She looked up.

Kit was looking at her.

He held her gaze for a moment.

He mouthed something.

She read it. That was beautiful.

She looked at her champagne glass.

She was smiling.

The dancing started at seven.

She danced with Jess's father and Marcus and one of Daniel's cousins who was seventeen and tried very hard and she was kind about it. She drank champagne and talked to people and managed the room the way she always managed rooms — easily, invisibly, making sure everyone had what they needed.

At eight thirty she was at the edge of the dance floor with a fresh glass of champagne when he...