was a test,” I said. “The guys and I cooked up those lies to see out of the gate who was after an easy inheritance or who wanted us—illegitimate children and all. Right, guys?”
The boys shared a look.
Preston was first to say, “Right. Just a little joke.” He winked at me. “Frankly, I’m hurt by how many of you believed it.”
“Test?” Rosalie repeated. I think she was still trying to catch up.
“Before you get too mad,” I said, “remember that this means Carter Knight is healthy and back on the market. And let me tell you, ladies, he’s not discriminating. He’s willing to put a ring on just about anyone. Desperate to in fact.” I mirrored his vanishing smirk. “Grab him while you can.”
Carter stepped back like they were about to stampede. The look on a few girls’ faces said he wasn’t far off.
A cleared throat pulled me up. “Thank you, Belle. We get the gist.” She got to her feet. “Boys, it’s time for you to go, but before you do, let me make it clear that there is no need to test anyone here. No one has been given an invitation that hasn’t been screened. I’m sure I won’t hear of these antics again.”
“Of course not, Mom.”
The guys continued down the path leading around the house.
“Belle, if you’d like to sit,” she prompted.
I sat. My knife and fork were soon in my hands, cutting up the sweet-smelling creation.
“Welcome, ladies, and thank you for joining me this morning. I’ve drawn you aside to discuss some of what you’ll be doing this summer. My aim is to prepare you for the next stage. No matter what the outcome following the end of our time here, all of you will walk away with new skills.
“Of course, you know there is more to being a wife than slipping on a ring. Just as there is more to being a mother than popping out a baby. New parents educate and prepare themselves for the arrival of their child,” she said. “In the same way, you’ll use this summer to prepare for marriage.”
Nora raised her hand. “You mean like the counseling sessions couples do at church?”
“Yes and no. That’s keeping with what we’re doing, but in this case, it’s about you the individual. Not the couple.”
“What will we be doing?”
“You’ll learn event planning, hosting, and etiquette among other things. We’ll also discuss some of the common stumbling blocks in a marriage and how to navigate them.”
“Question,” I piped up. “Will the boys be learning how to shake hands and throw parties, or is that just for us?”
“The boys have their own tasks to complete,” she said simply. “Many of you have watched your mothers, aunts, or grandmothers do it and this summer I’ll teach you to effortlessly fill their shoes. We start right away.”
“Start what?” I asked.
“The first task: event planning.” She waved her hand. “Every formal event we hold this summer will be planned by you all. I’ll put you in groups and you’ll decide on the theme, hire the staff, choose the entertainment, and deal with the fires that inevitably pop up. Any questions?”
No one had any.
“Great. Let’s finish our breakfast first and then we’ll get down to it.”
We wrapped up the meal, and as promised, Mrs. Desai sorted us into groups and ordered us to work.
Between my lapse with Nathan, Mal getting to me, and my being placed in a group with Ivy and Delilah, I knew for sure that someone up there didn’t like me.
“Let’s do something classic, but fun,” said Ivy. “A masquerade.”
The five of us snagged a table nearest the fountain. Mrs. Desai set us up with notepads, pens, markers, a tablet, and then let us loose.
“The masquerade theme is a little played out, don’t you think?” I asked. “What is it with us rich folk crushing on poofy dresses and Venetian masks? Besides, I’m not a big fan of being surrounded by people and not knowing who they are.”
“I agree with Belle,” Hazel said. “Remember the homecoming dance? Henry got the same mask as my boyfriend and stole a kiss before I noticed. Sorry, but I’m off masquerades for life.”
“Don’t just shoot down my ideas,” Ivy said. “Come up with some of your own.”
“That’s fair.” I slid the tablet to me and messed around in Google. “How about Great Gatsby?”
Kelli tipped her thumb down. “Overdone.”
“Mythical creatures.”
“This is a formal event, not a third-grader’s birthday party,” said Ivy.