Chapter Thirty
The world whirls past in a blur as I gaze drearily out of the passenger window of Alex’s van.
It’s not exactly the most glamorous of vehicles to convoy two ladies to a fabulous ball, but our ensembles more than make up for it. Lucy is resplendent in her golden gown, her hair piled high on her head in a tumble of pale curls, and although the twiddling of her thumbs in her lap give away that she’s still a little nervous, I can tell the dress has lent her some much-needed confidence. My olive green number turned out pretty good too, considering I had less than a week to knock it together.
Sighing, I stare up at the greying sky. I should be on top of the world - I’m wearing a beautiful dress, off to a ball with my best friend, and yet, my heart is heavy.
My mind wanders off on it’s on accord and despite myself, I wonder how Kit is doing. He must be heartbroken, I still can’t believe Zoe ditched him just months before they were due to wed. She had the kindest, funniest, most thoughtful guy in the world, and she threw him away like he was nothing.
‘Don’t look so down, Cinderella,’ Lucy leans in to whisper in my ear, a knowing twinkle in her eyes. ‘You never know what might happen at the ball.’
We pull up to the grand manor house where the event is being hosted, and Alex helps us out of the van, like a true footman might to noble ladies. Lucy needs only to utter her name to the doorman and we’re whisked inside, where we’re announced on the marble staircase by a herald.
‘Presenting, Miss Lucy Middleton, our lady of honour for the evening!’
A thunderous applause goes up from the immaculately dressed crowd below, and Lucy flushes scarlet, but she’s beaming so hard, she’s practically glowing under the crystal chandelier.
‘And her guests - Mr Alexander Preston and Miss Charlotte Bell.’
Three abreast, we ascend the stairs to the main ballroom, where everyone is gathered and a string quartet is playing hauntingly beautiful music. Hundreds of candles flicker in the intricate scrollwork sconces that cover the walls, casting a spell-binding light over the scene.
A score of folk surround us, each of them clamouring to speak to Lucy. I was worried she’d be overwhelmed with the attention, but surprisingly, she seems to be relishing it, enthusiastically discussing her characters and her writing craft with vigour.
Alex swells with pride as he watches his girlfriend, and he nudges me in the side. ‘She’s doing great, don’t you think?’
I nod in agreement. ‘She’s a natural.’
After those guests have had their fill of Lucy, the three of us help ourselves to refreshments. The long trestle table is laden with all sorts of old-fashioned treats, from delicately iced biscuits to fruit jellies and creamy blancmanges. I help myself to a finger sandwich and draw my eye around the room, taking in the magical atmosphere. I blink twice when my sight lays upon a young girl with strawberry-blonde waves by the drinks table, ladling fruit punch into a glass. That’s weird, she looks a bit like Tanya.
Wait a minute - that is Tanya!
It can’t be her, I mean, what on earth would she be doing here? But it is her, she’s wearing the lavender bridesmaid’s dress I made for her - and at her side, dressed like a daydream from a Jane Austen novel, stands her big brother.
Stricken, I spin around to Lucy, who responds with a smirk.
‘I guess I had a couple of extra tickets to give away,’ she shrugs mischievously.
Before I can utter a single word, she swans off on Alex’s arm, leaving me alone and dangerously vulnerable. As if on cue, Kit glances over, and our eyes lock. He looks incredible in a tight, white linen shirt and a jet-black tailcoat finished with a lace cravat at his neck. Burning desire must be written all over my face, but I don’t think I could hide it if I tried. He whispers something to his sister before he strides over to me, his familiar half-smile growing wider with each step.
‘Hey.’
‘Hey, yourself.’ I clear my throat. ‘I - I didn’t know you guys would be here.’
‘Well, it was a bit of a last-minute thing, Lucy invited us last night.’ With hands stuffed inside the pockets of his silk breeches, he shrugs. ‘I’m glad Tanya had the chance to wear the dress she loves so much, considering there’s not going to be a wedding anymore.’
Gulping hard, I take a tentative pace nearer. ‘Yeah, I heard about that. Zoe came to the boutique, she told me everything.’ I rest my hand on his arm. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Lips pursed, he nods. ‘You know, I think it was for the best. I mean, it was a shock when she told me it was over, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was getting cold feet too. We’re just so different, it could have ever worked. And when I found out how she treated Tanya, and you, well, if she hadn’t ended it, I would have.’ Head hung, he sighs at his knee-high boots. ‘Plus, I saw the messages on her phone. It was pretty obvious she’d been cheating on me. God, I was such a fool.’
‘No, Kit, you’re weren’t at all.’ My grip tightens on his arm. ‘Look, I knew she was up to no good, I should have told you earlier, but I felt like it wasn’t my business. If anyone made a fool out of you, it was me.’
‘Lottie, the only one in the wrong here was Zoe, and thank God she’s leaving Lily Vale for good.’
I try not to let the smirk creep in, but I feel it tugging at the edge of my lips. The truth is, my feelings very much echo that sentiment.
The music slows and couples around us huddle in closer, dancing in time to the romantic refrain. When Kit extends a hand to me, I take a step back in surprise.
‘Puis-je avoir cette danse?’
His accent is a bit weird and his pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired, but in this moment, those five clumsy words are the sweetest I’ve ever heard.
‘You learned French?’ I whisper, my heart soaring skyward.
‘Well, I learned that sentence. Took me a good few hours to get it right, I was up all night studying. I wanted to ask you to dance properly.’
Sparks fly between our fingers as he takes my hands in his and we sway to the music, our bodies drawing ever closer with each captivating note.
‘You’re sure you’re alright?’ I ask him, staring up into his eyes.
‘Yes.’ He says the word with conviction, punctuating it with a short, firm nod. ‘For the first time in a long time, I think I’m going to be just fine. Besides, I met this great girl recently. She’s talented and caring, but she’s nobody’s fool. And … I think I’d like to get to know her a little better.’
I offer an arch grin. ‘Oh yeah?’
‘Yeah.’ He glances down at the floor, then up through his dark lashes. ‘If that’s okay with her?’
Coyly, I spin with the music. ‘Maybe. What did you have in mind?’
‘I’m thinking I’ll cook us a nice dinner, and then maybe we’ll catch a show at the old cinema down on Wren Way? I’m pretty sure they do a world theatre night, who knows, maybe you’ll get another chance to introduce me to French cinema.’
Emboldened by the ever-mounting tension, my body curves around his. The heat of his skin through his shirt ignites a buried passion in me and I bite my lip.
‘That sounds perfect.’
The candlelight quivers as Kit leans in, his stubbled cheek just a breath away from mine. Gently, he brings my hands to his chest and presses them close, so close that I can feel his pulse racing against my palms, causing my own to flutter out of control.
I lose myself in his honey gaze as his warm lips touch mine, sending shots of electricity fizzling over every inch of my flesh. With a soft gasp of pleasure, I twist his shirt in my fists as the slow, sensual kiss grows passionate and intense, twin fires burning beneath our skin. We may be in the middle of a crowded dance floor, but I see no one, feel no one but him.
Under the great crystal chandelier, I’m Cinderella, enfolded in the tender embrace of my very own Prince Charming, and I wish this night would last forever …