In a few strides, he was in front of her. “Chrysabelle, what can I do for you?”

“Can we talk?” She slanted her eyes to the left and right, indicating somewhere out of earshot of the crowd.

“Sure.” He put his hand on her shoulder and guided her through the line of cops. “She’s with me.”

Once they reached the back of the sedan, he stopped. “What’s up?”

“Those idiot cops won’t let me get to Mal. The mayor never said anything about me being kept from him.” She glanced at where he was chained. He seemed unfazed by everything going on around him. “Please, I need to talk to him. I don’t even know why he decided to do this. I mean, I have an idea but—”

Luke held his hands up. “I know you’re upset. Let me see what I can do.” He left her standing beside the taillights and went to the mayor’s side. After a few moments, Lola leaned toward him and they spoke. She stole a look at Chrysabelle, quickly averting her eyes when Chrysabelle didn’t back down. Guilt, maybe? Because the mayor had to know what a screwup this was. How none of this was going to help sway Chrysabelle into helping Lola get her grandchild back.

Chrysabelle crossed her arms and stared the woman down, but Lola never looked her way again. She and Luke exchanged a few more words; then Luke nodded and ambled back to the car.

“Okay, she says you can have all the access you want once the crowd is dispersed.”

She let go of the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you.”

“You know they’re keeping the cameras on him, right? You’re going to be broadcast into every household in the city.”

She slumped. She hadn’t thought of that. “Can you get a message to Mal?”

“Sure.”

“Tell him I’ll be back when the crowds are gone.”

“Consider it done.”

“Thanks.” She turned and headed down the block to where Jerem was waiting with the car, her entire body buzzing with resolve. She hadn’t been a real comarré in almost a month. Any reason she’d had to hang on to those old beliefs was gone. The time had come to make some changes.

As the tasting wound down, Tatiana stood and clicked the nails of her metal hand against her crystal goblet. “Friends,” enemies, fools, blighty old ratbags, “I’d like to thank you again for coming to celebrate this new joy with me.” She raised her glass and the others did the same, drinking with her.

She put the glass down. “Now that our tasting is concluded, there is brandy in the library and the baccarat table is set up. I’ve brought a dealer in from Monaco to further enhance your playing.”

The males looked rather delighted. The pleasure most of them took in gambling was no secret. “I myself prefer a stroll in the garden. Of course, any of you who wish to join me there are absolutely welcome. The gardens here are quite a sight to behold.”

“That sounds like a marvelous idea, my lady.” Daci smiled broadly, playing her part perfectly. “Svetla, why don’t you join us? We’ll make a ladies’ escape of it.”

Svetla curled her lip. “I don’t—”

Grigor set his hand upon her arm, stopping her. “Go. Spend some time with Tatiana and Daciana. It will be a perfect opportunity to get to know them better.”

In other words, try to read their minds. Svetla could try all she wanted, but Tatiana knew she and Daci would give nothing away.

Octavian led the men to the library, where hopefully he’d be able to keep some distance from Grigor. If Kosmina’s potion didn’t work, Tatiana would kill her.

“Shall we?” Tatiana made for the gardens with Daci at her side and Svetla trailing slightly behind them. She forced herself to slow so that Svetla fell into step.

The pale blonde looked everywhere but at Tatiana. “Ivan’s estate is beautiful.”

Dumb git. She knew well enough that the property belonged to Tatiana now. “Ivan’s estate? You must have forgotten the noble line of succession. It goes from Dominus to Dominus.” Tatiana smiled sweetly. “You do recall that Ivan’s dead?”

Frost clouded Svetla’s blue gaze. “Yes, of course. How could I have forgotten that?”

Kosmina, who’d gone ahead to prepare a few things, met them at the French doors leading out to the gardens. She bowed. “My lady, I’ve brought a bottle of champagne from your private reserves. Also, Lilith is sleeping peacefully.”

The bottle sat chilling in a stand, three elaborately gilded flutes nearby. “Very good,” Tatiana said.

“I’ll pass,” Svetla said.

Kosmina lifted the bottle high for Tatiana to examine it. “Perhaps I should have brought something less expensive…”

“No, we’re celebrating,” Tatiana assured her.

“What a wonderful splurge!” Daci exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to try a bottle of that.”

As if on cue, Svetla leaned in to get a better look. Her jaw unhinged slightly. “Is that Heidsieck?”

“Yes, do you know it?” Tatiana asked. The champagne had been in Ivan’s cellars and, according to the sommelier’s logbook, was the most expensive he’d ever purchased. A little research on Kosmina’s part had discovered why and made it easy for Tatiana to determine it might be the one glass Svetla couldn’t refuse.

Svetla closed her mouth, but only for a moment. “Yes, I know it. That’s the Heidsieck cuvée Diamant blue vintage 1907. Those bottles were commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II.”