Chapter 73

Beneath the white tissue was a black tuxedo and pair of black leather shoes in my size. There was also a white dress shirt and bow tow inside the parcel. The light scent of teak and honeysuckle—Tuck’s signature smell—accompanied the gift. Feeling delighted with the surprise, and Tuck’s thoughtfulness, I removed the items from the box, had every intention of looking handsome for him that evening, and told myself, “Let’s knock him off his feet.”

* * * *

The Rothshire House was everything I anticipated it to be: spiral staircase in the marble foyer, massive crystal chandeliers hanging from the convex ceiling, human-sized alabaster statues of Brahms, Mozart, Puccini, and Handel. There were handsome waiters passing out flutes of champagne and beautiful women in cocktail dresses who were collecting tiny pale blue envelopes from the guests, which contained monetary donations.