Annie let Norma prattle on about nothing of interest. She wanted to exhaust her requisite hostess time with the bawdy bimbo and extend as little hospitality as possible. Myra, Annie, and Charlotte tried to avoid making eye contact with each other in fear of bursting out laughing. Women like Norma Marcus gave women a bad name, and that name was bimbo. The only thing that was missing was the bubble gum. That was when Charlotte remembered how Isabelle and Alexis were dressed when they had left for Aspen. Her body started shaking as she ferociously tried to keep from laughing. She cracked. Myra followed. Then Annie. The three of them were howling as their guests stared in shock.

Surprised and perplexed expressions ran across Julian’s and Norma’s faces. Annie was the first to gain her composure.

“I am so sorry. My apologies. It’s a silly private joke we used to share when we were kids.” She took Norma’s hand. “So tell me a little about yourself.” She guided Norma through the growing crowd. “I plan on staying in London for a brief time. I always welcome new donors to my animal charities.” Norma seemed a little unsteady on the spiked heels. Perhaps the word charity was a curse word to Norma.

After a half hour of “How do you dos” with Norma’s friends, Annie politely excused herself. “I must attend to my other guests. We’ll catch up some more later.”

Eyeing Myra and Charlotte, Annie signaled that she was on the move. Charlotte and Myra were to keep their eyes on the Marcuses. Annie slipped through the crowd, kissing cheeks. When it appeared no one was looking in her direction, she slipped out the door to the side stairwell. Debating whether she should slide down the handrails, she realized there wouldn’t be a pile of pillows at the bottom or Charles and Fergus to bounce off. That was something that would have to wait until she got back to Myra’s. She moved swiftly down the stairs, remembering that she had to go one flight below the apartment and then take the lift up. That could eat up several minutes. Lifts did not always arrive on your schedule. Especially when you were in a hurry.

She was careful to avoid the security cameras but was thrown off when the doors to the lift opened and several of her party invitees were inside.

“Annie!” said some of the guests.

“Countess!” other surprised guests blurted.

“Darlings! Good of you to come! You did bring your checkbook, I trust!” Annie was going to get ahead of them before anyone could ask what she was doing in the lift. “Private talk with the doorman.”

“Yes, but this is going up.”

“And so it is. Silly me. So much going on!” She pushed the button for the Marcuses’ floor. “I’ll pop out and grab the next one going down. Be back in a flash!”