“So Gizelle, my dear,” Aideen said, after they had placed their requests for drinks. “Tell me all about yourself.”
Gizelle tucked her feet up on the chair with her, forgetting to copy Aideen’s manners. “I don’t know much about myself,” she said honestly. “But I am about this tall and I like to run.”
“Mm,” said Aideen, not impressed. “Where are you from?”
“Nobody knows,” Gizelle said mournfully. “I don’t remember anything before Tony and Neal set us all loose from the zoo.”
It was Aideen’s turn to stare. “The... zoo?”
“There was a collector,” Conall explained for her. “He was kidnapping exotic shifters and keeping them in a... menagerie.”
“How dreadful!” Aideen said in horror. “You poor thing!”
Gizelle smiled tentatively. “I... don’t remember it,” she insisted, but when she reached for her water glass, her hand was trembling, so she sat on it instead.
There was a moment of silence that even Gizelle’s poor social skills could recognize as awkward.
Aideen politely said, “So, I understand you’re a gazelle shifter.”
“Yes,” Gizelle said softly. “We like to run.” She cast about for something interesting to add. “Oh, I can hypnotize people.”
“Hypnotize?” Aideen said in shock.
“I could show you—” Gizelle started to offer, but Conall cleared his throat urgently. She looked at his anxious face and added, “Later, maybe?”
“How fascinating,” Aideen said, sounding slightly strangled.
Breck brought them a tray of drinks then; something fancy and tall for Aideen, a juice with a straw for Gizelle and a gin and tonic for Conall.
“I didn’t order this,” Conall said as Breck put his in front of him.
“You’re going to need it,” Breck said sympathetically.
Gizelle smiled at him nervously and played with her straw.
Chapter 48
Conall began to relax as the meal went on.
Gizelle startled once, when someone dropped a fork with a clatter at the next table, but she only made it partway out of her chair before hauling herself back and giving a determined smile to Aideen. She handled her utensils well, and the conversation even better.
His mother was unexpectedly sympathetic; Conall thought that Gizelle’s story had surprised and touched her, and the subtle barbs and cuts that he had braced for never materialized. She had clearly been expecting a certain class of woman who would be out for Conall’s money. But no one could expect Gizelle.
Chef himself served them a tender pork dish in a light glaze, with tender new vegetables and a silky root mash that wasn’t all potatoes. Dessert was a creamy cheesecake with a sweet cherry topping. The fine food even impressed Aideen.
After the meal, Conall and Gizelle took her on a brief tour of the resort. He and Gizelle compromised on just one of her favorite lawns, and showed her the spa, the bar deck, the pool, overlooking the beach below, ending at last at the event hall.
The glittering tree had been assembled, in all its tinselly glory, and half of it was dripping in ornaments.
“It’s so beautiful,” Gizelle breathed. “It looks like sugar.”
“Don’t lick it,” Conall felt obligated to warn her.
Aideen laughed uncertainly.
Travis and Wrench were moving the ladder to a bare portion of the tree. “Want to hang a few?” Travis offered Gizelle.
“I find I’m quite fatigued,” Aideen said pointedly. “Conall, shall we retire?”