Chapter 34
The ballroom inside Esher Hall was strikingly elaborate.
Tall pillars lined the walls, and glistening chandeliers twinkled overhead.
The room was already filled with people dancing as a large orchestra played a classic tune from their spot on a raised stage at the far end of the room.
I’d never felt so out of place in my life.
“God, I hate these things,” Cress said as the twins went to get us drinks. “I wouldn’t have bothered coming if my parents weren’t going to be here.”
“Your parents are here?” I was a little surprised as Cress hadn’t mentioned it to me. I would have expected her to spend some time with them today if they were going to be in the area. Especially since Weybridge Academy was in the middle of nowhere.
“I mean, they said they were going to try and come when we talked earlier this week, but knowing them, they’ve jetted off to some remote island for the weekend and forgotten all about it.”
“Wouldn’t they let you know either way?”
“They can be a bit flighty.” Cress shrugged. “I love them to death, but they’re not the most reliable parents. How about you. Is your mom coming?”
“I wish.” I’d considered telling Mom about the ball, but she was already so stressed with the café, and I didn’t want her to feel bad she couldn’t make it. She would have needed to take the weekend off work, and given how things were going, I knew there was no chance it would happen.
As I was watching Cress, I noticed her gaze lock on to something behind me. Her whole body tensed, and an angry look entered her eyes.
“What are you looking a—” I turned to see what had caught her attention, and immediately wished I hadn’t. Noah had just entered the ballroom with Veronica on his arm. His face displayed his infamous mask of indifference, but it didn’t stop my stomach from curdling as Veronica clung tightly to him.
She looked beautiful tonight. They both did. Like they were made for one another. If it weren’t for the cold look in Noah’s eyes, I’d probably have burst into tears. I knew this wasn’t what he wanted. And yet, it was impossible not to feel hurt as I watched on.
Cress lightly touched my arm. “Why don’t we go see how the twins are getting on with the drinks?”
I nodded and let her drag me away. Avoiding Noah was going to be my new mission for the night. I just had to grit my teeth and bear it until he was finally through with whatever formalities were expected of him.
“I’m so sorry he’s here with her,” Cress said as we made our way through the crowd.
“It’s fine,” I said. “I told him to come with her.”
“But only because you could see how much Noah hated letting his grandfather down. I hate that William always gets his way with Noah.” Anger laced her voice. “He’s always abusing their relationship, and it drives me crazy.”
“I can’t imagine how hard it must be for Noah.”
“I know,” she agreed. “He’s constantly torn between what he wants and what his grandfather commands, and if there’s any conflict between their needs, it’s always Noah’s that get pushed aside.
The company always comes first. I sometimes think William knows how worried Noah is about losing him and plays on his fear. It’s sick.”
I felt a wave of sorrow for Noah wash over me.
He always acted so strong, but I couldn’t imagine what it would be like growing up without both parents.
And it was heartbreaking that he was constantly worried about losing the one parental figure he had left too.
William Hastings sounded like a piece of work.
What kind of person would knowingly abuse their relationship with their grandson in that way?
We found the guys just as Sawyer was slipping a hundred-dollar bill to a waiter in exchange for a few glasses of champagne from his tray. When I caught his eye, he grinned and offered a glass to me. “Ready to join the dark side yet?”
“Screw it,” I said, grabbing the glass before taking a long drink.
“That’s our girl,” Cress said with a smile.
“I knew it wouldn’t take much to get you on board,” Sawyer added.
“I might as well have one too.” Wes reached out and took a glass for himself.
We lifted our glasses in a quick toast and then drank our champagne before any of the adults noticed. I wasn’t sure they were all that bothered about students drinking. The parents didn’t seem to mind. I was more worried about the teachers who were walking around the ballroom with discerning eyes.
“We should dance,” Sawyer said, placing his empty glass down on the closest table.
Cress didn’t need any convincing and happily took his arm as he led her onto the dance floor. I hesitated and shared an uncertain look with Wes. He had a similar expression on his face, and I let out a laugh. “We’re going to make a scene, aren’t we?”
“I promise I won’t accidentally punch you.”
“And I’ll try my best not to step on your toes.”
He grinned and held out a hand toward me. “Let’s just shuffle about and hope no one notices.”
“Okay, but if there’s an injury, we call it quits for the night.”
“Agreed.”
Dancing with Wes wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as I expected. We probably looked awkward to anyone watching us closely, but at least Wes was easy to talk to, and it was much nicer than spending my time worrying about what Noah was up to with Veronica.
We were halfway through our second song when I felt a presence at my side. “May I cut in?”
My stomach flipped as I recognized the voice, and I slowly peered up into my father’s ice-blue eyes.
My arms dropped from Wes’s shoulders as I faced Matthew head-on. “What are you doing here?”
“Attending my daughter’s first school ball, of course.” He turned his attention to Wes and held out his hand. “Matthew LaFleur, Isobel’s father.”
Wes straightened, and his eyes widened with recognition. “Wesley Montfort.” He shook my father’s hand firmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir, my father has many good things to say about you.”
“Ah, one of August’s sons. Is your father here tonight?”
“He intends to be,” Wes replied. As he let go of my father’s hand, he caught my eye, and I could tell by the confused look on his face he was wondering how the hell he hadn’t known Matthew was my father.
“Excellent. I hope to see him later,” Matthew responded. “Now, if you’ll excuse us. I’d like to dance with my daughter.”
Wes nodded and stepped back. He hovered in place for a second, still glancing between Matthew and me.
I could practically hear the cogs whirring away inside his head as he considered what he’d just learned about me, but he composed himself and hurried away, disappearing into the crowd of dancers without another word.
I was more concerned by the fact I was now alone with my father, and I couldn’t help but feel betrayed by Wes for leaving me with Matthew.
I let out a sigh and stepped into Matthew’s waiting arms, unable to relax as he started to guide me around the dance floor.
We danced in silence for several minutes. He held me at a distance, and it seemed that neither one of us could relax. It didn’t help that there seemed to be a slightly pained expression on Matthew’s face whenever he looked at me. I found myself wondering if maybe he disproved of the dress I wore.
“Is there something wrong?” I finally asked him. “You keep looking at me strangely.”
“No, there’s nothing wrong. I’m sorry, you just remind me very much of my sister tonight. You look a lot like her. I hadn’t noticed until now.”
“I have an aunt?”
“Yes, but …” His voice trailed off before he took a deep breath. “I’m afraid she died a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” he said, bowing his head. “She would have loved to meet you. Especially tonight. An event like this was more her scene than mine.”
We both fell silent again, and it was hard not to feel a little sympathy for my father.
I couldn’t imagine what it was like to lose a sibling, and I wondered if they were close.
Given the way he’d been looking at me, I got the feeling that he missed my aunt terribly.
I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to know more about my aunt, but I was still brimming with anger toward him after learning how he’d treated my mom.
“I tried to call you several times this week,” Matthew said. “To let you know I was planning to come tonight.”
“Oh, that’s why you were calling.”
“Yes.”
“I just assumed it was your butler on the line.”
Matthew stiffened, but his expression didn’t change.
If there was one thing he appeared to be good at, it was maintaining an air of composure.
I, on the other hand, felt ruffled by his sudden appearance.
I hated that he’d taken me by surprise tonight, and I wished I’d answered his calls this week so I could have told him not to come.
I didn’t want to see him, let alone in such a public place.
And I was only putting up with him now because I didn’t want to cause a scene.
“I know you’re still angry with me,” Matthew said.
I huffed and looked away. Would I ever not be angry with him?
“But I hoped that if I came here tonight you might let me explain.”
I shook my head. “Why do you think I’d listen to you now? I finally managed to get my mother to open up about what happened between you two. And if you thought I was angry before, it’s nothing compared to how I feel now.”
“Just give me five minutes,” he said. “I know what your mother has told you doesn’t look great on my behalf, but she didn’t know the full story until very recently.”
His expression was drawn, and his eyes were pleading with me to give him a chance.
“You have until the end of this dance,” I said. It felt like a much more generous offer than he deserved, but my mom had told me there were parts of the story only he could tell. Perhaps it was worth a listen.
“Fair enough.” He drew in a deep breath. “I guess I’ll get right to it. The truth is, I didn’t know you existed.”