Page 32 of Hell to Pay
Sebastian, while all this was happening, had raised a hand for the waiter. Now, said waiter came over and handed Ashleigh a menu with as much formality as if she’d been a princess herself. She said, “Thanks. I’m starved. I need something that doesn’t take lots of time to cook, like a sandwich or something.”
“Or maybe Bouillabaisse,” Sebastian said, “if you like seafood.”
“Is that good?” Ashleigh asked.
“Well, if you’re French,” Sebastian said. “Fish, shellfish … a mix of things in a stew, whatever’s freshest. In a place like this, it’ll be a banger.”
“Shellfish,” Ben said. “Prawns, I bet. Why is it always prawns? Bugs again. Gross.”
“Great,” Ashleigh said, ignoring him. “Bwee-ya—whatever—works for me.” Upon which Sebastian raised a hand again and ordered it.
My conscience should be twinging at all this extravagance, but I was unable to muster even a flutter. For a man who’d traveled through life not only single but alone, Sebastian seemed to me to enjoy being thePaterfamilias.I recognized the signs. I’m German, as you know.
Ashleigh said, “Soup, wine, hopefully dessert—are we having dessert? I’d feel guilty about spending your money, except that I’m your official videographer—and then Ben and I will get to work. Man, this is so great. My dad isn’t going to be able to say anything now about how I’m wasting my potential, because here I am realizing it. Mrs. Stark—Princess Marguerite, I should say—I am going to make you famous. You just wait and see.”
“I’ve been famous,” I said, “more or less. It’s overrated.”
“You can say that again,” Sebastian said. Athletes, as I’ve mentioned.
“We’ll tell the story, though,” I said, “to people who may need a cautionary tale. That will work for me.”
15
WITH MY HEART
I was finishing with my makeup the next morning—how unnecessary a task when one is thirty and still has beautiful skin, like Alix, and how necessary in old age, unless one wishes to frighten dogs and small children—when I heard a knock at the door. I looked at my watch, the same one my father had given me all those years ago, appearing more oversized than ever now on my narrow wrist. Eight-ten.
It was Alix, all of her brimming with excitement.
“I see you have news,” I said. “Come in and tell me while I finish my disguise.”
She followed me into the bathroom and sat on the padded bench—was it for visitors, or for clothes, I’d wondered? Visitors in the bath sounded odd, yet here we were. She asked, “Are your pajamas silk?”
“Yes,” I said. “Why not? They’re washable in the machine.”
“No reason,” she said. “You’re amazing, that’s all. OK, guess what? You won’t, so I’ll tell you. I heard from Dr. Bauer. She wants us to come to an emergency board meeting.”
I paused with the mascara wand in my hand. “When?”
“Today. That’s why she called me at seven forty-five. Theywant to meet with us at noon, ‘although such quick action is highly irregular, but these are unusual circumstances.’ I’m quoting, if you can’t tell. She sounded almost flustered, if you can imagine that. It won’t be the whole board, but enough of it to make a decision.”
“A quorum,” I said.
“It always surprises me how much better your English is than mine,” Alix said. “Right, a quorum. Dr. Bauer knew the word too. So—showtime, huh?”
My heart was beating too fast, and I was a little breathless. I set the tube of mascara on the counter. It rolled off and hit the floor, and I made a small annoyed sound even as I held onto the edge of the marble slab. Alix bent and picked the mascara up off the floor—I can get down there, and back up again, too, but it’s much more of a production, and one I prefer not to display before an audience—handed it to me, and asked, “Are you OK?”
“Yes,” I said. “I just need to sit a minute.”
I sank onto the bench myself now.A fainting couch,I thought irrelevantly. Alix hovered anxiously, and I said, “I’m all right. I was just thinking—” I broke off.
She sat beside me and took my hand, which was pleasant. How abruptly one can lose the pleasure that is human touch, and how cold one becomes without it.
“What?” she asked. “If this is all too much, if you want to forget the tiara part, we can. I don’t need the tiara. I’ve loved being here with you, hearing all these stories I never knew about, and seeing the palace and the city. It’s felt like kind of a precious time, you know?”
“Yes,” I said. “To me as well.”
“Then,” she said, “we both know that’s what matters. If you want to drop the tiara thing now, say the word and we will.”
