Mr. Kingston sat stiffly in one of the roped-off VIP sections, the glittering chaos of the gala seeming distant despite the crystal chandeliers bathing the room in golden light. The moment Giovanni’s toast ended, he leaned slightly toward Elise, who had joined him, keeping his jaw tense but his eyes never leaving the crowd and most of all Giovanni.

Elise, poised but visibly uneasy, especially after Giovanni’s toast.

She turned to Mr. Kingston, keeping her voice low, her fingers drumming ...