Laurence had half expected Granby to spend the night elsewhere, but it had hurt somewhat nonetheless. Perhaps the brief period of separation had been needed though, and now that the other man was back they could simply resume where they had left off.

He opened the door at Granby's voice, pleased to have him back. The not inconsiderable shock and embarrassment he felt upon seeing Julie holding tightly to his arm luckily did not much register in Laurence's expression. Even now he was determined to behave in a right and proper manner.

"Good morning. I am afraid I was not expecting polite company. If you will permit me a moment--" He was, after all, only in his shirtsleeves and hardly dressed for receiving a lady visitor, even one who spent a not entirely polite amount of time at the house as it was.