Emme could always use extra cash in Kristalldorf. A 500ml bottle of water on the slopes cost the equivalent of five pounds; and she wanted to be able to buy some new going-out clothes.
‘What do you need?’
‘The Kivvi Christingle is this Saturday and I need an extra pair of hands to serve drinks and canapés. Do you fancy it? I could get agency staff but it’s a great way to get you in…’
Emme knew the kids had an extra ski lesson on Saturday morning and Lexy would be getting her hair and nails done, but she didn’t know whether she’d be needed in the afternoon yet.
‘The Harringtons bring their kids…’ Cat said, almost reading Emme’s mind.
Would Tristan be there?
Emme realised she wouldn’t get an invitation any other way, she was just the help.
‘I’d love to, thank you. I’ll need to double check with Lexy, but I’ll text you.’ She pondered that her boss had been in a better mood this past week. Less on edge in the mornings. Less wittery at the dinner table. Hopefully she’d be fine with her taking this work.
‘Great, thanks.’
‘Tiago’s helping too, bless him. He’s taking a night off from the Steinherrhof and getting Camilla to cover his shift just to help me out.’
‘Ahhh, he’s a good guy,’ Emme said.
‘Yeah, sadly notmygood guy,’ Cat laughed, referencing Emme’s mix-up when she first arrived in town.
‘Hey, erm, is Anastasia going?’ Emme asked, with sympathetic concern.
Cat didn’t have the courage to tell her they’d already had amazing make-up sex when Cat had gone to end it there and then, that they’d been messaging each other still. ‘She’s been before, with her husband. Not always.’ Cat said it casually, as if she were indifferent. ‘Vivian sometimes comes too.’
Shit.
Emme still hadn’t told Cat about her sex in the cable car with Vivian’s boyfriend. Might Vivian and Tristan be there together? If so, it might be too much. But at least it would give her an insight.
‘Their dad never goes to the Kivvi Christingle of course, but the daughters represent him.’
‘How do you cope, seeing Anastasia there but not being able to talk?’ Emme asked nervously.
‘We only hooked up on New Year’s Eve, at a party at the Steinherrhof. I was helping Tiago out then…’
‘Will you be OK if she’s there this Saturday?’
‘I’ll be better for it if you are,’ Cat replied, pressing her palms together in a plea.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Emme promised.
Chapter Forty-Six
It was the first Saturday in December, and the first thick snow of the season– the type to really settle, even in the village– was kissing the fantasy-like turrets of the Steinherr mansion and building fast. Inside, by the roaring fire of the study, Walter had called his children– bar Caspian, who was riding waves off Maui– for a family meeting before the Kivvi Christingle.
Vivian had been surprised her father wanted to go to the party, and had asked Lysander if there was cause for concern. His return to Kristalldorf so soon after his visit for Walter’s birthday had caused Vivian further alarm. What was going on that she didn’t know about? Lysander said he was in Europe on business and had decided to stay for the Kivvi Christingle, but still, Vivian was astute enough to know something was awry.
‘What is it, Papa?’ Anastasia asked, walking in, wearing a crimson Valentino gown. She was surprised to see Dimitri already sitting in one of the wing-backed leather armchairs opposite Walter’s desk. ‘Kristaps said you wanted us all together?’
Dimitri looked away.
Vivian was sitting in the other armchair, wearing a black Saint Laurent suit that made her look more willowy, more ethereal, than usual.
Lysander was perched on a leather studded Chippendale sofa, arms folded. Anastasia was alarmed that no one else looked surprised to be convened for a family meeting one hour before they were going to a party.
‘What’s going on?’
