"I'll go back with you. We have to make this a surprise for Adam!"
"Okay." Claire Sutton smiled, pressing her lips together, but a hidden glint of amusement flickered in her eyes.
In the Palace of Tranquility, Claire Sutton was helped to a seat on the sofa. Queen Vance looked around, but there was no sign of Adam Sinclair.
"Where's Adam?"
"He..." Claire Sutton bit her lip, a trace of misery in her eyes. She hesitated for a long moment but said nothing.
Queen Vance could tell at a glance that she was in some kind of trouble. 'Could there be a problem with their marriage?'
She quickly walked over and sat down beside Claire Sutton, taking her hand and placing it on her own lap. "Claire," she asked patiently, "tell Mother, what's really going on?"
