Midlife Blues - Victoria Danann Page 0,4

had done the work.

All the accessories had arrived. Over-the-elbow black velvet gloves and black velvet heels. The piece de resistance was a cape of black ostrich feathers. It made me feel so glamorous I considered keeping it on for the entire evening, but wearing it around my house for a few minutes convinced me otherwise. Feathers are warm.

With only five minutes to go time, I was admiring the result of all that planning in the full-length mirror in my bedroom. The one departure I’d taken from being true to the age was hairstyle. I left it down, slightly curled at the ends Rita Hayworth style, and tucked behind fake, but beautiful elven ears. As a final touch, I did something I’d said I’d never do, blood red lipstick and nails to match.

Looking in the mirror was a little disorienting because the red lipstick made my blue eyes pop like neon. I’d just pulled on the second glove and was reaching for my black beaded bag when Keir sauntered into the bedroom looking like the last ever cover of GQ, last because how could you follow this?

I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the admiring whistle he gave me. I was too busy being stunned by his own version of glam. He was wearing traditional black tie, but on Keir, it was beyond fabulous.

“I can’t go,” I said.

He looked confused. “Can’t go? What do you mean? Why not?”

“I can’t show up with a date who’s that much more beautiful than I am.”

With a relieved laugh, he said, “Wish you could see yourself through my eyes, love.”

He closed the distance between us and lowered his head in a way that left no room for doubt. He was coming in for a kiss.

“NO!” I almost shouted as I stepped back.

“No?”

I pointed at my mouth. “Do you know what this stuff can do? It would leave us both looking like clowns for days. And no amount of makeup remover would scrub it off our faces.”

He started loosening his tie. “You’re right. We can’t go.”

I laughed and halted the tie loosening. “Come on. Three hours. We’ll be back here. I’ll get the lipstick off and then I’ll be all yours. And I’m pretty sure this will never be a problem again.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because a red lipstick occasion has never presented itself before.”

“I’m torn.”

“What about?”

“I don’t like being denied those lips. But you do look really, really good.”

“So, you’re not just beyond beautiful, but smooth tongued as well. You’re the whole package.”

“Back at you,” he said.

“Romeo.” I heard a faint, but undecipherable sound. “Will you come around to the front and pick us up?”

I heard the garage door rolling up in what we’d come to call the ‘car room’ next to the kitchen.

I picked up the feather cape from the bed and handed it to Keir. He draped it over my body with expert ease and tied the little satin tie under my chin. I refused to dwell on how he’d become so proficient with women’s outerwear.

Not being able to resist another look in the mirror, the complete plan having come together, I took his arm, looked at the both of us together and said, “Hmmm. Not bad. Let’s go.”

I noticed the huge full moon when Keir opened Romeo’s passenger side door for me. Romeo was perfectly capable of getting us there safely without help, but Keir liked to drive. So…

If there was ever a place that was absolutely perfect for a murder mystery dinner, it had to be John David’s residence. It was what one would call an English country house if you were a member of the royal family. Or an English manor house if you understood the historical feudal distinction.

The first time I’d visited, I’d been reminded of my one and only claim to acting fame; Rebecca in high school. Twenty-three rooms in three stories of polished wood, priceless carpets, paintings by Dutch masters, and bronze sculptures. When John David had told me he wasn’t really a prospective customer of the Hallows, it was because he could open a dozen art and antiques shops, and spend years stocking inventory from his house before anything would be missed.

While there was much to admire and beauty everywhere you looked, the house could also lend itself to a certain creep factor, if seen through that lens. That was mitigated to an extent by the fact that the house was lit like Yule. Coming up the long drive earlier, I’d remarked to Keir that the place is striking with