By the time they returned to the hotel, it was well past midnight. Nova helped the two little girls with their baths; then spent some time reading them bedtime stories. Only when both of them were sound asleep did she quietly tiptoe out of the room.

Back in her own room, she found Tristan still in the middle of a video conference. Business matters were beyond her expertise, so she simply poured him a cup of hot water and then slipped into the bathroom with her clothes.

When she ...