Chapter 505
Julie's POV
I descended the stairs slowly, the heels of my boots clicking lightly against the marble. Robert was standing by the main entrance, his heavy coat slung over his forearm, murmuring in a low register to one of his guards. The instant he heard my footsteps, his voice cut off and he spun around.
He didn't say a word.
He stood there, his dark eyes sweeping down from my face to the dusty-blue silk dress, then slowly climbing back up. His expression remained entirely locked, yet I caught the sudden, sharp bob of his throat. He flicked a casual hand toward the guard without looking, and the man vanished instantly.
"Is it... appropriate?" I asked, my voice dropping lower than I intended as I nervously smoothed the fabric of my skirt.
"Yes."
The single word was clipped, absolute, yet his gaze refused to break away. He took a slow breath, his voice tightening to mask something heavier underneath: "The coat."
