There were fleeting minutes of silence between the three of us. The woman flashed a smile—a pretentious one. 

"I didn't mean to offend her, moonpie. I was just confused why she's wearing that kind of dress when she's only your... maid."

I clenched my fist in vexation. Did she really think that abated the derogatory remark she hurled at me? 

"Because I want to."

The attention was diverted to Garren when he spoke impassively. He also sounds annoyed. 

"Mom, can you stop asking questions and let us sit?"

Her mother laughed. "You're as peevish as ever, my dear son." She turned to me with that similar spurious smile. "Cleo, right?"...