Legend

Big kitty

A few nights later, we had another fundraiser to go to, for which I got to wear one of my new dresses, a fantastic sangria Monique Lhuillier, and my pearls. Damian surprised me with new earrings, small pearls on sprays of white gold and tiny diamonds. There was also a ring, an enormous silky pale blue star sapphire surrounded by little diamonds. I gave him a look as he was sliding the ring onto my right ring finger. It fit perfectly. He was unrepentant. "You need jewelry at these things," he said. "And I like giving you pretty things." He kissed my shoulder, then put a finger across my lips carefully. "Nope. It's part of the world you're getting into with me, and I'm going to make sure that you appropriately outfitted. Most of the people at these things are nice, but it only takes one rude person to ruin your fun. Plus it's fun to watch other people look at you, how beautiful you are, and know that you've chosen me." He handed me my clutch. "Ready?"

I gave up the fight and took his arm. "It's not that I don't love the pretty things, but they're so expensive," I explained. He just shrugged, unmoved. "You always look so handsome, but especially in a tuxedo," I said. He preened a bit and I smiled. At the party, he made several introductions, then we were separated. Some of the women oohed over my jewelry and dress, and several men asked me to dance. The skirt of my dress was beautiful but not really conducive to dancing, unfortunately. I was talking to a group of older people who were fascinated to hear that I worked with Tony in new energy when Tony himself showed up. I listened with some amusement as he charmed the cynics in the group and departed with them to talk about business. I turned, intending to seek out more canapes, and came face to face with Selena Kyle. She was wearing a black column dress, very chic, with a diamond and moonstone necklace that was spectacular. She kissed my cheek and lightly drew her finger over my pearls. I gave her a look, and she laughed.

"I'm mostly retired, darling, and Bruce would have my head if I liberated them. The boy does have a good eye for quality, though. I taught him some things." My eyebrows rose. One thing that you must always say about Selena was that she was impeccably stylish and wore only the best. And of course, Damian is a quick study.

"Your necklace is gorgeous," I complimented her, and she nodded.

"Bruce gave it to me," she said. "It was to keep me from paying your auntie's old business a visit one night." She smiled. "Not that I didn't drop by periodically. She used to make me little pretties as a bribe so that I wouldn't help myself to her other sparkly things." I laughed. It seemed like a very Emma thing to do.

Damian stepped up to my side, kissed my temple in greeting, then smiled at Selena. They talked for a moment, then her usual teasing demeanor slid away. "I wanted to tell you that I had to have Qitta put to sleep," she told him compassionately, and his face went blank. He nodded brusquely as his eyes developed a sheen. "She had cancer," she told me, and I looked puzzled.

"Damian was always bringing home stray cats," Bruce said, appearing by Selena's side. "We rehomed most of them with Selena."

"She was eighteen or so," Selena said a little anxiously. "She had a good life." I laced my fingers with Damian's and patted his hand.

He managed a cursory smile. "I know she did," he told her. "She was one of my favorites."

"They were all your favorites," his dad sighed. "But it was unfair to ask Alfred to take care of all of them."

"How many did you bring home?" I asked.

"Eleven," he said promptly.

"He brought a cow home once," his father said, still a little pained by the memory, apparently. "Turned him into a vegetarian."

"What did you do with it?" I asked, fascinated.

"Kept it," he said. "She ended up on the dairy farm, content to the last."