The comforting scent of Opium drifts toward me.
“Remy. Erik. May I present Madame Giroux?” I say.
She assesses them both in a single glance, then nods and dismisses them just as quickly. Her focus settles on me.
“You are using your talent correctly,” she says. “As you should.”
I reach for the hand not holding her cane. “Thank you for coming, Mama.” My voice is choked.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the Earls approaching.
“Madame,” David calls.
“This is such an honor,” James adds.
“I would love to discuss something with you,” David says.
“We,” James corrects, “would like to discuss something.”
“I will consider it,” Madame replies. “If I wish to speak with you, I will let Meg know. I believe you are acquainted.”
Her tone is dry as dust.
“Now my dear, I think this has done everything it needed to. You and your beau’s shall take me for a nightcap and they can explain their intentions.”
She glances back and makes eye contact with the lady in red while raising her voice slightly, “You’ve met everyone of anyimportance, I am sure the rest will understand your need to take your leave.”
The austere gentleman who had been with Reagan took the moment to raise his glass.
“Thank you again for a wonderful performance, we look forward to the season.”
Applause starts again as Ruiz moves us towards the office exit.
Chapter one hundred eighteen
Erik
While I am relieved to be away from the cloying crowd, I don’t like being told I am leaving by someone I do not know.
My eyes narrow slightly as the imperious woman links her arm with Tianna, forcing Remy and me to fall in behind them.
Remy’s hand drops to my shoulder and pulls me in close. “That's Meg’s mother. She helped raise Tianna. Behave,” he hisses.
I shoot him a look. I know this. Tianna told me. It does not mean I appreciate being displaced from her side by someone I have never met.
We follow them to a town car and Madame ushers Tianna inside.
“We will meet at your house for a nightcap.”
Her gaze shifts to Ruiz. “Call your boss. There are things he needs to know.”
We stare as the car pulls away, leaving us on the curb. Then we break into a jog toward our SUV to follow.
I can’t help but snap at Ruiz. “Really? You let her drive off with a perfect stranger? Does this not seem suspicious to you?”
Remy also looks at him, waiting for the answer.
“She was thoroughly vetted when she came to visit, and because she is Meg’s mother, Christianna should be safe enough. However, I am not comfortable with her being out of sight. This does have the benefit of me making sure there isn’t someone tailing her,” he says as he pulls into traffic. They are about four cars ahead of us.
