"... I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me."
She stood up, took Katarina's hand, and tugged.
[Oh fuck.]
Katarina, who had every intention of saying goodnight to her guests properly, like a Signora, like a host, like an adult woman with civic responsibilities, got pulled out of her chair.
She did, in fairness, try her best.
"Mother, I'm just going to..."
"GO, GO! Don't keep your girl waiting!" Brynn yelled without slowing down her dance with Greta.
Seris, on the fountain wall, did not even look up. She just raised her wine glass in a small, knowing salute and went back to her customs official impression. Apparently, Kat's mothers, in unanimous agreement for the first time in recorded history, were perfectly fine with her being dragged off mid-party for what was about to happen.
And so, Katarina was yanked out of the public event by her girlfriend in front of half the lower harbor.
Vessa didn't make it to Katarina's bedroom.
