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“Even still,” I grip her scrawny arm, “I donotrespond to royal standards when being crossed.”
Princess Mary walks away at that. By the end of the night, I will wish I had canceled the entire event, regardless of my mother’s feelings.
47
Luxury
Fashionably late? Or shockingly right on time? I cannot choose. The lilac dress has a heart-shaped silk bodice. The chiffon skirt gracefully kissed my hips before falling to the floor. I triumphantly slip on a pair of flats beneath it all.
My confidence is at an all-time high after catching up on sleep and vomiting up a bit of apprehension before getting dressed.
At the entryway of the ballroom, my eyes search past the mingling nobility and other guests, desperate to beeline straight to Victor.
“Miss Luxury.” Lake’s familiar voice prompts me to turn around.
“Hey, I never did thank you for suffering through dinner with Vic, me, and,” I swallow, “Madeline.”Dammit, Lux. You can’t hate her. For starters, it’s against your beliefs.Also, during our travels, I learned that Victor’s friend was in his corner as a child. I gotta give that woman a pass.
The emerald-eyed, handsome man dismisses my gratitude. “Oh, I waschuffed to bits,dining with such a beauty.”
I ignore his flirting as my eyes lock onto an older, handsome gentleman—eh, maybe not agentleman—who kissed me in January.
“Lake, do you know that man?” I step beside my acquaintance, so I can discreetly flick my gaze across the room where finely dressed people laugh, gossip, and stiffly dance. The dark stranger with striking gray hair has captivated a small crowd.
“The Duke of Somerhaven, of course, Silas Tudor.”
Trepidation trolls beneath my cheerful façade. “Silas . . . Tudor?”
“The one and only.” Lake smiles conspiratorially as if willing to offer all the juicy gossip. But while I’m still reeling over the news, he clears his throat. “Victor’s father. You’ve not been introduced?”
It’s too awkward to admit that the bastard has kissed me. Red shame heats my cheeks, and at this very second, Victor glances over at us.Well, this just got interesting.
As Victor stalks in our direction, guests vying for his attention stall him. I sigh. “I haven’t met him yet.”
The entire room is hushed as a golden spoon chimes against vintage crystal. All eyes sweep toward Princess Mary. “Now that I’ve spoken with everyone individually . . .” Her penetrating gaze lands on me.
This bitch hasn’t said a single word to me.
As she begins to speak, an unsettled feeling crumbles my heart into a chunk, and those friggen bits fall into icky bits of goop on the floor. This was a setup. She waited for my presence.
Suddenly, I feel a hip softly assault me from the opposite side. Sarah glances over me with a twinkle in her eye, smiling. “Vicky was looking for you, darling.”
“Oh . . .”
She pats my shoulder. “Don’t mind anything my daughter says. The second she shuts up, Vicky will tell them all.”
“Silasand I are truly grateful for your presence.” Princess Mary’s statement has cut into her mother’s efforts to cheer me up. Victor’s grandmother mumbles how she can’t recall the last time Mary said the wanker’s name. While I tremble in disgust, Victor’sfatherglares at Princess Mary like an alien from light-years away. Everyone else gapes at every scheming word that exits Mary’s mouth.
“The Duke of Somerhaven and I are delighted to have each and every one of you joining us this evening. Madeline, sweetheart, where have you run off to? Vicky, come, come, son. Come formally introduce your duchy totheir future duchess!”
At the sight of Madeline nearing Mary, a wave of nausea overtakes me.
Victor offers Mary a look that could kill as he weaves through the gathering toward her. His hushed, spiteful tone carries across the room. “Mum,Mother!”
“Yesss!” Mary exclaims to a round of applause. “The Duke of Arlington’sengaged.I hope my handsome son and his beautiful, soon-to-be wife will forgive me. I’ve never been one to shy away from good news.”
The darkness swirling around Victor dissipates, all the color draining from his face.
“Oh, dear, I’m terribly sorry,” Sarah mutters, running a hand over my back. As I sway, unable to hold myself up, Lake turns toward me, offering an arm as a conspicuous shield from the eyes of a few people who are confused bymypresence duringtheirengagement party.
