Old Mrs. Gilbert rushed to comfort him, blowing gently on his hand.
"Sweetheart, did you hurt yourself?"
Johnny burrowed into her arms and pointed at me, shrieking.
"Grandma, that beggar keeps staring at me! She's so gross I can't even eat!"
Old Mrs. Gilbert turned her disgusted gaze toward me.
I tugged my mask tighter, terrified of being recognized and thrown out. In my panic, I dropped to my knees.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I was just worried the young master might not be used to tonight's dishes."
Kay rose with a bowl of chicken soup and gently patted Johnny's head.
"We mustn't lose our temper like that. Our Johnny is a well-mannered boy, isn't he?"
Johnny huffed but kept glaring at me with pure venom.
Old Mrs. Gilbert gave Kay an approving look, then seemed to remember something and turned to Joel with a weary sigh.
"Look at Kay—graceful, cultured, educated abroad—and she's willing to be your devoted partner. Then look at that country bumpkin you dragged home. You'd be a laughingstock if anyone saw her. If she had any shame at all, would she have clung to you for ten years without so much as a title?"
Joel glanced at me instinctively.
I lowered my eyes, the hurt settling deep.