Page 83 of My Queendom for a Horse

“My dad’s a bit of a rockhound,” Sean says. “It’s become more and more of an active hobby as he’s gotten older, and now that he’s retired, it really keeps him busy.”

“I still come in to the bank every now and again,” Lord McDermott says. “I’m not totally retired.”

“More like every never and whenever.” Lady McDermott’s eyes crinkle. “He spends all day out with the horses or inside poring over his rock collection.”

“Speaking of rocks, do you still happen to have any of those demantoid garnets?” Lord McDermott asks. “I’d love to see them.”

“I recently sold most of what I had, but I saved a few.” He shifts a bit so he can reach his hand into his pocket, and then pulls it out and lays his palm flat.

In spite of myself, I can’t help leaning forward.

“There were a few I couldn’t bring myself to part with.” He shifts and two large green stones roll toward me, sparkling in the light from the sconces set in the walls behind us.

“Whoa,” Lord McDermott says, his cheeks coloring. “How large are those? It’s extremely rare to see any over a few carats, isn’t it?” He reaches toward Aleks’ hand tentatively.

“Most of the stones are under a carat,” Aleksandr says, his posture quite relaxed. “These are both just above two carats, and one is essentially flawless, while the other is full of the signature horsetail inclusions.”

It’s not lost on me that he’s holding rare, Russian-discovered gemstones that have horsetail inclusions. It’s a little strange, but I suppose now that I know the Russian czars were secretly magical horse shifters, it makes sense they’d appreciate gems that had something that looked like a horse’s tail inside them.

It’s hard, but I force myself not to reach over and snatch them from his hand. That would look strange to everyone here. Even from where I’m sitting, I can tell there’s no way those are the same rocks he was kicking around back in Latvia.

So where did he get them? I can’t ask him now, clearly, but I really want to know. I saw him the first time he shifted, and there’s no way he was hiding those gems anywhere on his person.

Lord McDermott studies the stones as if they’re priceless, oohing and aahing over them enough that I worry Sean might shout at his own father. But eventually, the last course is served and Lady McDermott and Sean and I change the subject, ignoring Aleks’ and Lord McDermott’s fixation on rocks.

“But the alexandrite that’s coming out of Sri Lanka and Brazil is fairly impressive,” Lord McDermott says.

“There’s no way it can compete with the pieces found in Russia,” Aleks says. “After all, it was named for Czar Alexander—it was discovered there.”

“I’m not sure,” Lord McDermott says. “I recently heard—”

“Dad, even Aleksandr must be tired of hearing what you heard.” Sean looks like he’s getting a headache from gritting his teeth.

I know I am. “It’s getting late,” I say. “I probably better head back.” Because if I have to hear one more thing about the difference in value between alexandrite and the stupid demantoid garnets? I’m going to throw a toddler-esque temper tantrum right here.

“I’m sure you’ll have to be up early to find time on the track with the demon,” Sean says.

“Yes,” I say. “I will. I also know it’s Christmas Eve, and I don’t want to interfere with your family traditions.” I’m not sure quite what the protocol is for me to leave a dinner party, but I can’t wait all night to try and figure it out. I push away from the table and stand up.

And the men all shove to their feet as if that was some kind of command by a general. Lady McDermott, at least, stands slowly and calmly. “Sean, you need to drive her home. I think she’s had a bit too much wine.”

The room’s spinning just a bit, but I’m sure it’s not that bad. It’s probably from standing too quickly. “I’m fine.” I grab my purse from the back of the chair and turn to head out the door.

And I stumble and practically eat their carpet.

Sean helps me to my feet, but by the time we reach the door, Aleksandr has taken my other arm. “I’ll drive her. I haven’t had a drop.”

“That can’t be—”

“I noticed,” Lady McDermott says. “I almost asked you whether you don’t drink for any particular reason.”

Aleks shrugs. “Never been a big fan of anything but vodka, if I’m being honest. Drinking anything else always feels like a waste of time.”

Sean’s nose scrunches. “Vodka?” He shudders. “It burns like fire when you swallow it.”

“That’s how you know it’s strong enough to do what it’s supposed to do,” Aleks says.

“A true Russian man.” Lord McDermott claps Aleks on his shoulder with his left hand. He has circled around the table and holds out his other hand to Aleksandr. There’s clearly something clasped inside of it. In order to take it, Aleks would have to let go of me. I wonder whether Lord McDermott is fumbly. . .or sly.

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