The Fifth Avenue Series Boxed Set (151 page)

They started to walk toward them.
 
When Mario saw Frieda Zulrika Teeple, he squeezed Leana’s hand.

“Isn’t that the woman—”

“That’s her.”

“The one who had the orgy?”

“That’s right.
 
That’s her.”

“That was just a month or so ago.”

“Isn’t it great?
 
She’s either brave or deluded to be seen so soon.
 
We’ll find out.
 
Oh, and keep in mind that Count Luftwick is a little off.”

“Jesus.”

“Countess Castellani,” Leana said as they joined the group.
 
“Count Luftwick.
 
It’s good to see you.”

Every head turned in their direction.

“Leana,” the countess said while appraising her.
 
“You look beautiful.
   
Very thirties.
 
Very now.
 
Uber fresh.
 
I bet Frieda wouldn’t mind having those diamonds—or your legs.
 
How is your mother?”

“Still scrubbing toilets in prison.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I’ll be sure to let her know.”

“It must be awful for her, all that urine and whatnot.”

“She’s getting by.”

“All felons must do their time,” Kitty said.

“That’s true, Kitty,” Leana said.
 
“I remember when your father did his time for allegedly raping that young woman in a Kentucky funeral parlor while in the next room, they were preparing her father’s body for the viewing.
 
The security camera footage obviously was faked, regardless of what people say and how real it looked.
 
I think he got a raw deal.”
 
She paused to admire the piece of jewelry at the woman’s throat.
 
“That’s a lovely brooch.
 
I love how the green matches your eyes.”

The woman seemed surprised by the compliment and undone by the mention of her father, whose actions had disgraced the family for years.
 
She put her fingertips to the giant emerald and was about to say something when Count Luftwick said, “Leana, I can’t see you, but I’m certain you’re one of the room’s stars.”

“She certainly is glittering,” Lorvenia said.

Leana looked at Lorvenia Billiups with a smile.
 
“Lorvenia, I don’t think I’ve seen you since they were running your trial in re-runs on Court TV.”

“You watch Court TV?”

“When I can’t sleep, it calms me to see old friends.”

“They’ve put me in re-runs?”

“I’m afraid you’re everywhere right now.
 
I try not to miss that channel because you never know who will turn up.
 
For instance, just recently it was
you
.
 
Can I just tell you that I don’t believe for a minute that you knew about all those illegals working at your department stores?”

“Thank you.
 
I had no idea.”

“Of course not,” Count Luftwick said under his breath.
 
“Mexicans have a knack for blending in.”

They all heard it and a few eyes widened at the racist overtones.
 
There was a pause in the conversation while Lorvenia lifted her chin.

“I’m sure you didn’t know,” Leana said.
 
“But I’m glad it turned out as well as it did for you.
 
I wish my mother had received only an ankle bracelet and—”
 
She paused.
 
“How long did you serve?”

“Six months.
 
In my Bar Harbor mansion along the Maine coast.
 
Stunning views.
 
Friends flew in for dinner.
 
My children visited.
 
The Fords and the Rockefellers came by to offer support.
 
Oddly, it wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
 
I was able to garden, entertain and spend time with myself, which I never do because I’m always so busy.
 
It was something like a vacation.
 
Maybe even out of a
dream
.”

“Sounds like a nightmare to me,” Count Luftwick said.

“Not at all,” Lorvenia said.
 
“But then you’ve never actually seen the house.
 
It’s divoon.
 
The views!
 
Oh, how I wish you could see them!”

“I can’t see shit, Lorvenia.
 
You know that.
 
So, get your finger out of my ass, will you?
 
Stop tickling my eyeballs.
 
Jesus.”

“Anyway,” the countess interjected.
 
“We’re glad it went as well as it could for you, Lorvenia.”

“I would have liked that for my mother,” Leana said.

“But your mother committed
murder
,” Frieda said.
 
“It’s not quite the same thing, Leana.”

“It isn’t,” Leana said.
 
“That true.”
 
She scrutinized the woman’s face.
 
“You’re always so sharp, Frieda.
 
So quick.
 
I admire you for that.
 
And I’m sorry I haven’t written you since your recent public crisis.
 
I’ve meant to, but we only just got back from our trip around the world.
 
It’s awful that you’re facing such lies and humiliation because of something the press made up.
 
Friends were talking about it in Paris.
 
Others in Saint Petersburg and Beijing.
 
A South African orgy?
 
With three men in one of your mines?
 
How does that even happen?”

“It didn’t happen.”

“But they won’t stop saying it happened.”

“I believe it happened,” the count said.
 
“In this town, gossip might as well come from the Lord’s lips.
 
I look for the worst in everyone.
 
Even you, Frieda.
 
Sometimes, especially you.
 
Sorry.”

“He’s just joking,” the countess said, and Leana noticed that the woman was digging her nails into the count’s arm.

“They were talking about me in Beijing?” Frieda said.

“They were.
 
But the good news is that your lawyers, I presume, were quick enough to remove the footage from YouTube,” Leana said.
 
“That’s when I learned about it, when news about the video was trending on Twitter.”

“I was trending on Twitter?”

“At one point, you held the top spot.
 
I viewed the video and even though the rough parts were smudged out, I swear it wasn’t you.
 
I think the only one who believes it is Lady Molesworth, who I hear can’t shut up about it.
 
But you know how she is.
 
When even the hint of a scandal hits, she’s not happy until she gets on the phone and calls everyone who matters.
 
She phoned my mother in prison the day the news hit.
 
They still keep in touch.
 
I think she’s the reason so many people found out.”

“You’ll notice that Lady Molesworth isn’t here tonight,” Frieda said with a self-satisfied smile.

“I didn’t notice,” Leana said.
 
“But I do hope she’s not making more telephone calls with that extra time on her hands.”

A waiter tapped Leana on the shoulder and asked her to join the Millers and Jean-Georges Laurent in the Pool Room.

“Looks like I’m up,” Leana said.
 
“It was nice seeing everyone.
 
I’ll send my mother your best wishes.
 
I know it’s just an oversight that she hasn’t heard from you.
 
She follows the papers and understands that many of you have been unusually busy.”

She turned to leave and when she did, only one person bothered to speak to her.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Was any of that necessary?” Mario asked as they moved down the corridor toward the Pool Room.
 
“We only went to Europe.
 
We never went to Saint Petersburg or Beijing.”

“I did it for my mother.
 
It pisses me off that they think they’re better than she is when their own lives are in the toilet.
 
They’re hypocrites and they deserved it.”

“Fair enough,” he said.
 
“I guess.”

“Take the countess, for instance,” she said.
 
“She’s known me for most of my life, yet every time I speak to her, it’s as if we’ve met only once before and she can vaguely remember me.
 
That’s the difference between us.
 
Old money, new money.
 
They’d rather forget us, except when they have to use us.”
 

She waved to Addy as they spotted each other.
 
“He’s the exception.
 
If it weren’t for Addy, we wouldn’t be here tonight.”

When she walked over, the photographers immediately started taking her photograph.
 
Mario hung back and moved to the side to allow her the limelight he felt she deserved.
 
Those people who were looking at Tootie Staunton-Miller’s photo installation turned to see who was causing such a commotion.
 
When they did, it was as if the photographs of her grand home on Fifth Avenue no longer mattered.
 
Leana Redman hadn’t been seen in public since she was shot by Louis Ryan.
 
Right now, she was the biggest celebrity in the room.
 

“That dress,” Addy said as she came forward to hug him.
 
“I can literally feel the envy in the room.”

“Is that what it is?
 
I felt something else.
 
Like daggers in my back.”

“You’re terrible and I love you for it.”

“About the dress,” she said.
 
“Tell me, is everyone shielding their eyes because of it?
 
Are people falling into each other?
  
Tripping?
 
Walking into walls?
 
Spilling their drinks?
 
Have I finally succeeded in being too much for one room to handle?”

They held each other for a moment.
 
“I’d love to tell you, Leana, but I can’t see a thing.
 
I think with that dress and those cameras, you’re blinding everyone.
 
It’s like you’re a human disco ball.”

“So, my plan worked.”

They shared a laugh.

He took her by the hands and stepped back to admire her.
 
“Seriously, you look incredible.
 
Better than ever.
 
I know you’re going to get hammered with questions all evening, but I might be the only one who actually cares about the answers, so allow me to ask how you are.”

They kept smiling in spite of the weight of their conversation.
 
“It’s been a tough year, Addy.”

“Your mother?”

“I think she’s alright.
 
She’s a good actress, which I think we all can agree upon by now, so it’s hard to tell.
 
I think she’s managing.”