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Chapter 13
It didn’t matter to me how freaking beautiful the ballroom was, or how much the guys had assured me once I caught a glimpse of the etiquette itinerary that my skills in gymnastics would probably lead to grace on a dance floor. It still made me want to run screaming in the opposite direction. The sunlight streamed in through the high glass windows. Girls giggled and talked along the sidelines as they waited their turn. Mr. Giovanni, our instructor, winced as I, once again, stumbled onto his foot. His feet weren’t large for a man’s either; they were actually rather small. It made no sense why mine would hone in on his and stomp on his little toes at everyopportunity.
“Alright,” he said, stepping away from me abruptly, “I think that perhaps you need a break. I will give another lady a chance to practicenow.”
I think both of us breathed a sigh of relief when I agreed. I really wanted to go sit down and hide for the next couple of hours. Two days at Villa de la Enders, aka the etiquette camp from hell, and I was no further in getting any information on anyone. Ms. Enders had held up to Delilah’s belief. I had been able to call the guys at least once a night and Texas assured us that her financials were clean, if a bit wane. If she was getting any blackmail money, it certainly wasn’t on any accounts that she had listed. So far, he hadn’t been able to find any unlisted accountseither.
I stepped back against the wall as Mr. Giovanni called forth Isador who, with her dark curls and her olive toned skin, practically floated around the dance floor in his arms. I pinched my lips and watched as she stepped forward and then back, following Mr. Giovanni’s lead. That’s what he had instructed us to do – I thought I had been doing that, but it looked like when she stepped forward he stepped back. When I had stepped forward, he had stayed right where hewas.
Ms. Enders’ ballroom was long and elaborate. With benches under each window and each window set a yard apart. With hardwood floors that shone, and French doors that led out onto a beautiful balcony and matched the same French doors that led in from the grand hall. Matching chandeliers hung from the high ceilings and deep burgundy drapes hung alongside each window. Even as I sat next to a chattering Natalia and Delilah, it was hard to acknowledge that I was actually here. I was wearing a dress that had probably cost more than some people’s paychecks. I was in heels and makeup and... I missed mycat.
I hadn’t thought much of Cleo since Alex had told us we were leaving, but I missed her all of a sudden. Alex had assured the guys and me that he or someone close would stop by regularly to check on her, feed her, and clean her litter box. I knew that she was taken care of. I couldn’t stop myself from missing her though. I missed my mom too. I wondered what she would say if she could see me now. I hoped that when we got back the guys might let me tell her what we had done. I wanted her to know that I was doing well. I wasn’t just doing okay, but doingwell. This job was important. It was the difference between an innocent young woman – perhaps several young women – being hurt and blackmailed, and livingfreely.
I looked around me at Delilah, Natalia, Isador – the rest. They were so young. I certainly wasn’t the youngest one here, but I wasn’t the oldest either. They were all far too young for someone to take advantage of them. And yet, that was probably exactly why someone was taking advantage of them. Something clicked in my brain as I looked over the girls with a new vision in mind. Was someone targeting them purposefully because of their gender and age? Their connections were a given. But why these girls? Why now? Had it been going on for a lot longer than wethought?
Quietly, I leaned over to Delilah and tapped her on the shoulder. She twisted her head my way. “Do you remember the conversation we had by the lake the other day?” I asked. She frowned, but nodded. “You said something about rumors being spread about the camp,” I said. “How long have there beenrumors?”
“Oh,” Delilah said, “Julia – I mean, Ms. Enders, she’s always had to deal with handling the rumor mill. She says you can’t get girls and guys together without something happening and someone being blamed. People like to point fingers and since she’s the one in charge, it’s usuallyher.”
“Girls and guys?” I blinked at her, confusion clear in my tone. “What do you mean? I thought this was just an etiquette camp forgirls.”
“It is,” Delilah replied, nodding, “but Mr. Wallace runs his own etiquette camp for young gentlemen – not as popular– but he usually runs sessions in the Fall and Spring while Ms. Enders runs them in the Winter and Summer. At the end of our two weeks here, Ms. Enders’ throws a cotillion – well, it’s more of a pretend cotillion, a practice run of sorts. We don’t have to wear the white dresses – and Mr. Wallace invites his past pupils to visit and attend. It’s usually not so bad because powerful families know powerful families. You’re sure to recognize a few people. Some of the boys will be escorting the girls, those who haven’t made previous arrangements, but most are just there tosocialize.”
“He doesn’t do the same with his camps?” Iasked.
Delilah laughed. “Boys don’t do cotillions.” I could tell the very concept was more than amusing. She wheezed, trying to stay upright and keep her laughter under control, but even tears began to form in hereyes.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I said quickly, feeling my cheeks flush. “I just meant that he doesn’t invite Ms. Enders’ past pupils to visit theboys?”
“He wouldn’t want the scandal,” Delilah said with a shake of her head. Natalia looked at the two of us as if we were crazy. Then she shrugged, turning to her sister when Isador came back to sit down and told us that Mr. Giovanni had asked forNatalia.
“What are we talking about?” Isadorasked.
“Mr. Wallace’s etiquette camp for boys,” Delilahsaid.
Isador wrinkled her nose. “As much as I don’t like the etiquette courses, I would rather be here, at Ms. Enders’ than Mr.Wallace’s.”
“Why do you say that?” I was like a dog with a bone, I knew, but I was onto something, I just knewit.
“You wouldn’t know it by looking at him,” Isador confessed, leaning closer, “but he’s militant with his boys. When he’s working as Ms. Enders’ personal assistant, he takes a backseat role, but we all know why he’s reallyhere.”
Before I could ask, Delilah nodded her head sympathetically. “It’s because he needs the money,” she said. My eyes widened as she continued. “He has two daughters; Margarie works for Ms. Enders.” I blinked, recognizing the name. That had been the same woman who had shown me to my room the first night. “And Kayla…” Delilah drifted and even Isador looked sad as she turned her eyesdown.
“What?” I asked, confused by their reactions. “What aboutKayla?”
Delilah’s voice lowered just below a whisper so that no one around us could hear. The classical music playing over the speakers at the far side of the room for Natalia and Mr. Giovanni further shielded her words. I found it curious, though, that she would take such precaution anyway. I leaned forward. “Kayla had a really hard time with the courses,” Delilah confided. “She got involved with one of the staff members – that’s why, I don’t know if you’ve noticed – but Ms. Enders only allows female staff now other than Mr.Wallace.”
“What happened?” I asked, a bad feelingforming.
“Turns out he was flat broke, and he was only going after her because he thought she was rich. He didn’t realize that she was Mr. Wallace’s daughter – if Margarie wanted, she could take Ms. Enders’ courses for free – and when he found out, he dumped her. It was awful. There was screaming andcrying.”
“It happenedhere?” I had no clue who this girl was, but my heart broke for her. I thought about Knix and Bellamy and Marv and strangely...Grayson and Texas too. None of them knew about the three I had kissed. I had kissed Marvtwice. What would they all say if they knew? How would they look atme?
I didn’t realize Delilah had kept talking until she put her hand on my knee, jerking me out of my mind. “Please,” she said earnestly. “You can’t tell anyone about this. It’s embarrassing for Mr.Wallace.”
“Why?” I asked. “Wouldn’t Mr. Wallace be happy that the guy is gone? She can moveon.”
Isador and Delilah were both silent for several moments. Long enough that my eyes darted up and around to see if anyone was paying us any attention. No one was. Natalia was standing off to the side now, across the room with another couple of girls that I vaguely recognized from the past few days, but none that I could name. Mr. Giovanni was with another girl, who was struggling just as much as I had. He grimaced as she stomped on his foot. I turned back to Isador andDelilah.
