Mr. Smithfield - Louise Bay Page 0,45

Dad obviously. Anything else feels uncomfortable. Like I’m trying to show off or something.”

It was typical of my sister not to make a fuss, even when she was going to be a bride. “Well, like it or not, you’re going to be the center of attention on the big day.”

Beatrice guided us out of the elevator and through the door of what looked like a bedroom. Hollie froze as soon as she stepped into the room. “Oh wow. That view.”

I followed her eyeline and couldn’t repress a soft gasp. We were high enough up to see the London skyline stretched out in front of us, a jumble of buildings, big and small, with splashes of green breaking up the offices, palaces, shops, and homes. “You can see for miles. I completely love it.”

“If the weather’s nice, we could do pre-wedding breakfast drinks on the terrace,” Beatrice said. “Obviously, it’s difficult to imagine on a day like today. We’ve even held some ceremonies out here, but it’s a little stressful being so weather dependent.”

“Yes, that would be worrying.” Hollie stepped toward the windows, following the view, and I trailed after her, taking pictures of everything that caught my attention. “But inside you still get the view.” She turned around to take it all in. “It’s less intimidating than the ballroom but still beautiful.”

“This room is so much fun,” I said, lowering my phone. “The dramatic red drapes and the cherubs in the fountain—it’s all very baroque,” I said. “Like a glamorous fairytale.”

My sister glanced at me. “Baroque?” she asked as if she couldn’t believe that I would have even heard of the word.

“Yes,” I said. “I’ve been to Rome now, didn’t you know?”

Her face lit up with a smile as if moments like these were all she could have wanted for me. Me going to Rome with Gabriel and Bethany wasn’t exactly how she thought I’d get to travel, but I knew she was pleased I was spreading my wings.

“I can show you the Orchid room next if you want to follow me?” Beatrice said. “It’s very pretty for weddings.”

“How’s the view?” I asked. Beatrice winced slightly.

“Sorry, there isn’t a view in that one.”

“Then I don’t think we need to see it,” Hollie said. “I’m feeling a baroque vibe for this wedding.”

I laughed and linked my arm through my sister’s.

She shrugged. “London brought Dexter and me together. It only seems fitting that it should be a guest at our wedding.”

Even though I’d only been in London a couple of months, I understood the pull the city had. The energy, the vibrancy. It was a hive of possibility, and it was where my sister’s dreams had come true. This city would be the jumping-off point from where I was going to fulfil my ambitions. “I think that’s a lovely idea.”

We thanked Beatrice before clambering into a cab and heading to the next hotel.

“At least I know I want a room with a view—I think. Show me the pictures from the ballroom again,” she said, peering over to my phone.

I opened my photos and began to scroll backward. “Those red drapes were amazing. And did you notice the windows on the side? You get one hundred and eighty degrees of London in that room.”

“I want to see the ballroom again,” she said. “I don’t know if I’m being ridiculous writing it off so quickly.”

I kept swiping and eventually we came to the ballroom. “It’s really pretty,” I said. “The wallpaper is everything.”

Hollie nodded. “Do you have a wide shot?” She leaned over as if she were trying to swipe to the next photo herself.

“Let me see . . .” I kept swiping until I got to pictures of the chandelier that I’d taken first. “No, sorry, but I bet we can find something online or get Beatrice to send us something.”

“Keep going,” she said, pointing at my screen. “Maybe there was one before the chandelier.”

“There wasn’t,” I said, swiping again to reveal a picture of Gabriel and me in Rome. I quickly snapped the image back to the pictures of the ballroom, hoping she hadn’t noticed. “It’s a beautiful chandelier.” My heart clanked against my ribcage. She hadn’t seen that, had she? I’d only seen a flash of something before I’d changed tack. Hollie couldn’t possibly have made out what was on that last picture. It had been Gabriel and me on the balcony of the hotel. I’d been trying to get a selfie of the two of us with St. Peter’s in