“My lord, may I present my assistant, Katarina Clark?” Hale slid an arm around Kat’s waist and pulled her closer.
“The servants’ stairs are to the left,” the old man said with barely a glance in Kat’s direction.
Hale just pulled her tighter. He looked down into her eyes. “I’m sorry, my lord, but I’d prefer she stay with me. You see, Kat is my personal assistant.”
Kat wanted to slap him just for principle, but she was too used to the feel of Hale’s arm around her, and it was too cold and there was too much to be gained by letting the old man leer.
“Ha!” the earl laughed again. “I see.”
Even the heir was looking at her, and Kat made a mental note to repay Hale for this favor.
“I hope you can forgive me for practically inviting myself, my lord,” he was telling the earl. “I simply had to come thank you in person for your generous donation. One of the Eggs of the Magi… I can’t imagine a better tribute to my grandmother or a better gift to her legacy.”
With that, the earl seemed to shrink beneath his heavy plaid blanket. Kat watched him wither. Age. “Ah yes. Sorry to hear about Hazel, my boy. Great lady. So it must be true that she left you the keys to the kingdom, eh?”
Hale nodded slowly, and his grip on Kat’s waist never wavered. “Hale Industries is mine now, yes.”
When the earl eyed his nephew it was not with a little bit of envy. His laugh was as cold as the wind.
“Disinherited the heir apparent, did she? Ha! Did you hear that, Allaway?” the earl asked a man in a dark suit who stood not far away. “Allaway’s my man of business,” the earl explained. “Hazel had the right of it. I always liked the old gal. She had gumption!” the earl said, then whispered loudly to Hale. “Took a page out of her book myself.”
“Is that so?” Hale said.
“That’s right.” The earl slapped his plaid-covered leg, a new surge of energy going through him. “Of course, the title, the house, the properties, most of that has to pass to the earl’s heir, no matter how undeserving the little lecher might happen to be.”
Kat couldn’t help but glance at the so-called viscount who was still standing there, listening to every word. But these were old insults and even older wounds. Fletcher Fitzsimmons was immune to whatever his uncle had to say.
“Now, Uncle. You must not get overexcited.”
“Don’t touch me, boy!”
The earl’s shout was loud enough to drown out the crunch of gravel and delicate footsteps behind them. Only the sound of a woman asking, “Father, is everything okay?” could break the spell that held the old earl. At the sound of that voice, he smiled.
“Georgie, get over here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Georgie was young and lovely and decidedly more female than her name might indicate. She was dressed for riding and had a faint horsey smell that spoke of someone who was coming in from the stables.
When she approached she looked at Hale and Kat both, smiled at them equally. And for the first time in the earl’s presence Kat felt like more than just the girl the Hale heir brought to the party.
“Hello,” she said and her father reached for her hand.
“W. W. Hale the Fifth, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Lady Georgette.”
Georgette dropped into a curtsy as if she’d been doing it all of her life and, Kat supposed, she had.
“Lady Georgette.” Hale gave a bow. “It’s an honor to meet you. May I present my assistant, Kat?”
Georgette smiled in Kat’s direction. “How do you do? My father has told me of your grandmother and her charity, Mr. Hale. Tell me, how go the plans for the auction?”
Hale looked at Kat who turned to Lady Georgette and answer-ed. “Very well, my lady. The press release went out yesterday and all the prominent collectors were notified by phone the night before last. So far, the response has been tremendous.”
“Has it?” the viscount said.
“Are they still planning on doing it so close to Christmas?” Lady Georgette asked. “I know I’m no expert on these things, but surely you could get more interest with a little time?”
“True.” Kat smiled. “But interests can also wane. Especially with collectors who never thought an Egg of the Magi would become available during their lifetimes. Best to act before that fact fully sinks in. We’d hate for them to get immune to the thought. We’re hoping that it will give people a sort of rush. Plus, we think the Christmas spirit will help people to be even more generous than usual. It’s for a good cause, after all. Many of the children and families who benefit from the charity are being photographed with the egg today, in fact.”
Beside her, Kat could feel the viscount bristle. “Surely that’s not necessary.”
Kat glanced up at him. “The publicists assure us that it is.”
“But…” the man stammered. “It could break.”
Kat could feel everyone looking at her, waiting. A maid was helping Marcus with the last of the bags. The rest of the guests were already inside, warming up with fresh scones and hot cups of tea. But Kat just looked down at the old man.
“Don’t worry, my lord. The Magi Miracle Network will make sure that the egg stays in the exact condition that it was in when you entrusted it to us.”
This, at last, seemed to appease him. “Very well. But do me a favor and don’t mention the egg to my new lady. Won’t set too well, my giving it away. She likes the shiny, you see.”