So This Is Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Author:Jenny Holiday
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up at the Hauser mansion. “With any luck,” Matteo said, “the snow will have muffled our arrival.”

“Well, it’s not as if we’re going to sneak in James Bond–style.”

Right. He restarted the car. “I think I’ll keep the engine on while you’re inside so the car doesn’t get too cold. That way we’ll be able to make a fast getaway, James Bond–style, if we need to.”

She did not react, and he was more disappointed than he should be. It seemed unfair that American management consultants were allowed to make jokes in the line of duty but their clients weren’t.

Oh, no, she was merely having a delayed reaction. Surprise flickered across her face, and it was replaced by delight. Laughter. It was very gratifying. Perhaps Matteo’s regular demeanor was a little too android-like.

She sobered as she leaned over and took in the house. “Actually, would you come in with me?”

He was startled. And flattered. “Of course.”

“Do you think whoever opens the door will speak English?” she asked as they trudged up the snowy steps to the front door.

“Most likely.”

A woman Matteo didn’t know answered their knock, opening the door just enough to see out. Cara said—in German, which Matteo had noticed she was increasingly showing mastery of—“Good afternoon. My name is Cara Delaney.” She switched to English. “I’m so sorry to descend upon you unannounced, but I need to see Mr. Hauser. It’s about some urgent Morneau business.”

Matteo didn’t know this woman, but she seemed to know them—or to know Ms. Delaney, anyway. Matteo had seen recognition flicker across her features when Ms. Delaney said her name.

“I’m terribly sorry,” the woman said in English, “but it’s not a good time. Perhaps you have a business card? I’d be happy to pass it along to my husband and ask him to call you.”

Matteo fired up his mental rolodex. “Mrs. Hauser—Hauser nee Weiss, is that right? I believe I went to school with your cousin, Benjamin.”

She thawed infinitesimally. “You know Bennie?”

“I do indeed. We played polo together. Bennie was a legend on the field.” He switched to German and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I will admit to having been wildly jealous back in the day. I so desperately wanted to play number one, but he was too talented. I was always stuck with the feed.” She smiled, softening a little more, leaning forward. He almost had her. He switched back to English so Ms. Delaney wouldn’t get lost. “Oh! I’m just remembering: one of Bennie’s cousins represented Eldovia in the last Olympics—as a skier, I believe. That wasn’t you, by any chance, was it?”

The over-the-top, performatively awestruck question he already knew the answer to yielded a genuine smile. “It was.”

“Well, athletic talent must run in the family. I’m honored to meet you.”

“And you are?”

“Oh, I beg your pardon, I completely forgot my manners.” That was a lie. Matteo never forgot his manners. He had been known to “forget” them, though, when to do so served his purposes. He straightened to his full height.

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