AJ gulped.
“That thing’s a pain in the ass,” said Noah, following her gaze. “It dies if it’s not wound, like, once a day.”
“Sounds tragic,” said AJ, stepping inside. He was about to respond when they were rushed by five puppies, paws skittering across black-and-white marble.
“How did you get out?” muttered Noah, frowning as two of them tugged at his shoelaces.
“I thought they could use a change of scenery.”
Holy shit.It was her.
As Eudora Drew floated down the stairs, clad in soft gray cashmere, AJ had half a second to process that Glimmette was now in her seventies. She knew, of course, that Eudora Drew had had a massive career followingAstronauticals,racking up multiple Tony Awards, an Emmy, and an Oscar nomination.
But gone were the peachy bouffant and go-go boots. The elegant woman who landed in the vestibule was more akin to Katharine Hepburn than Glimmette, her frosted-blond French twist resplendent in the afternoon sunlight.
“Hortense, come,” she intoned, and it struck AJ afresh that this person was trulyfamous.
Presently, a caramel-colored Cavalier King Charles trotted out of the drawing room, stopping beside Eudora for a scratch behind the ears.
“Negligent minx,” murmured Eudora as Hortense sauntered after her brood.
“Dorie, this is AJ,” said Noah, his tone clipped.
“I’m—yes. Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”
The great actress’s dark, intelligent eyes slid to AJ’s jean cutoffs and hand-me-down cardigan.
“We work together,” AJ added after a beat. “At Reel World.”
Eudora’s head tilted. “You’re actually quite pretty, beneath all that scruff.Leonine.A young Charlotte Rampling. It’s the deep-set eyes. And the wide nose bridge.”
AJ blushed at this assessment. “Uh…thanks.”
Noah placed his hands on his hips, his expression stern. “We’ve come with a message from the Science Fiction Society of the Berkshires. And an invitation.”
In a few curt sentences, he described the panel.
“It’s Labor Day weekend,” he finished gruffly.
“We’d be grateful if you’d consider it,” added AJ, annoyed that Noah hadn’t done a better job of selling the event. “I’m a huge fan, by the way. I loved you and Ezell inAstronauticals.”
Eudora Drew’s eyes sparked. “Astronauticals.” She pronounced each syllable with disdain. “I’ve never understood how a show that looks like a two-bit home video spawned such a base. Of course, they’re all a bunch of grade A nutjobs. Maybe that explains it.”
This struck a nerve. “I mean, it’s not Shakespeare,” said AJ. “But that doesn’t make it bad.”
The great actress’s expression turned feline. “And what wouldyouknow of Shakespeare?”
AJ’s cheeks burned. “I’ve readRomeo and Juliet.”
“Oh,wellthen…”
“Dorie,” Noah warned. He cleared his throat. “The panel.”
Eudora’s eyes traveled between them, calculating. It seemed impossible that this ostensibly humorless woman had produced some of the best punch lines ever delivered. Still AJ held her breath; she would give a lot to hear Eudora’s firsthand insights into her favorite show.
At last, Eudora said, “I’ll consider it. If you’ll consider something in return.”
Noah sucked in a breath. “What?”
