Chapter 37
“Where do our Enforcers stay in the city?” Donal asked.
Alexei picked up his coffee cup. “Down the block is an apartment building on the corner of East Sixty-fourth. Etienne bought me nine two-bedroom apartments with full baths and kitchens for my staff. Each of them has their own apartment as do the cleaning girls and the kitchen maid. But Vasily, Grigory, Katya, and Boris stay here. Vasily and Grigory each have suites on the fifth floor, and Boris and Katya have a suite off the kitchen.”
Donal’s eyes widened. “Katya cooks for everyone?”
“No, little mouse, when the Enforcers are off duty, they cook for themselves.”
“Are you happy now that you know everyone has their own space?” Alexei asked, ruffling Donal’s hair.
“Yes, it’s good to have your own space.”
“You’ll have your own space on the sixth floor where there is an empty room, a solarium, and a terrace. You can use that room as a music room or your own study.”
Donal smiled and listened attentively as they discussed what would happen next.
“You have to go to Colorado. The mating ceremony must take place on pack land and the home pack plus the other pack Alphas in Colorado must see the mark,” Sean explained. “There are a lot of loup garou in Colorado which means you’ll have a full house.”
“The mark…oh you mean the bite…does it hurt much?” Donal whispered to Sean.
“Just a little the first time, after that, not at all.”
“Okay…”
Armand turned to Alexei. “Since this is a council mating we have to hold a reception for the council. Normally, I’d say wait and hold the wedding in the city, but since Donal was so sick, we’ll tell them we want to do it all at once. You’ll have to have another reception in the city for the Garou Industries people who are not wolves and don’t know our secrets. You’ll have it catered, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.”
“Did all of you have to do this?” Donal asked.
Armand nodded. “Yes, we did. It wasn’t too bad. Angelique needs to be notified to have her organize the she-wolves for the mating feast. You can’t have that catered. We’ll send Meg, Marie Claire, Agnes, and Michelle to go a few days early with Katya and Boris to get them organized. Tell Angelique to use the ranch accounts for the costs and you will pay the bills,” Armand said to the very attentive Alexei.
“When I was there, I set it up so that all the bills, for the main house and the lodge and any maintenance for the homes and grounds, should come to me. I am in the midst of modernizing all of the cottages,” Alexei said.
“Yes, that needed to be done and they wouldn’t let me do it.” Armand sighed. “They are happy now to have someone of their bloodline in charge. Maybe they will become less difficult. You could kill them with kindness, Alexei, La Farge ruled with an iron fist.”
“Maybe I can do better than La Farge.” Alexei smiled at Donal.
“To another subject—we can get Donal measured for off-the-rack suits at Barneyrrsquo;s, but wetrsquo;ll have to tell them to leave plenty of room so they can be let out. Yours can be made to fit. When we finish there, we,rsquo;ll go to my tailor, Mr. Abbott, to measure for bespoke suits and the tuxedos. Bloomingdaledrsquo;s will have everything else you need,erdquo; Armand said and received a glare from Sean.
“I know they needs suits, Armand, but don’t assume they want to dress like we do. What kinds of clothes do you like, Donal?” Sean asked.
“Anything? Like dream big?” Donal asked, certain his eyes were as big as saucers.
Alexei laughed. “By all means, mouse, dream big.”
“I’d like to dress as if I went to Harvard,” Donal said wistfully. “I like shirts with collars, soft wool or cashmere sweaters, dress pants with shoes and a belt to match, a tie that goes with the shirt and sweater. Also a blazer, I was always cold. For hanging out, I’d like rugby and golf shirts, chinos, nice jeans that aren’t tight or ripped, Bermuda shorts, deck shoes or sneakers. I used to dream about music and well-made warm clothes. Most of the johns who were kind to the other boys dressed nice.”
“As it happens, these are the things I like to wear. Armand, we can shop in the same stores for both of us,” Alexei said happily, patting Donal’s thigh.