Page 80 of The Grand Mistletoe Assembly
“I’m not dressed for dinner,” Sophia protested.
“Nonsense, my dear. It’s just the family tonight. Best not to appear in all of your fineries,” Eve said with a grandmotherly smile. “The children splatter a bit and crumble the bread.”
“That’s why they’ll be upstairs during the ball tomorrow,” Stone added.
“I’m sorry you won’t be able to join the festivities, Baron,” Wolfgang said mockingly. “If only you still had a ticket.” He chuckled, glad to have said ticket.
“Oh, he doesn’t need a ticket to be in this house, Baron von List.” Eve smiled. “He is practically family and always welcome.”
“But you must allow me to make a donation for the charity, Eve,” Stone said, continuing their friendly banter.
“I shan’t allow it!” Eve put her hand on his arm and leaned closer. “It would be unseemly for the treasurer to make a donation. You paid for so many renovations already.” She stepped out, presumably headed toward the dining room.
Stone turned to follow their hostess, but Wolfgang stopped him. “Wait!”
“Yes? Is something the matter, Baron von List?” Stone asked, as if indulging Wolfgang for politeness’ sake.
“How would Mrs. Pearler know the finances of the charity if you are the treasurer and she’s merely on the committee?”
Stone left him hanging without an answer.
CHAPTER 5
Eve Pearler was right. Dinner was an affair unlike any Sophia had ever witnessed. There were at least twenty little children and relations from every walk of life. Eve Pearler’s daughter had married into an entire litter of nearly identical brothers with dark hair, eyes like those of pretty little fawns, and an appetite that shamed List to bear the name wolf, for he clearly couldn’t eat a fraction of what those young Jewish men devoured.
Sophia was most uncomfortable with such a large and loving family. Even in her best memories, it had only ever been her and her mother since her father was usually at sea. And there had never been so much delicious food for a simple dinner—not even for Christmas! Frustrated with the laughter and merry chatter around her, Sophia eyed the wine glasses in front of her. There was a large, high-rimmed one, with etched swirls and hexagonal shapes that resembled snowflakes floating on the crystal. The smaller glass, with identical and equally nauseatingly beautiful etchings, bore white wine. There was no goblet for water, just another low crystal bowl with water and some slices of lemon. Convinced that drinking too much alcohol would risk her cover, Sophia drank the lemon-infused water.
“Mami, the lady is drinking from therince-doigts,” a little boy said.
The room instantly fell quiet. Sophia still held the crystal bowl to her mouth. It was easily one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. And to be embarrassed by Jews made it worse. She’d kill them all!
Later that night, Sophia paced the bedroom furiously. “How am I supposed to know that they put a finger bowl out for everyone to wash their hands? At the table?”
“The footman told you it was therince-doigts.”
“Yes, the one they called Max mumbled something. I thought he was trying to flirt with me!” Sophia scoffed. “And what the hell is that, anyway? Who puts French words in the middle of an English sentence?”
Wolfgang bent over laughing. “It is quite common, Sophia. How is it possible you don’t speak French? Everyone does in Russia.” His face wrinkled as he chortled heartily. At her expense. She hated it.
“I don’t speak French. I didn’t go to school. Only to the ballet academy. And there, they kept me hostage. I paid for my tuition, I can tell you that! With more than money. And now I’m stuck here in London, where I have to pretend to be your wife and let a bunch of Jews embarrass me!”
“You didn’t go to school, I understand. But the way you play chess, you had some tutors?”
“No! I taught myself.” She was ashamed when he gave her a look of pity. She hated pity. “Now turn around. I’m going to take a bath.”
* * *
Later that night,Sophia was still hungry, since she hadn’t eaten the rest of the meal. She was too embarrassed, as though she might wash her feet in the soup or something like that.
She wandered around the townhouse and found the kitchen. A candle had burned low, but it cast enough light for her to find a sack of seeds. She took one, cracked it sideways between her teeth, and the kernel dropped into her mouth. It was nutty and tasted wholesome. Like the home she no longer had.
She carried the whole sack of roasted and salted sunflower seeds to their chamber, plopped onto the carpet in front of the fire, and cracked them one by one.
* * *
Crunch.Snap.
She chewed lightly and smacked her lips.
