Addison stepped out into the evening mist, mindless of the drizzle against her skin. Photographers were no longer present, and the need for the masquerade of spousal duties had long since ended, but nevertheless, she held out her hand and helped Joanna from the car.

Joanna squinted at the feel of the fine spray, but the chill of the water was bested by the warmth of Addison’s hand wrapped around hers. In silence they climbed the stairs, their fingers remaining intertwined until the front door swung open, causing both women to jump.

Releasing herself from Addison’s grip as if she’d been burned, Joanna quickly walked inside. “Fiona, it’s late. You should be in bed.”

“Yes, miss,” Fiona said, her eyes betraying her as they darted to Addison for a split-second. “But someone always waits up just in case anything is needed.”

Forgetting for a moment the demands made by the woman to her right, Joanna sighed. “We’re fine, Fiona. That’ll be all for the night.”

Fiona summoned up a half-hearted smile in reply, and squeaking across the entrance hall in her orthopedic shoes, she disappeared into the kitchen.

“Well,” Addison said, looking toward the second floor. “I don’t know about you, but I think I’m going to call it a night.”

“That makes two of us,” Joanna said, and following Addison’s lead, she climbed the stairs.

When they reached the landing, there was an awkward pause. Addison was supposed to go left, and Joanna was supposed to go right, but neither could convince their feet to move.

Searching for the words, Joanna said, “I...I just want to thank you for tonight. I had fun.”

“You’re welcome,” Addison said softly. “And thank you for agreeing to do it.”

Joanna shrugged. “Anytime,” she said as she turned toward the entrance to the east wing. “Good night, Addison.”

“Good night, Joanna.”

Addison went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her. It had been a long night, and she was exhausted, but her brain was firing on all cylinders, and each spark held a flicker of Joanna in its flash. She let out an audible breath and headed to the wardrobe, but when she reached up to release her necktie, she stopped for a moment, chuckling when she realized she wasn’t wearing one. Unclasping her necklace, Addison dropped it on the bureau, but as she began to remove her tuxedo jacket, an ear-splitting scream sliced through every wall in The Oaks.

Addison flinched and whipping around, she bolted from the room. No sooner had her feet hit the carpet outside her door when she came to an abrupt stop as she looked down the corridor. At the far end of the east wing, Irene was standing just outside Robert’s door holding onto Joanna as sob after sob spilled from Joanna’s lips.