A quiet “Good evening” came from the women. They all wore long evening gowns, and at least half a ton of makeup covered their faces. That they were even able to stand with so many expensive rocks around their necks and on their earlobes was likely down to the vast quantity of alcohol they’d obviously consumed. All of them smelled like a distillery. But it could also have been their perfume, the fumes of which were almost killing Sherry’s sense of smell.

“It’s so wonderful,” Sherry began, “to be here tonight and to finally get the chance to meet Mrs. Fielding’s friends.”

A screeching laugh, sounding strangely like the screaming of a hyena, came from one of the women.

Sherry flinched.

Another woman—who seemed to be used to hearing this scary noise—said, “Eileen always hosts the best parties.”

“Yes, the best,” the woman beside her, wearing an unnaturally huge diamond watch on her left wrist, said. She let her gaze roam through the room before landing on Sherry with a piercing stare. “So, you are Madison’s lesbian companion?”

Sherry forced a smile. To pretend to be Madison’s partner was no longer difficult for her. But how this woman had addressed her as a “lesbian companion” spoke of astonishment at best and disgust at worst. “That’s correct.”

“Because of these liberals at the Supreme Court, homosexuals can even marry now,” Hyena said. “Are you planning to do that too?”

“Really?” a woman speaking for the first time asked without waiting for Sherry to answer. “Even gay men?”

“That’s scandalous,” the woman who had praised Mrs. Fielding’s party said.

Sherry had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. Madison had been right: this sentence was going to be useful as one of their standard replies. Her amusement surpassed her surprise regarding their bigotry and their obviously poor education. How could they have missed the Supreme Court’s decision?

“I’ve said it again and again,” the woman with the huge diamond watch on her wrist said. “The democrats and their misguided supporters will ruin our great country. They shouldn’t be allowed to be in any position of power.”

“Hear, hear,” Hyena said.

Sherry glanced at Madison. Were these women making fun of her? They were like bad caricatures of snobs on TV.

“Would you excuse us, please?” Madison asked. “I see countless curious eyes on my lovely companion.” With a tense smile, she pulled Sherry away from them.

“Please tell me they were trying to be funny and were just reenacting a scene from Dynasty or something.”

“Nope.” She stopped in front of a group of four men. Three of them were smoking thick cigars and were half-hidden in thick blue clouds.

Sherry blinked against the sting in her eyes and used the chance to look around. Most groups were strictly divided by gender. Rita Mae wouldn’t believe her when she told her about these people.