The banquet ended.

Madam Hale rode home.

The moment she stepped inside, she tossed her clutch onto the sofa and stood there looking completely hollowed out.

Mrs. Jonathan asked with concern, “Second Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”

Madam Hale looked at her, then at the Jonathan brothers, and all at once grief slammed into her. She collapsed against the arm of the sofa and burst into tears. Crying so hard she could barely breathe, she ...