“Lovely,” Joanna said before looking toward the study. “So, is she still in there?”

“No, Addison insists dinner is served promptly at half six,” Evelyn said, checking her watch. “Which means you have two minutes to spare.” Sweeping her arm in the direction of the dining room, she said, “Why don’t you go in and sit down, and I’ll let Noah and the girls know you’ll be dining down here tonight.”

“Okay, thanks.”

With pep in her step, Joanna approached the pocket doors. She was not afraid of Addison Kane, and filled with that confidence, when Joanna pulled the doors apart, she did so with the energy that comes from determination. The heavy slabs slid effortlessly into the walls, building speed as they went and when they finally reached the end of their tracks, the bang that followed echoed in the dining room, causing Addison to jump.

“Oops,” Joanna said with a little titter. “Sorry about that.”

Joanna wasn’t surprised when Addison didn’t even acknowledge her existence by looking up, so spying the place setting awaiting her arrival at the opposite end of the table she strolled over and plopped down into the chair. Admiring the finery in front of her, Joanna looked up to comment only to have the words die in her throat. Staring back at her was the most hideous thing she had ever seen.

Blocking her view of Addison was a gargantuan bronze candelabra, the base of which displayed four Gorgon heads, each facing a side of the table. In true Medusa fashion, erupting from the top of the heads were spirals of twisting snakes making their way toward the ceiling. Weaving in and out of each other, the bronze tentacles hindered most of Joanna’s view, and the rest was thwarted by pumpkin-colored pillar candles scattered throughout the monstrosity.

Joanna’s first instinct was to curl her lip at the ugliness, but the more she stared open-mouthed at the serpent-headed candelabra, the more amusing it became. It seemed poetic to Joanna that a centerpiece displaying a woman famous for turning people into stone with just one look blocked her view of Addison.

Tickled by the thought, when the swinging door from the kitchen opened, and Fiona and Sally paraded out with the first course, Joanna was wearing a wide smile which grew even wider when a starter of seared scallops was placed in front of her.

“Thank you, Sally,” Joanna said.

Sally’s eyes bulged at the mention of her name. Not to respond would be rude, but to speak in the presence of Addison Kane was not allowed. The staff was to be seen, but never to be heard. Seeking out Fiona, Sally silently pleaded for direction.

“That will be all, Sally,” Evelyn said, standing in the doorway leading to the foyer.