London Dynasty (The Dynasties #1) - Geneva Lee Page 0,27

daring to have too much, men in tuxedos making business deals, a dance floor and crystal, and a whole different world that I’d only ever experienced in fairy stories. After tonight, I would have firsthand experience with that world. Tonight I would be the innocent princess offered as a willing tribute to a stranger. Next week there might be another ball, another dinner, another spectacle to attend. Why did my first event have to shine such a light on me? I wasn’t ready. I wished Tod had asked me before he agreed to this evening. Then again, maybe he’d known all along and that was why he’d been so desperate when he sought me out in Bexby. He could have warned me, though.

Each second that ticked by seemed to press against my shoulders, forcing me under its weight. Each minute was like a surge of water battering me as the riptide dragged me down. I fell silent as I battled the panic attack threatening to overcome me. Iris fell into an easy conversation with the stylists and I tuned my attention to it. After a few minutes, the terrible sensation of drowning began to ebb away, evaporating as quickly as it had overwhelmed me.

My stylist had proceeded to teasing and curling my hair while she gossiped with the others and when she finally let me see what she was doing, I discovered another transformation had been made. My hair was slightly darker, or at least richer in color. There was no sign of dullness or frizz. Instead, it had been swept into a loose, but elegant updo that showed off the curve of my neck.

“I can change it,” she told me when I remained silent too long.

“No,” I cried out. “I love it.”

“It will show off your shoulders in that dress,” Iris added.

We spent the remainder of the late afternoon, being plucked, lined, and painted by yet another crew of make-up artists. I wanted to ask if I would be expected to put this much effort into every event I attended, but I decided it was safer to wait and ask Giles.

When the time finally came for me to slip into my dress, every remnant of Kate was gone. I had completely morphed into Kerrigan now. I had her hair, her clothes, even her precious shoes. But would I actually pass for her?

As I left my room, I made my way toward the staircase, pausing near the banister when I heard voices below.

“We’re going to be late,” Tod Belmond stormed, pacing the length of the foyer and checking his watch.

“It’s not even seven, darling,” Iris said in a soothing voice. She’d opted to wear a gold gown that showed off her dancer’s body and brought out the deep tones of her skin. It definitely wasn’t as daring as the gown she had chosen for me to wear tonight.

Caroline had wanted me to wear white, but Iris had pushed me towards the opposite end of the spectrum. I smoothed the black lace down and hoped I looked alright. My dress had long sleeves that stopped at the wrist, the lace showing flashes of my pale skin. It dipped low, carving an elegant but slightly provocative line from my cleavage to my arms, leaving my shoulders bare before dipping even lower in the back. It flowed along the curves of my body flaring slightly around my ankles. Unlike the arms, the gown itself was lined with a thin nude fabric that made it look as though I was wearing nothing else beneath. I reached down and lifted my skirt at the thighs ever so slightly so I could see my feet as I began my descent down the stairs. The dress went perfectly with the peekaboo heels I’d chosen early, and I’d been surprised to find that despite their height, they weren’t difficult to walk in. Still, after wasting an entire day getting pretty, I wasn’t going to fall ass over tea kettle down the steps and wind up in an ambulance.

When I reached the fifth step down, Tod stopped and turned, his mouth open as if to call out. But whatever he planned to say to me died on his lips. I nearly froze myself, worrying that I’d already messed up. Had I done something his daughter would never do? Worn my hair the wrong way or chosen the wrong shade of lipstick? I’d trusted the people that came here today, assuming they would treat me as they had always done