SHORTLY AFTER ONE, barefoot and half-dressed in trousers and an open-neck shirt, Fitz walked into his mother’s sitting room. Clearly confrontational from his pugnacious stance to his fierce scowl, he held Rosalind’s package aloft. “What the hell is this?”
Julia set her book beside her on the settee. “You needn’t swear.”
His nostrils flared. “Very well, Mother. I would appreciate,” he said with deliberate courtesy, “if you’d tell me where this came from.”
“Mrs. St. Vincent.”
“She was here?”
“Not exactly.”
He groaned. “Don’t tell me you went to see her.”
“I just wanted a little peek,” Julia returned, unruffled. “She seems quite nice by the way.”
“She is nice, Mother. She’s also an incredible nuisance.” Each word was measured and controlled; he was clearly tamping down his temper. “In the future, though, I would be grateful if you stayed out of my affairs.”
“You seemed out of sorts this morning. I was curious.”
“I was perfectly fine this morning,” he said, cool and clipped.
“No you weren’t.”
He silently counted to ten. “I was tired, Mother.”
“I see.” She smiled sweetly. “Are you feeling better now after your nap?”
“You’re not getting off that easily,” he growled. “I’m bloody irritated. You shouldn’t have interfered.”
“I’m sorry, darling,” she amiably replied, ignoring his growl and glowering look. “But you needn’t be angry. I bought some wonderful books for Kemal. Mrs. St. Vincent’s stock is quite extensive.”
Fitz blew out a long-suffering breath. He might as well be tilting at windmills, and it wasn’t as though he hadn’t expected her to meddle. She always did. Extending his arm, he nodded at the package on his open palm. “I suppose you looked in here.”
“No, I didn’t. But it’s obviously jewelry. Mrs. St. Vincent is an unusual woman, darling, you must admit. When have any of your lady friends ever returned any of your lavish gifts?”
“Bloody right she’s unusual,” he grumbled, dropping his arm. “She’s likely to cost me ninety thousand if I can’t get her to move.”
“Do you think perhaps you haven’t approached her properly, my dear.” Julia spoke with the patience and forbearance one would use addressing an unenlightened child. “She seemed quite reasonable to me.”
He rather thought he’d approached her every which way, diligently and repeatedly last night. “On the contrary, Mother, she is entirely unreasonable,” he brusquely said, not about to enter into a discussion with his mother on negotiation techniques. He half lifted the package. “Would you like these? I have no use for them.”
“Leave them if you wish, sweetheart. I’m sure I can find some purpose for them.” There is always the possibility the lady will want them back at some point. “Will you be home for tea? ”
“No. I’m about to go out.” After having his jewelry sent back, he had even more reason to see Hutchinson. He wanted this impasse resolved.