Whispers began to spread rapidly across the ballroom. Brenda tried to hold her smile, but her mouth twitched nervously.

“First, I want to formally thank Miss Brenda Vance,” Luke continued loudly, “for coming here tonight in place of my mother. Thank you for wearing her dress and her jewelry, and for presenting yourself to the public as if you were actually Mrs. Albright.”

An indignant murmur swept through the entire room.

“What is he saying?” one guest whispered.

“Isn’t that woman his wife?” another asked.

“I knew Vivian, and that woman on stage is definitely not her,” a third voice added.