“One moment please, Artemisia,” Alex says. “Mother, you are right. Or rather, you were. In the past I have been immature, selfish, and, dare I say it, scared of commitment. Change only happens when one is given a reason to change, and Rani Shah, I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I truly do believe you are that reason. So, Mother, you were right. Rani, you are the most astonishing woman, and I hope you will continue to allow me to get to know you until I can show you that I am worthy of your interest, or until you decide I am not, at which point I shall accept your rejection with as much dignity as I can muster and perhaps join a monastery. But please, give me, giveusa chance and dance with me. What do you say?”
“I say we will take it one day at a time, and that time might as well start with dancing,” Rani says. “Get over here, lover boy.”
Another track starts up, and all of us hit the floor, even Hal. We laugh and dance and flail our limbs around. I spin and laugh and feel like the teenager I never was. The evening unfurls in a golden dream of peak experience, and for a while—quite a long while actually—I completely forget that I have an appointment to kiss my Hal in just a couple of hours’ time.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The band packed up at eleven, much to Artie’s disgruntlement.
“More dancing,” she cried as they put their instruments away.
“Sorry, kid,” the guitarist told her. “We need our rest. Big wedding tomorrow.”
“I’m not even tired,” Artie told Forrest as he picked her up in his arm. She was fast asleep before they got to the foot of the stairs.
Megan, Poppy, and the gang were about to sneak out onto the terrace when LadyB stopped them in their tracks.
“Sorry to get in the way of any shenanigans, young people,” she told them before they could creep out into the cover of night. “But your car is waiting to take you back to your homes.”
“Thanks for inviting us, Miss,” Poppy said, and the others all chorused the same too. “If you ever want to adopt a daughter, I’m available.”
“Oi, get your own fairy godmother,” Megan said, and she hugged LadyB hard, who hugged her back.
“Girls, you can keep those frocks,” Rani told them as we waved goodbye to them. “No one else could wear them like you, and I know you’ll have prom next year.”
“Thanks, Miss.” Poppy and Lucy hugged Rani and me and climbed happily into the car with the lads.
“So,” Rani asks me as we watch the car disappear down the sweep of the long drive, “how was your first ball?”
“Really great,” I tell her. “I think you had fun too judging by all the dance floor snogging that was going on.”
“I’m willing to give Alex a chance to prove himself, let’s put it like that,” Rani says, with a small smile. “But what about you and Forrest?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, suddenly keen to go back inside.
“Babe, there was so much chemistry between you two that I felt like I might need a hazmat suit. I mean, he’s effing hot and right there. And he wants you. It’s nice that Hal thought you needed to be provided with a boyfriend, but you don’t. Not when there’s a red-hot lover waiting in the wings.”
“It is not like that,” I say.
“It is exactly like that,” she says.
“Well, anyway, I have already made plans, and you can’t go around just... scrapping plans.”
“Er, yes you can. Especially if they are the wrong plan,” Rani insists as we return to the castle.
“I can’t know what’s wrong or right until I know,” I insist. “Hal’s gone to a lot of trouble and it would be rude...”
“Darling”—Rani grasps my arm—“you don’t enter into a relationship with a... with anyone out of the fear of being rude. This is your life. You have to get it right.”
“I know,” I assure her. “And that’s why I am testing all the options. Just let me do me, Rani, please?”
“’Spose,” she says reluctantly. “Well, I’m going to bed. I willneed to know every detail of your secret meeting as soon as I wake up.”
“Anyone for a nightcap?” LordB says, walking towards the drawing room.
“Can I have a nightcap?” Megan asks.
“Of hot chocolate,” I tell her. It looks like Forrest and River went to bed with Artie, and there is still quite some time until I’m due to meet Hal. A stiff drink is just what I need.
