AURELIA MARLOWE

“He’s certainly memorable,” I replied, keeping my tone light enough that the woman beside me laughed as though I had paid him a compliment.

“I imagine marriage to a man like Ronan Blackwell is never dull.”

“That would be one way of putting it.”

Her husband called from somewhere behind us, and after giving my arm an affectionate squeeze, she excused herself just as another guest approached Ronan.

The appeal had ended, but he was still being stopped every few minutes by trustees, businessmen and people determined to thank him personally. I remained beside him through another conversation about the hospital project while he asked about construction dates...