a small castle, but a castle all the same, complete with a moat, a drawbridge, and groomed grounds filled with peacocks and swans. The peacocks are beautifully cared for, and there’s even a rare white one. The swans are evil creatures who love to terrorize any guests who wander from the back terrace.
On the first floor of the castle, there’s a medieval room filled with old knights’ armor, weapons, and rare books and tapestries, as well as a few other little rooms that have been transformed into coatrooms and champagne stations for the party. Upstairs, the long dining hall and music room have been transformed into the dance floor and main party areas, while the study and bedrooms are off-limits. Then there’s the kitchen, where numerous chefs and waiters are creating amuse-bouches and drinks, and a long spiral staircase to the very top, where guests love to lean out the windows and listen to the band assembled on the terrace below.
It’s extravagant, with every single inch of the castle transformed to celebrate the upcoming fashion week and the autumn launch—but, of course, everything is gaudy and luxurious in the fashion world. People have come from all over—from New York, London, and Dubai—all fighting to get an invite to this very famous, very exclusive event.
But there’s one guest who didn’t have to try at all.
Sadie Reynolds.
She’s not here, but I’ve been watching out for her like a hawk—one of the reasons I’m hanging around Blaise like I am. He doesn’t seem to be suspicious that I’m without a date, but he doesn’t exactly like having me around either.
“Olivier, can I have a word with you?” my father asks, appearing beside me.
He looks good: black suit, black mask. Very simple and traditional.
“Of course,” I tell him.
He starts to lead me away and says to Blaise over his shoulder, “Be extra vigilant tonight, Blaise. There were rumors of invites being sold on the black market.”
“Is that true?” I ask my father as we head out through the armor room and back doors to the terrace. The band is playing, and a few people are already dancing. It’s seven at night, but the sun is still out, and it’s hot, though cooler out here than it is inside. Being my father, he never once thought to add air-conditioning for the event. He’d think doing such a thing to a castle would be sacrilegious.
“Is what true?” he says.
“That invites are being sold on the black market.” The thought of it makes my stomach sink. I know that I added Sadie to the list myself, having sent it to the room at the Hôtel Rouge Royale, and that it would have come straight from Seraphine’s assistant. But even then, I don’t want Blaise questioning her. I don’t want anyone questioning her.
“Oh, no, I made that up,” he says. “Gives Blaise something to do, makes him feel important.”
I should feel more relieved than I do. I guess the whole idea of Sadie showing up here is messing me up more than I thought. I just want her to be here with me, to see my family—even if from afar—to know this part of my life. Even if it’s a part I don’t always like.
At least, I used to like it more. But ever since meeting her, the whole life in the fast lane with the glitz and the glamor, it doesn’t have the same weight anymore, doesn’t have the same value. Now that she’s in my life, the real value is in her.
And she’s leaving you in a week, I remind myself. Back to her real life, and you’ll have to go back to yours.
I’ve been trying not to dwell on it, and it’s certainly helped that I’ve been so busy with work and with this party. But now that the night is here, the truth is starting to sink in.
The clock is ticking.
“Are you all right?” my father asks me as we pause by the willow tree, out of earshot of the party. We’ve been walking across the back lawn, which was carefully scoured for goose poop earlier, but that doesn’t stop me from watching every patch of grass in front of us.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I tell him.
He squints at me from beneath his mask. “I’m not sure about that,” he says. “I know you, my son. I know when there’s something on your mind, and your mind has been elsewhere this last week. I’m not sure it’s been anywhere good.”