"Miss Sandford?"
Miss Sandford, who had opened the door, almost jolted in surprise at the sight of Charles outside.
"Mr. Bennet!"
"Uh… I didn't know you and Mildred Pierson were acquaintances," he said. "Is she in?"
"We only met not long ago, and yes, she is," Miss Sandford replied, nodding as she opened the door wider. "Please come in. She's in the kitchen—I'll just call her."
With that, Miss Sandford let him inside, and Charles stepped in carefully. As he approached the couches, he watched her hurry off toward the kitchen.
"They must be close if she's answering the door instead of the owner," he muttered as he took a seat, but he didn't dwell on it much.
It didn't take long before Mildred came into view. As soon as she did, Charles quickly rose from his seat.
"Mr. Bennet," Mildred greeted, her steps slowing until she stopped a few paces away. "To what do I owe this visit?"
Charles's expression quickly turned solemn, prompting her to raise a brow.
