I was in the kitchen when Fletcher arrived home the next afternoon. I’d been chatting with Lucinda about the ball and was unable to hide how excited I was when he walked through the front door.

I bolted down the hallway and found him unbuttoning the top buttons of his T-shirt. He looked disheveled and tired in his face.

I watched him for a moment, trying to pinpoint what was bothering him but he noticed me first.

“Did you have a good day?” he asked.

I nodded and ...