Bit by the Bug (Matthews Sisters 1) (26 page)

‘Yes, you said.’ Lily nodded.

‘I ran into Lily yesterday after we spoke. I just had to invite her,’ Mimi said.

‘How’s the family?’ Vincent asked, leaning his weight in Kat’s direction. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Lily’s eyes narrowed in on the space between Kat and Vincent’s bodies. Staking her claim, Kat slid her hand onto Vincent’s arm.

‘They are in France,’ Lily said.

‘Dinner is served,’ Walter announced from the patio door.

‘Lovely!’ Mimi exclaimed. She handed her empty flute to the butler as she walked inside.

Vincent put his hand over Kat’s, holding her to his arm as he led the way inside. Lily instantly took up his other arm and began chatting in French. ‘
Ça va
?’

‘
Bien
,’ Vincent answered her in kind, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Hey
! Kat thought.
Not fair
.

Lilly arched a brow and gave a pointed glance at Kat.

Vincent said something, but all she could make out was, ‘
coup de foudre
.’

‘
Quoi
!’ Lily threw back her head and laughed, hitting Vincent’s arm. She started speaking in a rush of words, so fast that they all ran together in a train of nonsense to Kat’s ears.

‘Vincent, darling, you know I hate it when you two get all cosy like that,’ Mimi said. ‘It reminds me of when you were in college.’

Mr Richmond said nothing.

Lily laughed harder, as if at a private joke. ‘My apologies, Mimi.’

Kat felt sufficiently out of place as they crossed through the home to the formal dining room. The intricately carved Chippendale mahogany chairs and pedestal dining table were polished to a high gleam and set with fine china and silver. There were even place cards. Mr and Mrs Richmond were on the ends and Lily was seated next to Vincent. Kat was by herself on the other side, left staring at her boyfriend and the French model.

As soon as they were seated, the server came in with salads and placed them on the plates. Kat put a cloth napkin across her lap and stared at her place setting. On the left side of the plate were three forks and on the right there were two knives and a spoon. Then, on top they’d set three glasses, another knife, spoon, fork and a smaller plate.

What in the world was she supposed to do with all this stuff? She looked up at Vincent. This night wasn’t going anyway close to what she’d pictured in her head. Instead of a dress, she should’ve gotten dining lessons from Zoe. Watching Vincent, she picked up the fork he used.

‘Lily,’ Mr Richmond said, ‘I think you will like the wine we chose for dinner. It’s the Grand Cru Pinot Noir your mother sent us from France.’

‘Lovely,’ said Lily. Kat tried not to wrinkle her nose and mimic the woman’s perfect speech.

As course after course was served, from sesame shrimp and asparagus to odd-tasting plum pudding, Mimi dominated most of the conversation. She drank too much, talked too loud and after the fifth compliment of how cute Lily looked next to her son it became obvious Mimi was again playing matchmaker for Vincent – only this time it wasn’t Kat she wanted him to date.

The only thing that made the meal tolerable was that Vincent made no move to sit closer to Lily, or to touch her. In fact, he put off every one of his mother’s comments with a wry one of his own. A couple of times, he even winked at Kat when no one was watching.

By the time dessert was served, Kat felt irritated, unfulfilled by the food and never so sure in her life that she wanted Vincent. Just seeing him next to Lily, imagining what it would feel like if he was dating the disgustingly perfect woman at his side, she burned with jealousy.

Taking a small bite of berries in sabayon sauce, sorbet
and fresh whipped cream, she felt movement by her foot. Glancing up, she saw Vincent’s eyes on hers. He nudged her again, under the table, gently caressing his shoe along her heel. It appeared a little adolescent to be playing footsies under his parents’ table, but she was thankful for the contact.

‘Ah, delicious,’ Mimi announced, proving to Kat that money couldn’t buy good taste. She laid her napkin on the table and smiled. The rest of the dining party followed suit. Mimi led the way back towards the drawing room, before stopping. ‘Vincent, be a dear and go select another bottle of wine for us. Lily, you go with him. Find that Château, ah, you know the one with the white grapes.’

‘Château Margaux,’ Lily said.

‘Yes, that’s it,’ Mimi agreed. ‘Go with Vincent. Help him get it.’

Lily nodded, threaded her arm through Vincent’s and led him away.

‘They look good together, don’t you think?’ Mimi asked. Before Kat could answer, she said, ‘It’s so good to see you again Kat. Let’s go sit down, shall we?’

Kat sat on one of the leather chairs, feeling very much like the day they’d hired her to date their son. Only now, she was before them, thoroughly prepared to quit.

‘Kat, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for Vincent. He’s come so far in such a short time.’ Mimi smiled at her husband, who nodded his head.

‘Thank you,’ Kat said.

‘Yes, I’d say you’ve more than held up your end of the bargain,’ Mr Richmond said.

‘I almost didn’t believe my eyes when I saw him last week,’ Mimi continued. ‘I hardly recognised him. You cleaned him up, got him out of the office and into the actual world. I even think he might be ready to rejoin fine society and take his place in this family.’

‘We’re prepared to let you out of our agreement early,
’Mr Richmond said. ‘We’d like you to go ahead and break it off with him tonight.’

‘Tell him you’re seeing someone else.’ Mimi drew her finger over her bottom lip thoughtfully. ‘That you’re getting back together with an old boyfriend.’

Jack? There was something in the way the woman said it that made Kat stiffen. No, she can’t know about Jack.

‘But, it’s only been a few months,’ Kat said in surprise.

‘Yes, but who knew a little attention would draw him out so well.’ Mimi tilted her head to the side. ‘Again, we can’t thank you enough for your fine work.’

‘I …’ Kat didn’t know what to say. ‘I work for him though. He’ll know I’m lying. We have a project for the museum . . .’

‘I think with your new art show at Faux Pas, Vincent will understand you can’t work for him anymore.’ Mr Richmond looked her straight in the eye.

‘But …’ Kat couldn’t believe this. She was going to call off this nonsense and here they were doing it for her. ‘I promised the museum –’

‘We’ll take care of the museum.’ Mr Richmond reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigar. ‘From what I understand, the photographs they needed you to do are done. There’s no reason why you need to work with our son to finish the page layouts.’

Not see Vincent? Were they serious?

‘Yes, I’ve already contacted the college that supplies Vincent with interns. A new male intern will be replacing you as his assistant.’ Mr Richmond lit the cigar, puffing it several times as a billow of smoke rose over his head.

‘But, I like the job. He doesn’t need an intern. I can do both. He could lose his funding if they find out he scared the last one off.’ Kat’s heart raced and she felt faint. How in the world did they know so much about what had been happening? What else did they know?

‘His father saw to all that, dear. It’s amazing what the promise of a new business department building will do to ease the way for such things,’ Mimi said. ‘I don’t think Dr Huxley will mind the replacement. But, they do mind a woman without a working knowledge of entomology staying on to represent the department beyond her duties as a photographer.’

This was not the same woman from Colorado. Mimi was a shrew.

‘But, Vincent says I help him.’ Kat started to stand, but Mimi’s stern look caused her to sit back down. ‘Why interfere with what is working?’

‘Well, yes, dear, I’m sure you do help him.’ Mimi looked down her nose at Kat, snorting slightly.

‘No,’ Kat said. ‘No, I won’t do it. No.’

‘Be reasonable,’ Mimi demanded, her tone hard.

‘I won’t break it off with him. I lo–’

‘We interfere because he’s getting too attached to you,’ Mr Richmond said. ‘Let’s be frank. Women like you are good mistresses for men like my son, but Vincent is going to marry Lily La Rue. It’s been the plan since he was little.’

‘Does Vincent know this?’ Kat asked, unable to stop herself and unsure as to why she should even try.

‘How could he not?’ Mimi laughed. ‘It’s been well understood since he was a kid. They went to the same schools, on the same vacations.’

‘And he …’ Kat couldn’t believe it, but they seemed so sure. Vincent had never mentioned Lily to her, and he did seem very at ease with her.

‘Yes. He will marry Lily,’ Mr Richmond assured her.

‘You see, my dear,’ Mimi said. Kat was sure if the woman called her ‘dear’ one more time she’d reach over and smack her. ‘It’s a matter of family money. Marriages are alliances and if you find love, so much the better, but more importantly, they are a merger. If Vincent was to be with someone of your economically challenged state
that would be a bad business decision. The rich keep their fortunes by doing what is good for the family money. Should he decide to have an affair with you after the wedding is in place, so be it. But you can’t honestly believe he’d marry the help’s daughter, do you?’

‘The help?’ Kat asked.

‘Your mother works for me now. She does my psychic readings with the tea leaves.’

Kat didn’t know what was more unbelievable – that Mimi hired her mother to read her future in tea leaves, or that she was refusing her on Vincent’s behalf because her mother ‘worked’ for her.

Mimi snorted softly. ‘We only chose you because you’re obviously promiscuous. Take the way you dress,’ she waved at Kat’s gown, ‘not now obviously. That’s a Nicole Miller, isn’t it?’

What?! The woman was insulting her and wanted to talk about whose designer label was on her gown?

‘What is wrong with the way I normally dress?’ Kat demanded in anger.

‘Your style does tend to scream, “I’m a cheap date ready to get laid”, doesn’t it?’ Mimi looked at her, as if she had no reason to be embarrassed by her words. ‘Don’t worry, soon you’ll be back to your gem-studded mini-skirts and orange hair.’

Kat couldn’t speak. What did she say to such antiquated, cruel comments? Mimi was talking social ranking and class order. This was the new millennium and she was defending arranged marriages.

‘Break it off with him,’ Mr Richmond ordered. ‘There is no need for this to be a nasty ordeal.’

‘What do you mean?’ Kat whispered, unable to look at them. She stared at her hands, wringing them in her lap.

‘Another advantage to being rich is we are in a position to offer you what you most desire,’ he said.

‘Faux Pas.’ Kat nodded her head in understanding. He was right. They were in a position to make great things
happen. But, it would seem they were also in the position to make bad things happen as well.

‘Yes,’ Mimi said. ‘Your dream, is it not?’

Kat again nodded.

‘Good girl. I knew we weren’t mistaken when we hired you for our son.’ Mimi smiled, looking suddenly as if all the nasty business was behind them and all was well with her deranged world.

‘Then it’s settled,’ Mr Richmond decreed. ‘When Vincent comes back out here you’ll –’

‘She’ll what?’ Vincent said from the doorway. Kat gasped, turning in her seat. His eyes burned with betrayal.

‘Vincent,’ she said, trying to find the right words. How much had he heard? She glanced at Mr and Mrs Richmond. They smiled widely at their son, as if they hadn’t been caught doing anything wrong.

‘You’ll what, Kat?’ he demanded, stepping into the drawing room. Lily was behind him, her head cocked to the side as she watched carefully.

‘Vincent,’ she said again, but nothing else would come. She looked at the beautiful Lily, the woman his parents said he was meant to marry. What else could she really say? She knew Vincent well enough to know he wouldn’t marry a woman he didn’t love. Where Lily fitted into the picture with him, she didn’t know. Wherever it was, they were definitely friends.

Kat slowly stood.

‘Please leave.’ There was a finality to his angry tone and when he looked at her, he glared into her eyes before turning his back on her.

‘Vincent,’ Lily said.

‘This doesn’t concern you, Lily.’ Vincent didn’t move.

Kat stared at him. A tear streamed down her face. His shoulders were straight and proud, even as his head hung slightly. Closing her eyes, she took a mental picture of him. She’d spent her whole life looking for the perfect
photograph, the kind that moved a person, the kind that time would stand still for. If she had her camera, this would’ve been it. That’s when she realised something. Work wasn’t everything. This was her life and she was thinking about photographs. ‘Vincent, please.’

‘Go!’ he yelled, spinning around to face her. Pointing at his parents, he continued, ‘I expected something like this from them. But you?’

She jolted in shock as he yelled. He never raised his voice, not like that.

‘May I be of service,’ the butler asked from the doorway.

‘Walter, please see Ms Matthews out,’ Mr Richmond ordered.

‘Don’t bother, Walter,’ Kat said between clenched teeth. ‘I can find my own way. It’s what us poor girls are good at.’ Then to Mimi, she said, ‘And by the way, I’ve never in my life put on a gem-studded miniskirt!’

She stormed towards the door, only slowing as she glanced back to look into Vincent’s hard eyes. He looked like his father in that moment, cold and heartless and arrogant. Pushing past Lily, she couldn’t get out fast enough.

‘That didn’t go as well as could be hoped,’ Mr Richmond said, puffing on his cigar. He hadn’t moved since Vincent walked into the room.

‘Ah, did you get the wine?’ Mimi asked, looking them both over. In his anger, he had thrust the bottle at Lily, who now held it cradled in her arm. Crossing the room, she set it down on the table near Mimi. ‘Wonderful, dear, thank you.’

Vincent glared at his parents. ‘It’s never going to end, is it?’