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CHAPTERFIVE
AZURA
There were so many people in the gardens Azura almost felt crowded. She was amazed by the number of people that had shown up, even though Gerri had told her the guest list was completely full.
Nerves hit her in a sudden rush. Her heart pounded, and Azura felt sweat dance across her skin. For a moment, her head swam, and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to stay up on her high heels. She felt like a princess in the gown Gerri had given her, and the flowing skirts and flattering lines encouraged her to hold her head high and really work it as she walked up the main pathway.
Azura conquered her nerves fairly quickly after seeing the appreciative looks being thrown her way by both men and women.
The change to the gardens themselves was nothing short of breathtaking. The stone pathways were once covered in moss and overgrown weeds. Now they were clean and polished back to pale gray. The wild rose bushes had been trimmed, and the hedges were in neat rows. All the lawns were cropped short, and the gazebo and stone terrace seats were scrubbed clean of mold and mud.
It looks like a fairy-tale palace!
This gave her confidence that the house and grounds could be restored to their former glory. Emotions swelled inside her, not just the satisfaction of knowing she would honor her parents by bringing their ancestral home back into repair but also that she could realize her dream of being an event planner.
She paused by a tent to get a glass of champagne, hoping to ease her nerves. Straight away, an older lady approached her. Azura recognized her immediately.
Mrs. Belmont! What the hell is she doing here?
Gladys Belmont was old money in the area and known for her incredible parties. She was famous for choosing breathtaking venues and only hiring the very best planners.
“Hello, dear!” Gladys said, giving her an air kiss and smiling as if they had been best friends for twenty years. “I must ask, where have you been hiding this magnificent garden all this time, as well as your gracious self?”
“Oh, I’m afraid I’ve been very busy lately,” Azura said, stumbling for words. “It was lovely of you to come, Mrs. Belmont.”
“Please!” Gladys cried. “Call me Gladys. If you’re to organize my next event, we shall have to be on a first-name basis.”
“Your next event?” Azura squeaked, hardly able to force words through her tight throat.
“Yes, dear! I have a masquerade party coming up, and so far, every venue I’ve seen is very disappointing. The event planners have been unreliable and not inventive enough for my tastes. I like to surprise my guests, really make it memorable.”
“Of course,” Azura smiled, finally finding her stride.
“We’ll be wanting a new set of decorations,” Gladys said, sweeping her hand wide as she indicated the gazebos. “And fairy lights. I think. Well, you’re the expert. What do you say?”
“You … you want to have it here?” Azura was shocked all over again.
“Of course!” Gladys giggled and took Azura’s arm affectionately as if they were sisters. “Where else?”
“Gladys,” an amused voice spoke from behind them. “You aren’t moving in on my mark, are you?”
Mrs. Belmont spun around, taking Azura with her.
“John-John,” Gladys said with mock outrage. “You back off my event planner right now.”
“Forget her,” John-John said cattily. “I’ll be needing your services far more than this old shrew, and I can pay more.”
“As if!” Gladys scoffed, laughing.
Azura stood between them, paralyzed. John-John was a local fashion designer. His husband was a dog groomer and walker with a famous reputation for working with celebrity pets. Their parties were legendary.
As the two of them argued over who would employ Azura and book her venue first, Azura began to have a strange feeling. It was almost how a rabbit might feel if it were exposed in a glade.
As if an eagle flew somewhere above, and I knew I was in its sights, even though I couldn’t see it …
She turned away from her guests, looking through the crowd. Through the lines of people walking past, there was one man standing perfectly still, watching her.
His suit was a slightly unusual cut, perfectly tailored to his muscular physique. The dark gray set of his night-dark hair and deep blue eyes … the way he stood so still … made him seem almost alien compared to the others.
