Addison Kane never went into a meeting without being prepared. Having spent the better part of her afternoon thinking about what her future would now hold, she was more than ready for Fran’s questions. “She can have the east wing. I’ll talk to Evelyn, and she’ll have a room ready for this tart when she moves in.”

“She’s not a tart. Her name is Joanna, and she’ll need two rooms. You forgot about her father.”

“No, I didn’t. You said he was ill, so put him in a home,” Addison said, mindlessly picking a piece of lint off her trousers.

“That won’t work. Joanna has made it clear that where she goes, he goes.”

“Quite demanding for someone in her position, isn’t she?”

“The only position she’s in is the one that’s saving your arse, and I don’t believe what she’s asking for is demanding at all. I think it shows the type of person she is.”

“Stupid?”

“Compassionate.”

“You say tomayto and I say tomahto.”

Fran grinned. A glimmer of the woman she once knew had just slipped through the barrier. “This isn’t something negotiable, Addison, so unless you—”

“Whatever,” Addison said, waving her hand in the air to dismiss the topic. “What’s next?”

“You’ll need to meet her.”

“Why in the hell would I want to do that?”

“This isn’t just about you, Addison. Remember, Joanna is involved too, and I’m sure she’ll want to meet you before putting her signature on the registry papers. Call it…curiosity.”

“Fine. Talk to Millie, and she can let you know when I’m available.”

“Good,” Fran said. “And speaking of the registry office, that’s something I can’t do for you. You’ll need to show up in person with the proper identification, and both of you will have to sign the papers. After that, it gets posted for twenty-eight days, and then you’ll be married. I’m assuming you’ll want it held at your house, and that’s doable, but I’m going to have to pull some strings.”

“I don’t care if you have to pull some strings or grease some palms, but it’s sure as hell not going to be at a church or in some fucking registry office,” Addison said with a huff. “And as far as what happens at the house, the less, the better. No guests, no reporters, no pictures, no nothing. We do the deed, sign the papers, and that’s it. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else?”

Fran looked at her watch. “Well, there’s still a lot of time left in the day. How about I call Joanna right now, and we can arrange a meeting together?”