and everyone knew it well.
The host of the banquet, Susan Sterling, also hadn't expected to see Mrs. Sterling. She had originally invited Mrs. Sterling out of familial courtesy—and, of course, mostly to show off. She was so prepared for Mrs. Sterling to send a gift in her place that she hadn't even saved a seat for her.
By now, the head table was completely full. Mrs. Sterling wasn't in a hurry to sit down. She simply stood in the middle of the room, smiled at Susan Sterling, and said, "Susan, have Aurora and I arrived too late?"
This put Susan Sterling in an awkward position. It wasn't that Mrs. Sterling was late; it was that Susan hadn't saved a seat for her at all.
