Chapter 6

At five, Claire changed into the gown, wine-red satin cut straight to the floor. She put on a true red lipstick in the mirror and fastened her pearl earrings.

Her reflection looked back at her, every line of it sharp and completely in command.

Guests started arriving at six.

Claire stood at the ballroom doors and smiled at every one of them. They looked back with pity, with curiosity, and in more than a few cases with something a lot closer to enjoyment.

She took all of it without blinking.

Andrew rushed in at 6:40 wearing the suit she had…