Chapter 5: The Widow Goes to Dinner

The Dray club dining room was full when Linnet walked in wearing black.

Every table turned.

She wore a plain black dress and the gold ring on her left hand, and Madam's driver walked half a step behind her.

Nobody had told the Dray family she would come.

At the head table Anselm rose from his chair, and his mother froze with a fork in the air.

Philippa jumped up and ran to her with open arms.

"You came!" she said. "I was so afraid you wouldn't."

"I said yes," Linnet said.

She let herself be hugged and counted to three in her head.

Then she looked past Philippa's shoulder at Anselm.

He smiled at her warmly, as if nothing had happened between them.

He tapped a glass with a spoon, and the room went quiet.

"Friends," he said. "Since Linnet is here, we may as well say it together."

He took Philippa's hand and lifted it.

A diamond the size of a thumbnail flashed on her finger.

"Philippa and I are engaged," Anselm said, and the room applauded.

Linnet clapped twice, slowly.

"Congratulations," she said. "That's a beautiful stone."

"Thank you," Philippa said, and she glowed.

"Which jeweler?" Linnet asked pleasantly.

A few people laughed politely.

Anselm's smile did not move, but his hand tightened on Philippa's.

"I'm glad you're being so brave about all this, Linnet," he said gently. "Truly. It must be hard, being a widow at twenty-five."

Somebody sucked in a breath.

The widow sat down at the nearest table and folded her hands.

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