“In the year 1638,” Drayton said, “a Russian ambassador purchased one hundred and thirty pounds of fine black tea from a Mongol khan. He delivered that tea to Czar Aleksey Mikhaylovich, where it became an instant hit in the royal Russian court. In fact, the czar was so taken by this excellent beverage that he sent the khan one hundred sable skins as a token of his gratitude.” There were murmurs of approval and a spattering of applause. Drayton continued. “In keeping with the spirit of our Romanov Tea, I want to remind you all about the precious Fabergé egg that will be on display at the Heritage Society this coming weekend.”
As Drayton continued speaking, Theodosia began to worry. She worried that Drayton might be hyping the Fabergé egg too much. She worried about Sabrina and Luke Andros, who were sitting right there, listening with rapt attention. Professor Shepley, whom she still wanted to question, also seemed completely agog. But mostly she worried about a repeat performance, of thieves storming the Great Hall and smashing the cases and getting their hands on that precious jeweled egg.
That simply cannot happen, she told herself.
Theodosia wasn’t sure how she was going to thwart a gang of international jewel thieves, she just knew she had to. If she could do that, she could also exact a small token of justice for Brooke.
“Theodosia?” Drayton said for a second time.
She pulled herself back into the here and now. “What?”
Now there were bursts of giggles from the guests.
Drayton looked at her expectantly. So did many of the guests. “You were going to say a few words?”
“Yes. Of course.” Theodosia snapped to, her heels clicking sharply against the wooden floor as she hurried over to join him. “Yes. I just wanted to thank everyone for coming tonight. When one plans a special event tea like this, you never know how well it’s going to be received.” She turned in a circle, a smile on her face. “Or if anyone is even going to show up.”
“We love you!” Delaine called out.
“But it looks as though my fears were unfounded,” Theodosia continued. “So thank you all for coming. I hope you enjoyed the food, and I hope you decide to join us at the Indigo Tea Shop for our next special event tea.”
Thunderous applause rocked the tea room as Theodosia and Drayton smiled their appreciation. Then all the chairs screeched back as the guests seemed to jump up at once for a group mingle.
“It’s gridlock,” Drayton chuckled as they were quickly enveloped by the crowd.
“We can’t possibly clear these tables with everyone milling around like this,” Theodosia said with a shrug.
“Then we’ll just let them go. We’ll bid everyone good night and do our work later.”
“You’ll grab the coats?” Theodosia asked him. “The ones that are stashed in my office, anyway?”
“Yes,” Drayton said. “But you better grab that professor of yours while you can and start shaking him down.”
“I will.”
Theodosia collared Professor Shepley just as he was about to slip out the front door. “I’m so sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk,” she said, grabbing hold of his sleeve and reeling him in like a struggling redfish on a hook.
“It was a lovely dinner,” Shepley told her. “And I’m pleased to say I made the acquaintance of some of your wonderful Charleston neighbors.”
“We’re a friendly bunch, that’s for sure. But you probably know that already. I understand you’ve been staying at the Rosewalk Inn?”
Shepley nodded. “Yes, but not for much longer. My work here is almost finished.”
Theodosia smiled as she hung on to him. “What work is that?”
He looked slightly disconcerted. “I’m writing a book on the influence of the baroque and rococo on eighteenth-century Russian literature.”
“Uh-huh, that’s nice. And when are you leaving?”
“I was planning to drive back to Savannah on Monday. Possibly Sunday.”
“Do you have any plans for Saturday?” Theodosia knew she was pressing him, maybe even scaring him a little, but didn’t much care.
“Well, um . . . yes, I suppose I might. I just now learned about the Fabergé egg that’s going to be on display at the Heritage Society.”
“Really.”
“I hadn’t heard about it until your man mentioned it. Drayton? Is that his name?”
Theodosia ground her teeth together. “That’s right.” She pinched Shepley’s arm even more tightly.
“I was thinking I might drop by for the opening party. Try to wangle an invitation. A sort of quid pro quo, one academic institution to another.”
“Wouldn’t that be lovely,” she spat out.
“But I . . .” Shepley gave a vigorous tug and broke free, his jacket finally slipping through Theodosia’s fingers. “Now I really must be going.”
Theodosia waved after him. “Bye-bye, I’ll be looking for you.” Will I ever.
? ? ?
“How shall I put this,” Drayton said. “It was an event to remember.”
They were standing in the darkened tea room, candles guttering in their pewter holders, dirty dishes littering the tables. The flowers looked peaked in their glass vases and most of the candy Fabergé eggs had disappeared. Walked out the door with the guests. Theodosia hoped petty theft wasn’t a bad omen.
“I’d say our tea was a huge success,” Haley said. She was puttering around at one of the tables, stacking dishes. “I mean, our guests ate everything we put on the table. Seemed to enjoy it, too.”