Fifty-Five
The lights were up, and the DJ had cut the music. He was fiddling with his decks, looking like a spare part.
The doctor, an older man with an air of weary patience, knelt beside the chaise lounge in the hall where Margot was fanning herself.
‘I’m fine,’ Margot murmured, irritated. But her colour was funny.
‘Let me be the judge of that,’ the doctor said, pressing two fingers to her wrist.
Margot sighed dramatically but didn’t pull away. ‘My pulse is strong as an ox. If I drop dead, it won’t be from natural causes. It’ll be from sheer boredom.’
‘Aunt Margot, please,’ Paris’s father said, exasperated, hands on his hips. ‘This is serious.’
‘Oh, fine. Do what you must, Doctor. But if you tell me I need rest, I shall be very cross with you.’
Paris, hovering at her side, made all the right noises of concern. ‘Are you hot?’ she asked, taking a tiny paper fan from her clutch and fanning her with it before Aunt Margot could answer. To anyone else, she might have looked like a devoted niece.
But Nancy could see that Paris wasn’t focused on her Great Aunt at all. Her eyes flicked to Ari constantly, her jaw tense. She was not happy that Ari was loose.
‘While my aunt is taken care of, make sure she’s secured,’ Paris said, eyes locked on Ari. ‘She could be dangerous.’ She gave a nod to her security gorillas, and they formed a quick barrier around Ari, subtly penning her into a corner.
Ari rolled her eyes at the human prison. ‘Sweet Jesus, Paris. You won’t be happy until everyone thinks I’m Jeffrey Dahmer, will you?’
Nancy, though on the outside of the situation, did not let the men scare her. She stayed within arm’s length of Ari, glaring at one of the bald baboons. He looked away nervously.
And then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Helen walked in.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ Nancy muttered.
Helen looked at her in astonishment. ‘How on earth did you beat me here?’
Nancy scowled. ‘Not now, Helen.’
Helen ignored her, glancing around the room to make sure everyone heard her next line. ‘You know, I was betting against you staying. I assumed you’d let her rot. You’re not known for your loyalty to your employer.’
‘Helen,’ Nancy said, voice warning.
Though she didn’t want to engage. She still felt embarrassed that she’d flinched earlier. It was crazy. How could this silly woman still have any power?
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ Paris said, as though only just realising Nancy was there. ‘You’re upsetting my aunt.’
‘Actually, she helped bring me in,’ Margot said. ‘And I’m fine, but perhaps it’s good they did. Though I am worried about my pussy.’
The entire room tensed.
‘She’s got a cat,’ Nancy explained quickly.
The sigh of relief was audible.
‘Perhaps you might head over there if I give you my keys?’ Margot asked Ari through her human cage, not picking up the situation remotely.
‘She can’t. She’s going to prison,’ Paris said loudly.
‘Oh, lovely,’ Margot said dreamily.
Paris squinted. ‘What?’
‘I remember leaving my cousin’s debutante ball in cuffs. Now that was a party.’
Paris rolled her eyes. ‘No, it’s not that kind of thing. She tried to steal from me.’
Margot frowned. ‘What did she steal?’
Paris realised she had the room and made sure to project the next sentence. ‘A necklace she gifted me years ago.’
‘Fuck you, Paris. I didn’t give it to you,’ Ari muttered.
Nancy reached past the big guy and put a hand on her wrist. Ari gave her a look to let her know she wasn’t about to go nuclear; she just had to say something.
Nancy nodded, understanding. And in the middle of that unspoken conversation, it hit her. She couldn’t believe she’d gone this long without realising this was a person she was absolutely in love with.
Jesus. What a thing to realise in the middle of this mess.
‘Anyway, where the bloody hell are those police? We called them an hour ago,’ the groom said.
Ari raised an eyebrow. ‘Yes, I bet you want me out of the way, don’t you, Cal? I’m such an inconvenient portent of your future.’
Cal looked away. Paris caught the exchange. But she didn’t say anything.
‘Helen, perhaps you could ring them?’ Paris asked.
Helen raised an eyebrow. ‘Can’t you get your staff to do it?’
Paris sighed. ‘If it’s too much…’
Helen’s jaw went tight. ‘Fine.’ She went into the hall, taking her phone from her purse.
‘Your pulse is a little rapid,’ the doctor murmured to his patient. ‘And you’re a bit clammy.’
‘It’s called being the centre of attention, darling,’ Margot drawled, but there was a slight breathlessness to it.
‘Have you been feeling faint?’ he asked.
She hesitated. ‘Perhaps a little.’
Paris rolled her eyes. ‘Why didn’t you say anything earlier?’
‘Because I didn’t want a fuss,’ Margot replied.
The doctor sighed. ‘I’d like to check your blood pressure properly, and you should rest for a while. You may be a bit dehydrated.’
‘Oh, how terribly dull,’ Margot muttered.
‘You should get her to the hospital and stop messing about,’ Ari breathed.
Paris shot her a look. ‘This is not your business.’
‘I’m inclined to agree,’ said the doctor. ‘About the hospital, I mean.’
Margot tutted. ‘I can’t. The dogs!’
‘I can go see to your dogs,’ Nancy offered. Ari smiled at her.
‘She can’t go. She’s as bad as Ari. She’ll probably rob you blind,’ Paris said to her aunt.
‘How dare you!’ Ari exploded.
Margot shot her great-niece a look. ‘Well, it’s not as if anyone else is volunteering.’
Paris rolled her eyes. ‘Where’s the help?’
Laurence suddenly appeared, his timing as impeccable as ever. Nancy had to wonder if he was wearing some kind of electroshock collar that was activated by the slightest signs of wealthy distress. ‘Madam, give me your keys and address. I shall see to it.’
Margot gave him everything asked—with a slight blush, Nancy noted—and off he went to stop animal carnage. Nancy thought there was probably some upstairs-downstairs history there. If things had gone differently tonight, Nancy thought she and Ari would have been laughing about that together.
Helen walked back in. ‘They’re busy. They won’t be here for another hour.’
‘This is ridiculous! It’s my wedding day,’ Paris whined.
‘I don’t think the cops care about that,’ Nancy told her in a reasonable tone.
‘My god. Can’t you shut up!?’ Paris exploded her.
Ari didn’t know she’d moved until she was gripped by both arms. ‘Talk to her like that again, and these men will not be able to protect you,’ she said.
‘You see? She’s an animal,’ Paris said to the room. The room rumbled a sound of general disgrace.
‘You’re the animal. And a thief,’ Nancy said.
Helen gasped at the word.
Paris looked at Helen. Nancy looked at Helen. Ari looked at Helen. One by one, everyone in the room was staring at Helen.
Helen looked back at everyone, her colour draining. She looked sicker than Margot.
Nancy wasn’t sure what had just happened. But it was something.