A Birth day

"I have no issue with Jack," Angus said. "That was just a difference of opinion, and we're home now. So its all good. Jack meant well. So if they want to take that on, then its fine by me.

"You know, Ru, on a bit of a change of subject, you should get Zoe or Nicky to help you and you should host an afternoon tea party in our tea garden for all the ladies here for some late afternoon when they can all come. I certainly don't think it needs to be today. I think you'd want to take your time and do it the way you think it should be done. We've done things for the boys, so I think we should do some things for the girls now.

"I'd ask Tara, Anise, Ginger, Faith, Evie, Kate, Jess, Abbey, Molly, and Simone, an anybody else I've missed. I'm sure Zoe and Nicky or Lizzie at Sparks would help you with refreshments. And I bet Marcus's dad has some ideas on special candies you could include. the ladies might have a good time. What do you think?"

"Yes. That's it," he said. "I would do an assortment of things, and take the help where you can get it. Let the chefs do the baking for you. You could do some mini scones, some cookies, some little tiny tartlets, some tea sandwiches, and then do tea and maybe some strawberry lemonade or raspberry lemonade. I know some of my cookbooks have some sample menus you can look at for ideas. Simone can help you with the decorating. I know she's had to have done more teas than she can count, and i'm sure she'd be thrilled to help you. You could either serve it in the gazebo, or you could serve it outside in the garden.

"Frankly, I'd make it sort of casual elegance. I'd do pink gingham table cloths, mismatched old vintage porcelain plates and cups and saucers, lots of homestyle flower arrangements, that sort of thing, and I'd tell them they should, by all means, feel free to wear their jeans. Hire guitarist if you want some music. I think you should let everyone feel pampered but comfortable. But then again, I'm a guy. What do I know?"

"I saw her and Tara out weeding the garden awhile ago," Marcus said. "Simone said the weeds had really gotten out of hand while we were gone, so they were going to sort it out so that the garden and the flower beds looked nice when Edward came home. And she said she had a couple garden gnomes she wanted to surprise him with. I didn't know Edward was into gnomes."

"He's not," Angus laughed. "He's not against them, but he's never had any reason to be interested in them either. But, if it makes her happy, it'll make him happy. Did you happen to see my brother?"

"Well, no, but I know that Nigel and Robert were going to show him around the main house and the grounds," Marcus said. "So maybe that's where they are. I know Evan really wanted to see it last night."

"I'm not an effective host," Angus said.

"You're not trying to be a host, are you? Did you not say they're not guests, they're family?"

"Something like that," Angus said.

"So let them act as family and figure it out for themselves," Marcus said. As he was speaking, there was another little flutter from the floo, and a message arrived. Marcus caught it. It wasn't even in an envelope. He read it and handed it to Angus.

Angus read it, became instantly angry, crumpled up the note, and chucked into the cold fireplace hearth.

"I need my clothes, Marcus," Angus said quietly.

"No, you don't. Not yet. Let's take a moment and think," Marcus said. Marcus used one finger, flicked the note out of the hearth, and tossed the crumpled paper to Ruby. The note was one line--Angus's other brother, Tyler. It read:

"Use every precaution---I just got word from one of Edward's old mates that Cora has enlisted the help of a 'problem solver,' and she's hired him to solve her problem with you. Tyler"

Angus sighed heavily, and he watched Ruby leave.

"Which she?" Simone asked, looking up from the gardening. "Suzanne or Cora?"

"Does Ruby have full understanding of what Tyler meant by a 'problem solver'?" Marcus asked Angus.

"I'm not sure. Robert won't miss it, though," Angus said. "They can bloody get in anywhere if the money is good enough. i need to reach Edward immediately."

"I'll help you to the floo, and we'll see if we can reach him." Marcus brought over an ottoman for Angus to sit on, and he helped Angus over to the ottoman in front of the fireplace. It took him nearly twenty minutes, but he finally got Sergio.

"Angus?" Sergio called. "I'm here. Edward's going to be here in a moment. He and Anise found some wild strawberries, and they're picking some for our supper tonight. What's the matter? You wouldn't be calling if it weren't important."

"It is. I won't keep you. Tell Edward that Tyler sent me a message a short while ago. He says Cora has hired a 'problem solver' to take care of me."

"Oh, God," Sergio said with dread.

"Angus," Ana burst in, "as soon as we get this beast taken care of, we'll be there...."

"Ana," Angus began.

"No, I'm not listening. If someone is coming after you, then its the same as if they were coming after us. We'll be there, Dragostea mea." He sighed. The terms of endearment had not died even though the romance had died years and years ago. The term was now a platonic reference and nothing more.

"She's right," Sergio said. "You can't keep us away. We'll wind this up tonight, and we'll be there as soon as it's finished. We'll tell Edward for you. Are you safe for now?"

"I am. Robert gave me a bodyguard, and he's still here."

"Well, that means nothing. Is he any good? That's what I care about."

"Robert doesn't hire dumbasses," Angus laughed.

"Touche," Sergio laughed. "Be careful, my brother. Help is on the way." The floo went dark.

"He's upstairs working on a potion of some sort," Kate said. She listened to Ruby talk about a problem solver. As one of the founding members of the Paris organization, Kate was not new at this.

"Ruby," Kate said. "a problem solver is what your father said he was. It's a disguised term for a hired killer. She's hired someone to eliminate him. Now, we don't know who she hired, and that can make a huge difference. It's like any other field. You have competent people, and you have idjits. If Marcus knows, then he'll have Angus protected. This is exactly the sort of thing Robert hired him for. We'll have to trust him to do his job. I'll tell Robert, and I'm sure he'll tighten up security here. For now, go home and do whatever Marcus tells you to do. I'm betting Robert will come over shortly. It's about time for Angus to have another dose of potions anyway. Keep calm, Ruby. In my experience, from what I've seen, this is when Marcus is at his best."

Marcus helped helped Angus back to his chair.

"Calm," Marcus said. "This isn't the first time its happened, and it probably won't be the last. You have to rest. This is already getting to you."

"I can't keep killing my family but here it is again," Angus said quietly. "It's her or me."

"Hold. You can't buggar back to Tuscany right now. You're not strong enough right now, thanks to her. You need to sit and rest. I'll be right here. If the fight comes, I'll take care of it. That's my job," Marcus reassured him.