Miss Impractical Pants (20 page)

“You never did tell us, dear, how you came to be in possession of those Chatworths?”

Olivia’s eyes bulged. She reared her head toward Katie to gain confirmation of what she thought she heard, but Katie wouldn’t look at her.

“Where did she get those?” Olivia hissed at Lucas. Her eyes, spitting ferocity, locked on the pendant resting against Katie’s throat.

Pretending not to hear Olivia, Katie responded with diplomacy. “A very good friend loaned them to me for the evening. I’m sure you’ll understand if I don’t disclose the name. I don’t think my friend is aware of the significance of these pieces—I know I wasn’t.”

“Please be sure to explain to your friend the enormous value of the pieces she’s holding. They would fetch a brilliant price on loan in an exhibit. Do you know…does your friend own more Chatworth?”

Katie squirmed uncomfortably as Olivia seethed, “Friend?
She doesn’t have
friends
in town. I’ll just bet I know who loaned them to her.”

Molly Brown perched on the edge of her seat, eager for Olivia to let the name drop.

“That’s enough, Olivia,” Lucas spat tersely under his breath. The sound was so unnatural for him that it made everyone within earshot straighten up like scolded children.

Turning to Molly Brown, Katie replied, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what other pieces my friend owns. But I will be sure to pass on the importance of their value.”

Another miffed reply came from Olivia, this time louder and directed toward Sidney. “I can’t imagine who this ‘friend’ of hers is, can you, Sidney?”

Sidney’s jaw
clenched,
and Katie felt panged by the range of emotions dashing across his face. Impressively, he
wrangled
them and offered a smooth reply. “I cannot guess, Olivia, only that it must indeed be a very loyal friend.” He shot a look at Katie.

Lucas’s face was braided with anger and embarrassment, and his eyes pleaded for Katie’s forgiveness. Something about the pained expression in his chocolate eyes broke Katie’s endurance. Maybe it was the jet lag or perhaps it was because she had never been treated so abominably—especially in fancy-pants public. Whatever the reason, Katie, for the second time that day, was riled enough to speak her mind. With more willpower than she knew she possessed, she was able to keep an even voice.

“I don’t think you have any right to suppose so much about my personal life—especially since I’ve just met you. Believe it or not, I do
have friends in London. Two of them are sitting at this table, and your ridiculous behavior is making them uncomfortable. You have singlehandedly turned the term ‘polite society’ into an oxymoron.”

This extracted a few sniggers and even a “Here, here!” from a fellow diner.

“Now, if you will excuse me, I’ll leave so you won’t feel compelled to cause me or my
friends
any more embarrassment.”

As Katie pushed herself from the table, she noted with some satisfaction that Olivia was staring at her speechless, mouth gaping.

“If you will excuse me everyone.”
Katie politely nodded, setting her napkin on the plush chair and making her exit with impressive poise—in high heels, no less.

Once out of the ballroom, indignation began to burn her cheeks. Fighting the blindness of angry tears, she shot out of the first exit into the courtyard and wove her way through a maze of low hedges, where she plopped herself down on an elaborately carved marble bench and let the tears flow.

“Well done,” soothed a wispy voice above her. Katie looked up to meet the kind face of Lady Waverly.

“May I?” Lady Waverly gestured to the bench.

“Of course,” Katie squeaked, scooting over. “I’m so sorry I made a spectacle.”

“Nonsense.
I assure you that those who heard—and really, it wasn’t so many—
are
applauding you.”

“Lady Waverly, I don’t belong here. Olivia has made that clear.”

Lady Waverly sighed. “Olivia is spoiled, selfish, and adolescent. And I am so glad someone has finally stood up to her.”

Katie looked confused, so Lady Waverly continued. “Olivia’s father is a very prominent MP. Most people of our rank can’t afford offending Olivia for fear of landing on the wrong side of her father.”

“MP?
He’s Military Police?”

“Member of Parliament,” she gently corrected, stifling a giggle.

“But she’s planning your vacation,” Katie persisted.

“No, she nearly ruined it. We had heard such good things about Lucas and had inquired after him with Olivia’s father. Next thing I knew, much to my disappointment, Olivia was involved. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you showed up to be of assistance.”

“Lady Waverly?”

“Please call me Chelsea. I hope we will become close enough friends to make it appropriate.”

“Thank you,” Katie gushed, recognizing the privilege offered her. She suddenly realized what she needed to do—and though she couldn’t explain why, she felt the urge to be completely honest with this gracious woman.

“I’m going to turn down my position with Lucas,” Katie said. “Even if he doesn’t fire me for speaking to his fiancée like I did, I could never work closely with her. I’ve made a mess of things…Lucas will be furious.”

“You don’t give him enough cre
dit.
” She reached out and put a soft hand on Katie’s cheek.

Katie smiled, grateful to have a new friend.
See, Olivia, you anorexic cow, I do have friends here!
she
thought, barely feeling the twinge of guilt from having resorted to name-calling.

“Chelsea?” The name sounded out of place to Katie’s ears. “I know I have no right to ask, but…I did promise Lucas I’d do what I could to help…I should at least try to keep my promise before I quit. Will you allow him another chance to put your holiday together?”

“Of course we will. We chose Lucas on his merits, not for his connections with Olivia’s family.”

Katie doubted this was true, but she was not going to argue.

Lady Waverly hesitated for a moment. “Would you mind doing me a favor? Would you meet with me soon and tell me all about Hong Kong?”

“I’d love to,” Katie said. “I can’t believe you’ve never been there. I assumed you’ve traveled all over the world!”

Lady Waverly sighed deeply. “When I was a little girl, my father was stationed in Hong Kong. He would fill my head with brilliant stories about his time there. I was always so enthralled with what it must be like. Of course, I know it’s changed—modernized drastically since then—but I want to believe there still must be pieces left of those same novelties he shared with me. I want to find them.”

“I’m sure there are!”

“We travel quite a bit, you know, usually for social or business engagements. I’ve been to chateaux and elite social clubs and resorts all over the world…but I’m tired of all that. I want to have an adventure! I want to feel and live the culture…not be trapped behind the gates of an exclusive resort.” She stopped and checked the passion rising in her voice. “Do I sound horribly ungrateful?”

“Not at all,” Katie replied. “One time I was invited to Puerto Rico with some acquaintances who booked us rooms at the Ritz-Carlton. Their idea of a vacation was to lounge by the pool and play on
the private beach. As their guest, I felt obligated to stay with them, but I was dying to get out and explore the area. I spent a lot of time looking out the window, but other than that, I never did get to experience more of Puerto Rico than the confines of the Ritz-Carlton. But how can I say spending a week at the Ritz-Carlton was awful without sounding like an ingrate?”

Suddenly embarrassed, like maybe she had said too much and was coming across as one of those “vulgar Americans,” she quickly added, “I’m sorry, that was a stupid story. I talk way too much.”

“No, I’m glad you shared that story. You know exactly how I feel whenever I go someplace.”

A silent moment passed while each woman collected her thoughts. Then, catching each other’s eye, they burst into inexplicable, spontaneous laughter.

“Oh my, I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so hard,” Lady Waverly proclaimed, smoothing a dainty hand over her blonde chignon.

***

Katie made quite a spectacle as she reentered the ballroom arm in arm with Lady Waverly. She felt self-conscious—but untouchable. So it was easy to ignore the snippets of whispered speculations that floated within earshot:

“…Chatworth diamond…”

“…wealthy American…”

“…lovely girl…rather witty, I’m told…”

“…came with Lucas Hayden, Olivia Denby’s fiancé…she’s in a right froth over it…”

“…heard they’re cousins…”

“...quite a favorite of the Waverlys….”

Katie colored at some of the gossip, but it was hard to be offended with Lady Waverly next to her sputtering soft giggles and patting her hand knowingly.

Sidney and Lucas looked relieved to have Katie returned to them, and then astonished—as was the rest of the table—by the friendliness she shared with the revered Lady. Olivia’s face contorted into an angry scowl that bore right into Katie’s soul. Involuntarily, Katie shivered and rubbed down the goose bumps that shot up and down her arms.

“Are you cold?” Lucas was already taking off his jacket to put around her shoulders.

Olivia’s eyes shot Katie with even more death daggers before she turned to Lucas.
“What about me, darling—what if I’m cold, too?”

Lucas looked uncomfortable. “Uh, I apologize, you didn’t seem cold.” He rubbed her arm tenderly to give her warmth, which only made her bristle.

Katie shrugged off the jacket and gave it back to Lucas. “I’m fine. Thank you, though.”

“You sure?”
Lucas asked.

“Positive.”

He started to put the jacket on Olivia, who turned and pushed it away.

“Actually, I’m warm now.” Her tone was as cold as ice.

“Sidney, I’m getting tired,” Katie said. “Would you mind if I had Geoffrey take me home?”

“Not at all.
In fact, I’ll take my leave as well.” Sidney seemed a little too eager to quit the table.

“Goodbye everyone.
It was a pleasure meeting you all.” Katie spoke to the room as loudly as she could while still being polite. “Thank you for the delightful evening. Lord and Lady Waverly, thank you especially.”

“Leaving so soon?” Olivia asked triumphantly.
“Before the dancing?
You
do
know this is a
ball.
Perhaps you’ve finally realized that you don’t fit in here.”

Katie took a deep, steadying breath and forced herself to take the high road—or as close to the high road as she could muster. “You’re absolutely right, Olivia. I don’t fit in with
you,
but thankfully, I haven’t come across many people who do. You are definitely one of a kind.” Flaunting her most dazzling smile, she added, “It was lovely to meet you.”