" The first hint that something was going on, was learning that Mother wanted to eat in the private dining room that evening.
The second was when she bullied me into wearing one of my new gowns, one she consented to my requisition despite it being premade and off the shelf, because, as she said, it suited me so very well.
Still, I didn’t step wise to the plan until after we had been served appetizers and wine in the private dining room. There was a knock on the door. One of the serving maids answered.
And Erin walked in.
My mother was a dead woman.
I plastered a smile on my face. “Erin! Come in!” A dead woman. A dead, dead, dead, dead woman. I was going to kill her. Slowly. A lot.
Erin grinned, and I had to admit that my heart did skip a beat. “Dunleavy, you look lovely!”
“Thank you, Erin. I’m so glad you could come.” My mother was taller than I, but I could reach her throat. That was all I really needed.
“Holder Mallorough, I’m so glad you could join us this evening!”
I looked at my mother.
Who refused to look at me. “Oh, no. I was only keeping Lee company while she waited. I have an engagement with the Yings, and I’m going to be late.”
I gaped at her, the significance of her words hitting me hard. Then I shut my mouth. Because I had to be wrong. She wouldn’t dare.
She rose from the table and crossed the room to stand by Erin. “I must say you are looking particularly handsome tonight, Erin.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“It is so nice to see young people who know how to dress.”
Then she looked at me.
“Have a good evening.”
She did dare. She was going to leave. She’d set this dinner up, without telling me, and now she was deserting me. I couldn’t believe it.
Erin opened the door for her. She stepped out. I sat in my chair and wallowed in the moment of feeling stunned...
Damn that woman. And all right, so I couldn’t actually strangle her. I wasn’t sure I was strong enough. But we had to have a talk. A long screaming serious one. No more soft shoes. "

― , The Hero Strikes Back (Hero, #2)