In Which If Society Doesn't Want A Scandal, They Should Make It So Much Fun
Cash had been taught that (despite his name), money was something to be hoarded and guarded and only let out under strict supervision.
Then Alex asked him to come along as he ran a few errands for Lady Saporta.
"A few errands," it seemed, translated into "get everything I need for an epic ball."
And whilst shopping for flower arrangements and catering wasn't normally his idea of a good time, with Alex it took on a whole new dimension. City traders just weren't used to dealing with a man, who wasn't a servant, who could haggle like a fishwife.
It was all Cash could do at some places to not laugh out loud.
And the thing was--they knew Alex was a direct line to the money, they couldn't say a word when Alex and Cash took a couple of the flowers from the sample bouquet and fenced with them down the aisle, when Alex went through the millinery and laughingly declared every one of the ribbons Not Cash's Color, insisted they taste every kind of sample the caterer had, "Just in case we change our mind," despite the fact thay Cash knew Lady Saporta would not be amused if Alex altered her menu.
And the silliness didn't get in Alex's way of getting a better deal than just about anyone Cash could imagine. Cash knew where he'd learned his poker face, had watched it develop, but even he was taken in when Alex turned to leave the shop.
Afterward, Alex suggests they stop at a fashionable little eatery, one of those places one went to be seen in society, "To refresh ourselves."
Cash knew that grin. He offered his arm. "Sir?"
Together they strolled in, ignoring the maitre de to claim the most visible table in the place, and proceeded to order a tray of delicacies and feed them to each other.
Cash recognized several faces around the room. He wondered how long it would take for his parents to learn of today's antics.