[b]Chapter 4[/b]
Robin puts her cell phone back in her evening bag. Looks across the table at Elizabeth and says, "Emma's just been put to bed and she went down beautifully. With my phone I'm never out of touch. Nikolas says all the kids are at your place tonight, it must have been hard leaving them."
Elizabeth smiles for the first time that evening."Yes, Jake is doing much better now, so Audrey talked me into taking a night off from sitting at his bedside. Nikolas and I try to give Spencer as much time with Aiden as possible. That and Norma won't be as clingy as I am with Jake at the moment. I think they will all enjoy not having me there, being over protective."
The unspoken tension in the air threatens to become overwhelming, Patrick tries to break it with a joke, "I've never seen so much silverware in my life." He holds up a knife, "I could probably buy Emma her first real race car with this."
Elizabeth laughs and can't stop herself from looking over at Nikolas. The conversation fades around her. She watches as Nikolas holds court with Helena at his side. Nikolas has no problem keeping up with Helena and holding his own at his table filled with august personalities. She worries about him and their friends, about everyone that is helping them tonight.
Her gaze settles on Helena. She has never liked her, doesn't respect her as a human being but she does give her credit for being able to take care of herself, for her ability to thrive, not just survive. Her gaze moves from Helena to pass over the guests at the head table. She must have paused too long on one of them because she catches Nikolas giving her a small shake of his head, telling her to stop.
She obeys him and moves from watching the head table to focus on a nearby window. It has begun to rain. Alfred walks by the window, she follows him with her gaze. He walks to the head table, goes to Nikolas and leans down to give him a private message. Nikolas looks concerned, hides it quickly and makes his excuses from the table.
Her attention is caught by Matt who has just finished dinner. "God I wish I could eat like this more often. I never knew short ribs could taste this good or be this fancy. Almost beats a Chicago style hot dog."
Patrick disagrees, "I don't know, nothing beats a Chicago style except maybe a slaw dog."
Maxie interrupts, not enjoying the conversation, "Here we are with the best of society, well not the best of fashion society, and all you guys can talk about is sports and hot dogs."
Robin replies, "You can put the man in a tux but it's still the same man, just in a prettier package."
Patrick takes a drink of wine and says ironically, "Thanks dear."
Maxie rubs the collar of Matt's tux with a proprietary hand, "It is a beautiful tux."
"We could always talk about work, had an interesting gall bladder removal today," Matt says helpfully.
"No thanks, the hot dog conversation is more interesting." Maxie's attention is grabbed by the dessert a waiter puts before her. "Look at the meringue shells they are shaped like Prada bags. I have to find out who catered the desserts. We can use these at Kate's next Crimson sponsored fashion show. They are almost too precious to eat."
Elizabeth is too worried to eat the dessert. She downs the glass of champagne she was just served and tries not to look overly anxious for Nikolas' return. She wishes she knew more of the plan but Nikolas only told people what little he could and no one was told other people's roles to play unless necessary for the plan. He thought that safer.
Nikolas has yet to return when Helena opens the ballroom for dancing. She also invites a select few to the card room for cigars and one could assume gambling. Elizabeth watches Luke escort Helena. Tracy was in conversation with Edward and some ELQ business partners. She wonders what role Luke would play.
Her contemplation is interrupted when Alfred comes behind her to assist with the chair. As she stands next to him he whispers, "Master Nikolas wants you to know that the pieces are moving as he wills. He also requests that you open the dance with him."
She looks startled and whispers, "Are you sure? He said it was better for us to keep apart."
"I can assure you that the request came from him not five minutes ago Miss Elizabeth."
"Then yes, of course I'll dance with him; I wouldn't want to be the first pawn to not obey."
Alfred looks startled at her bitter tone, "Miss Elizabeth don't ever think of yourself as a mere pawn. You are to be as protected as the queen. He also noticed you are without a corsage for the evening and presents this for you."
Elizabeth looks down at the wrist corsage as Alfred slips it over her wrist. She flirts with touching the soft pink flowers on top, oleander. "Sometimes a master player sacrifices the queen Alfred."