Jane averted her gaze from the leaf she had been following and fixed it on Mrs. Cromwell, Ian's grandmother, who sat in the armchair to Jane’s right, while Mrs, Thornton, Ian's mother, occupied the chair on Jane's left side. Both women had been sticking close to her since they had walked out to the meadow behind the Thornton manor, where they had tea, with Mrs. Cromwell interrogating her about her parents, her education, her hobbies and her friends. Mrs. Cromwell's voice was soft and a small smile played on her face as she shot questions at her, but Jane had no trouble imagining the older lady in a dark room, with a beam of light fixed on her subject while her sharp voice demanded answers. “Mother, stop it, this is not a job interview,” Mrs. Thornton said before she turned her attention to Jane. Her mouth stretched into a gentle smile. “You have to forgive Mother, she's inquisitive by nature and very protective.” The older lady probably ordered a background check on me as soon as she heard that I'm going to have Ian's baby, Jane thought.
