When she heard the knock at the door, Ella tucked back the hair that had come loose from the neat knot at her nape, and she hummed along with the music as she tugged the door open with a smile.
She moved aside, so that Ed could enter, but she stayed near the door, since she knew Leah was due at any minute.
"Welcome, Valmont," she said, taking the champagne from him without asking if it was actually for the dinner table. "My sister's joining us." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're going to be our buffer."