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“No, I wish. That I can fix easily.” Marian sighed. “You know this year is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Animal Rescue Fund of Long Island, and we were planning our biggest summer gala yet. Jane Goodall was our special honoree, and everyone was so excited about that. But we just heard that she’s had to drop out because of some chimpanzee emergency back in Tanzania.”
“Oh dear, I hope the chimps are going to be okay,” Charlotte remarked.
Marian let out a deep sigh. “So now who are we going to get to take her place less than a week before the gala?”
“Leo,” Freddie volunteered.
“Ha! Fat chance!” Marian said.
Just then, Cecil arrived at the table. “Fat chance what?” he asked.
“Jane Goodall had to drop out as the honoree at Mom’s charity benefit, and Freddie suggested trying to get Leonardo DiCaprio,” Lucie explained.
“Ha! Fat chance!” Cecil said. “Lucie, would you come with me for a moment? I’d like to introduce you to Princess Marie-Laure de Polignac, who’s lunching with Elizabeth Merchant and Lord Ivory today.”
“Can we order first?” Lucie asked.
“Marie-Laure needs to see your engagement ring,” Cecil added.
“But I’m not wearing it today,” Lucie said.
“What? I specifically told you to wear it to lunch!” Cecil groaned in dismay.
“Cecil, I have to go down to Soho Art Materials after this to get supplies. I can’t be schlepping canvases and stuff wearing that ring.”
“Why do you need to be schlepping anything in the first place? I’ve told you so many times I have a multitude of underlings from Pike Projects ready to wait on you hand and foot. They can get you whatever you want, whenever you want, and deliver it right to the door of your barn in East Hampton.”
“But I need to choose the materials myself, Cecil. The brushes, the paints, everything.”
“Well then, where is your ring? I’ll have one of my three personal assistants go to the apartment and bring it here to you. It can be done within fifteen minutes.” Cecil took out his phone and began texting away furiously.
“Are you sure you want one of your assistants to go to all that trouble?” Lucie asked.
“Of course. What’s the point of being a billionaire if you can’t have an army of slaves at your beck and call to do whatever you want? My mother has one girl who does nothing but fly around the world doing all her returns for her.”
“But is it so crucial for her to see the ring right now?”
“Absolutely. Everyone’s been talking about my ring, and Marie-Laure has one of the most legendary joaillier collections on the planet. If Marie-Laure approves of the ring, she might actually come to the wedding!”
“Who is she again?” Lucie cocked her head.
“Baby, her family owns the Imperial Hotel in Gstaad and she’s a dear friend of my mother’s. We’re going to be seeing her every February from now on when we do the season in Gstaad.”
Freddie looked up from his plate. “I didn’t know you skied, Cecil.”
“I don’t. I go to Gstaad for the season.”
Lucie finally gave in, knowing Cecil wouldn’t stop fixating on this till he got what he wanted. “The ring is in the top-left drawer of my highboy, behind all my sunglass cases. Mom, could you please call Tony and tell him someone’s coming by?”
Marian gave her a weary look. “Mary’s got the day off—there’s no one at home right now. Are you sure we want a total stranger up there?”
Charlotte leaned in. “Do you trust your assistant, Cecil?”
“Of course I do!” Cecil insisted.
Marian reached into her thirty-year-old Coach handbag and got out her phone. “What’s the name of your assistant? I need to tell Tony to let them up.”
“I don’t know,” Cecil answered.
