Jefferson Picquery's face shifted through a whole palette of colors, turning livid one moment and pale the next. Clearly, he hadn't expected Jerry to remain so unruffled. He gritted his teeth, trying to assert his authority as the host, but looked more like a rooster whose bluster hid its cowardice.
"Jefferson!" Seraphina Picquery strode over, snatched the wand from his hand, and scolded him in exasperation. "Carmen, take him away and let him come to his senses!"
Without a word, Carmen hauled the red-faced, still-shouting Jefferson out of the banquet hall.
Seraphina Picquery sighed helplessly. After reassuring several startled guests, she came over and sat down at Jerry's table, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, Jerry. That was embarrassing. I'll make sure to give him a proper talking-to later!"
Jerry smiled casually, as though the little farce had been nothing more than an inconsequential interruption. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hold a grudge against a child."
He hadn't taken Jefferson Picquery seriously at all. A spoiled brat who threw his weight around on the strength of his family didn't even deserve his anger.
Seraphina Picquery gave a wry smile. Which one of you is the child, exactly?
"Seraphina, who are these two?" An old man with graying hair and a deeply wrinkled face approached, holding a wineglass. His cloudy eyes swept over Jerry and Catherine.
"My friend's grandson." Seraphina Picquery frowned slightly, apparently displeased by the old man's arrival, but still introduced him politely. "Jerry, this is Speaker Johnson of Congress."
"Hello, young man. It's a pleasure to meet you both." Speaker Johnson offered what he clearly considered a warm, kindly smile and reached out to shake Jerry's hand.
Just as he let go, however, his withered index finger traced across Jerry's palm with deliberate pressure.
A nauseating air of decay