Chapter 4
Elinor eyed herself in the hotel room’s mirror, a tiny pang creasing her heart as she compared this ensemble with the one she’d seen yesterday.
“Are you ready?” Katie called through the bathroom door.
“Nearly.” She still had to do her makeup—Katie had said she’d do her hair—but the full-length mirror was here in the bathroom, not out there in the room. Weird, but this hotel was old-fashioned and quirky in many regards.
“Come on out. I want to see you.”
“Okay.” She slid open the door then stared at her sister. “Wow, Katie. You look great.”
“I know.” Katie swished her brand-new vintage red flapper dress so the tassels flung out. Then paused. Eyed Ellie critically. “But you …” She winced.
“Wow. Thanks for the support.”
Katie shook her head. “Look, I don’t mean to sound mean, but that dress isn’t a patch on yesterday’s.”
“I know. But I couldn’t afford yesterday’s, so I’m making the best of what I have.”
Katie sighed. “You know, it’s not wrong to want something better than what you have.”
“I’m doing my best to learn to be content.”
“Well, lucky for us, I don’t have that particular problem.”
That was for sure.
Katie’s nose wrinkled. “Look, as much as I am a fan of black, it really drains you. I think you should change your dress.”
“Hmm, okay. And which of my numerous other art deco appropriate outfits do you think I should wear?”
Katie grinned. Then flung open the closet. “How about this one?” She held up the peacock dress from yesterday.
“What? What are you doing?” Misgiving ate her. Had Katie “borrowed” the dress or paid for it?
“I bought it. For you!”
“Are you serious? Why?”
“Because you looked so amazing in it, and I want people to see my amazing sister in all her amazingness.”
Her heart softened. “That’s really sweet, but honey, you can’t afford it.”
Katie shrugged. “What’s the point in having money if you can’t spend it on a worthy cause once in a while?”
“And I’m a worthy cause, am I?”
Katie hugged her. “You’re the best worthy cause. You’re always doing things for others, and I want others to see you rather than have you outshone by others who really don’t deserve it.”
She would certainly be outshining everyone, considering the sequins shimmering before her. “I really appreciate it, but it costs too much,” she said, regret knitting her heart. “You need to return it.”
Katie shook her head. “Sorry, no returns.”
Misgiving creased her heart. “Now you’ve got me worried. What if it’s ‘no returns’ because it’s about to fall apart because it’s so old? Please, Katie. I really feel bad that you may have been ripped off.”
Katie scoffed. “And I’ll feel really bad if you don’t wear it, so I guess we’ve got a problem.”
“You can’t make me change my clothes.”
Katie arched her brow.
“Okay, you can. But now you’re guilting me into it.”
“Don’t pretend you wouldn’t rather wear this dress instead of that one.” She nodded to the black ensemble Ellie was currently wearing.
“Fine. Yes, that dress made me feel like a princess, but it’s not like I’m about to meet my Prince Charming tonight, is it?”
“How do you know?” Katie challenged. “Aren’t you the one always reminding me to have faith and trust God to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or imagine?”
“That does sound like me.”
“Because it is you. And maybe it’s time for you to think about that and that maybe God has good things in store for you, instead of you always thinking about other people.”
“But I like caring about others.”
“I know. But sometimes you have to let people care for you too.”
Perhaps. Somehow it was always much easier to be the person doing the caring than to have others care for her. “I don’t like being the centre of attention.”
“I know. Which is why it’s good for you to get out of your comfort zone and do something radical for a change. Now hurry up. Put it on, and let’s get you looking stunning.”
Half an hour later, Ellie studied herself in the mirror again.
But this time there was no doubt. She did look amazing.
Katie had styled her hair to 1920s chic smoothness, and with the long cream gloves, she looked every bit as sensational as she knew she really wasn’t.
Right now she’d even give Lady Mary from Downton Abbey a run for her money.
“Wow. Now, that’s what we’re talking about. You look awesome, Ellie. As good as those macarons we enjoyed yesterday at the high tea, and you know how much I loved them.”
Yes, she did. Katie had raved over the macarons, declaring them “exquisite.”
“Here, let me take a pic.” Katie took several photos with her phone, then sent them to the family group chat. Soon her phone was dinging with responses.
“Is that Ellie?” EJ.
“Oh, you look amazing! I wish I was there too!” Mum.
“You look so beautiful.” Liv.
“You both look wonderful.” Dad.
“Annabelle says hello and you both look great!” Mum again.
“Looks like the family approves,” Katie gloated.
“Thank you. For the dress, for the hair, for everything.”
“Ready to be the belle of the ball?”
Ellie smiled. “Bring it.”
Katie laughed and hooked her hand through Ellie’s elbow. “Let’s go stun the men.”
The Hydro Grand Hotel certainly knew how to put on a party.
It helped when the era being celebrated fit the hotel’s architecture and décor, and everyone in attendance was wearing similar vintage vibes.
And Katie was right. Nobody else wore anything as spectacular as Ellie’s peacock outfit, and she’d received many compliments on it.
Even her hair, with its blue streak, seemed like it was tailor-made for the dress, the colour matching perfectly.
Katie had styled it so it looked like Ellie had designed her hair to match her dress rather than the dress being a lucky find that matched her hair.
Of course, the men who were here weren’t exactly of their vintage. Most were older, and while still stunned, they weren’t quite of the age that boded well for the kind of stunning Katie had meant. Nor did they appear to be of the single relationship status either.
“Come on, let’s go find our seats.”
“There’s a seating chart right here,” Ellie said, but Katie had already walked away.
Her sister likely wanted to peruse each table’s name cards and find their seats by socialising her way through the room, as was her way.
The quicker option of studying the table seating chart helpfully displayed at the door was not for her.
Hmm. Ellie memorised the table number and its position, then gave their names to the woman at the door who checked them off.
“Enjoy your evening.”
“Thanks.” Ellie followed Katie into the former ballroom. It had been decked out with round tables, candles, and extensive flower arrangements, while warm white fairy lights festooned the ceiling. No wonder the tickets had cost so much.
She moved to their table, near a grand marble fireplace that was blazing away. Nice.
“Isn’t this all stunning? Quick, let’s take some selfies,” Katie suggested. She beamed as Ellie snapped some pics with her phone before they took their seats. “And look, you don’t even need a jacket because you’re right in front of the fire, so you can show off your awesome dress.”
“It’s certainly helpful.”
“Like God knew, right?”
“Apparently.” The one-shouldered sheath wasn’t made for the cooler temperatures outside. And fortunately, the quality satin fabric of many decades ago wasn’t likely to melt away. That was a version of stunning she had no wish to explore.
“Ooh, I wonder who we’re sitting next to? Have you looked?” Katie picked up a place card. “We’ve got someone called Chris sitting between us, and I’ve got a Jason on this side of me. And you?”
“Um, let me check.”
But before she could move, a shadow fell across the table. She looked up. Smiled.
“Hello.” A man with a deep voice spoke. His hair, greying at the temples, suggested he was in his mid-thirties at least. So not quite exactly Katie’s target age group. “I’m Chris Brandon.”
Katie smiled graciously, anyway. “I’m Katie, and this is my sister Ellie. I think you’re sitting between us. The thorn between two roses.” She laughed.
He blinked, not moving, studying Katie like he’d seen a ghost.
Was he offended at Katie’s careless jest? “Don’t mind her.” Ellie drew in her chair. “Can you get past me now?”
“Um, sure.” He moved, took his seat, then immediately turned to Katie. “So, what is it you do?”
She prattled on about finishing her recent history course, and he nodded, leaving Ellie feeling like a nonentity.
Then he turned to her and asked the same. She told him about her various jobs, then returned the question.
He cleared his throat. “I work in forensics as a detective for the police force.”
Katie’s eyes rounded to the size of the side plates. “Really?”
That seemed his cue for returning his attention to the youngest Bennett, as Katie’s interest in all things gothic and gory was displayed in the series of questions she shot at him. Good for Chris for being so patient in answering her many questions.
Ellie fiddled with her water glass, smiled when Chris glanced her way, even as she wondered at her sister’s interest. Chris seemed patient, kind, and handsome in a mature way, but not exactly Katie’s type.
She’d always expressed an interest in men who appeared a little rougher around the edges, with a debonair poetic pirate swagger.
Chris wasn’t exactly Ellie’s type either, but she knew better than most not to judge a book by its cover.
“So, have you always been involved in police forensic work?” Ellie asked when Katie finally took a breath.
He cleared his throat, sipped his water. “Actually, I used to be in the army.”
“Really?”
He dipped his chin. “I reached the rank of major, when, er, circumstances led me to retire.”
Katie leaned in. “What kind of circumstances? Was it one of those scandals you hear about on the news?”
“Katie!” Ellie protested. Clearly the man was embarrassed, judging from those pink cheeks.
He coughed. “Why would you say that?”