20. Rook

20

ROOK

“ Y ou’re fired.”

Those words haunted me for my last two days in hospital. I had saved Kitty’s life, and Samuel had fired me on the spot even though nothing I said was wrong. I spoke the truth, and I’d half hoped it would be enough to finally get through to Samuel, but he was far too stubborn. He took the easy route of firing me as if that would make the truth go away.

The only silver lining was that Kitty refused to let me leave. I was no longer her bodyguard, no longer the security to keep her safe. But I stayed as her friend, much to her father’s fury. Her mother was mostly on Kitty’s side, but that was definitely influenced by how scared she was of losing her daughter.

“Thank you,” Kitty said quietly as I pulled the car to a stop in front of the manor. “For saving my life.”

I turned off the engine and faced her. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Kitty,” I said quietly. “If you ever need me to save you, I’m there.”

“It’s not your job anymore, though,” she replied.

“And?” I tutted softly behind my teeth. “My feelings for you were never linked to my job. You need me for anything, I’m one phone call away, okay? No questions. I’ll always be here for you.”

Tears began to sparkle in her eyes and she nodded. Her fingers curled as if she were fighting the urge to reach out to me.

The last thing we needed was someone nosy catching a glimpse of Kitty and me being close. It was already a risk driving her from the hospital after what Samuel had said, but I wanted her with me for as long as I could have her. There was no telling when I would see her again.

“Do you think there’s a chance you can fix things with my dad?”

My mouth slanted. “Your father isn’t doing a lot of listening right now,” I murmured. “So I can’t say. I’m not saying I won’t listen if he reaches out, but he’s not my focus. You are.”

Her tears threatened to spill over. “Christmas is next week and I feel so un-festive.”

“A barn collapse might do that,” I replied. “But it’s there. You’ll find it.”

“Can you come in with me?” She pressed her hands flat to her thighs. Her request seemed to be a way to stretch out our time a little longer. “I don’t think Dad is home.”

I felt uncertain, and I could already see how this could be a very bad idea.

“Please?” Blinking away the tears, Kitty collected herself the best she could.

“Okay.” I nodded. “It’s probably best that I at least see you inside with your ankle. Don’t need to be accused of ditching you when you were in need.”

We both chuckled and climbed out of the car. I was by her side quickly, and I offered her my arm to lean on. She took it with a grateful smile. Thankfully, the swelling around her ankle sprain wasn’t that bad, but she was still tender if she walked for too long.

“When do you get your bandages off?” Kitty asked, eyeing my hands as we slowly walked up the steps to the manor.

“Later this afternoon. Which I can’t wait for. These bandages aren’t restrictive, but I hate the feel of them whenever I’m trying to do something. It almost feels like they’re getting in the way and I don’t have full control.”

“I get that.” Kitty knocked briefly on the door, and it swung open. The doorman held it open, looking surprised to see me, but he didn’t say a word.

“I think for the Yuletide Ball, I’m wearing flats.” Kitty winced as her ankle wobbled. “Heels are dangerous.”

“I agree. The next time you end up under a collapsed structure, flat shoes will definitely increase your survival odds,” I murmured.

“You think?”

“Survival one-oh-one.”

“Ahh.” As we walked the hallway, a staff member suddenly came sprinting down toward us crying wildly. She stumbled to a stop when she saw Kitty and tried to greet her properly through the tears, but it was a shambles.

“What’s the matter?” Kitty asked, hurriedly leaving my arm and going to the crying woman. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “Your mother is on the warpath and I just… I’m sorry!” With that exclamation, she carried on running and disappeared toward the kitchen.

Kitty stared after her in shock, then looked at me with wide eyes. I shrugged. I hadn’t been here in two days so I had no clue as to the state of things.

“I guess we'd better check that out.”

I braced myself internally as we headed toward the rear ballroom, where her mother’s sharp yelling could be heard even when we were several rooms away. We passed a couple more very stressed-looking staff members all lost to their own tasks to pay us no heed.

Stepping into the ballroom, my breath caught in my throat and Kitty tightly gripped my arm. “Oh, my God.”

Mrs. Morgan had been very busy in the two days I was absent.

Every single Christmas tree that lined the room was completely decorated. Fifty tables stretched across the right side of the room draped in white, gold, and crimson tablecloths. Each one was decorated with crystal decanters, glasses, and large vases of multi-colored flowers. Each chair was wrapped in silver fabric with a gigantic bow at the back to match the assigned tablecloth. Above us, countless shimmering streamers dazzled like diamonds in the sky in between three gigantic crystal chandeliers that hung from the freshly secured rafters. Lights in each corner streamed a range of Christmas themes on the far wall. I caught the tail end of Rudolph before it was replaced by Santa in his sleigh.

The room looked magnificent and even the floor cleared for dancing looked freshly polished. Mrs. Morgan was in the middle of the tables with several rose stems in one hand and a large bouquet of sunflowers in the other.

“Mom?” Kitty approached her cautiously, releasing her grip on me. “Mom, what is going on?”

“Kitty? Oh, goodness, is it that time already? Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I forgot you were home today!”

Mrs. Morgan was usually a very prim and proper woman, but today, her hair was frizzed, her blouse was ruffled, and her pants were untucked.

“It’s okay,” Kitty assured her. “But what’s happening? This place looks amazing!”

“It’s nowhere near ready,” Mom snapped, and she thrust the bouquet at Kitty.

I was quick to intervene and took it instead.

“There’s not enough time! Christmas Eve is next week, and I don’t have enough time to get everyone party favors. Never mind hiring the entertainment because our violinist pulled out. Do you know how hard it is to find a musical prodigy this close to Christmas?” She looked at Kitty with wild eyes.

She shook her head. “No idea.”

“Impossible! It’s impossible!” Mrs. Morgan threw her hands up, then thrust the roses at Kitty. “And look at these. I asked for Carnations!”

If we weren't careful, Mrs. Morgan was going to burst a blood vessel and it would be her turn to spend days in hospital. Kitty set the flowers down on the nearest table and took her hand. “Mom, sit down with me.”

“I don’t have time?—”

“Mom,” she scolded. “Sit.”

With a sigh, she joined Kitty at the nearest table. “You’ve already done so much in just two days. Everything else will come together, I promise.”

Mrs. Morgan gasped softly, then she reached for Kitty’s hands. “I was so worried I had lost you, I couldn’t think of anything else to do. And your father…” She glanced behind Kitty to me as I remained nearby with the sunflowers. “I am sorry.”

“It’s fine,” I replied.

“I’m okay, Mom. Look at me. I’m fine. And you’ve done like a week’s worth of work in two days. But if you’re not careful, you’ll run the staff ragged before the actual day, and that helps no one.”

Mrs. Morgan nodded slowly. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be harsh.”

“I know.” Kitty stroked the backs of her knuckles, then straightened up as if something had just occurred to her. “Do you have your dress yet?”

“My dress!” Both her hands shot to her mouth. “Oh, goodness, how could I forget!”

“No, Mom, don’t. Listen. I’m glad you haven’t because I was thinking we could go to the seamstress together. She’s been working on those custom gowns for us ever since summer so we can go and see if they are ready. We could get some lunch and make a nice day of it. Help you relax?”

Mrs. Morgan’s eyes darted back and forth as she stared at her daughter, then she cupped her cheek. “Oh, dear. What would I do without you?”

“Is that a yes?”

“Of course!” Mrs. Morgan finally smiled. “Goodness. I have been such a wicked woman to these people.” She patted Kitty’s cheek. “Yes. Dress shopping would be nice.”

“Tomorrow?”

I could see her thinking and watched her lips purse.

“Please?” Kitty asked. The sooner her mom took a break, the better.

“Okay, tomorrow.”

“Excellent!”

“Let me take those from you.” Mrs. Morgan stood and took the sunflowers from me, then she hurried away toward a table at the back. Kitty stood and turned back to me.

“Can you come with us tomorrow?”

I eyed her as we walked back through the ballroom. “To the dress fitting?”

“Yes. Please. I know you’re not hired here anymore, and if you have to go do something else to make money, then I understand. But I’d really like it if you came.”

“Samuel won’t be happy.”

“I don’t care. You’re my friend and I want you there.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “I’ll be there.” Hearing that she wanted me anywhere always gave me a rush of dizziness.

“Thank you!” Kitty lurched as if she were seconds away from throwing her arms around me in a hug, and excitement flooded my gut, but the lurch died immediately when we stepped out into the hallway and came face to face with Samuel.

“Dad.”

“Kitty.”

“Samuel.”

“Rook. What are you doing here?”

Kitty stepped between us immediately. “He brought me back from the hospital.”

“That isn’t your job anymore,” Samuel replied stiffly. “Didn’t I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” I snapped. “But she asked me and I said yes.”

“I would have sent a car,” Samuel said, looking at Kitty. “If you’d asked.”

“I shouldn’t have to ask,” she replied. “How else would I get home from the hospital? Walk? On this ankle? I asked Rook, and he said yes because he’s reliable.”

“And I’m not?” For a split second, Samuel almost looked hurt. Almost.

“Whatever. He’s just leaving, anyway.”

“Good.” Samuel moved past us, then paused and turned to face me. “Your termination papers should be with you tomorrow. And you might think you can pretend to be friends with my daughter, but don’t you dare forget your place.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I replied stiffly. “Because you’ve clearly forgotten enough for the both of us.”