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I don’t think she means the garden party, somehow.
Staring out at the stars, I will my heartbeat to slow down.
Three
Fliss
The Bamford estate is on the coast, perched on the cliffs so the family can survey their kingdom. They have an ivy-clad mansion with columns and stone balconies; rolling grounds with water features and a hedge maze; gazebos and rose bushes and more.
Sebastian showed me pictures to prep me, but as we arrive on Friday evening, I still want to throw up.
Yeah. It’s nothing like the shabby chic apartment I rent with two roommates, that’s for sure. The security hut that opens the gates to the grounds is bigger than our living room.
“Snazzy.” I watch the wrought iron gates swing open, our car idling beside the hut. My mouth is so dry. “Bet the school bus had fun dropping you off as a kid.”
Sebastian hums, staring out of his own tinted window. He’s not listening, lost in his own thoughts. It’s been a long day already.
Lanterns glow in a winding snake through the grounds, following the half-mile path to the mansion, and string lights mingle with spring blossoms in the trees. Our car purrs along, the engine quiet.
Night’s drawing in. Maybe I’ll blend in better in low light? I adjust the pearl-studded watch on my wrist for the millionth time, trying to cover the tips of Rusty’s ears.
My roommate Priya is taking care of him this weekend. I miss my little fur ball already.
“Brace yourself.” Sebastian’s low voice makes me jump, the sound so shocking after what feels like hours of tense silence. He’s watching me closely, the pink sunset casting a warm glow on his face. “My family will want to test you, Felicity. Think of this as the world’s worst job interview.”
“Fliss,” I say automatically, smoothing my dress over my lap. It’s knee-length and blue, and I’m pretty sure it cost more than my last paycheck. The silk tickles my skin. “Oh, I’m prepared. They can be as mean and snobby and awful as they like; I won’t even blink an eye, I promise.”
It’s supposed to be reassuring, but Sebastian’s mouth flattens, and he goes back to staring out the window. His thumb taps a rapid beat against his knee.
And I don’t know what comes over me—maybe I’m getting in character?—because I reach over and cover his hand with mine.
“Shitty families aren’t worth stressing over. Sir,” I add, remembering my place, but when I start to pull my hand back, Sebastian catches it and holds on.
“You’re right.” His thumb swoops over my palm, and I shiver. “But I still hate coming here.”
Then why bother? I open my mouth to ask, but the car slows by the mansion entrance. Faint string music spills out of the open doors, and a big shaft of golden light spreads over the cobbles. Polite laughter trills through the air.
Staring through the car window… it’s like peering into another world. Hell, another universe.
I squeeze his hand one more time then let go. “C’mon, boss. Show time.”
* * *
Back in high school, I was in the theater club for a year. We put on a low-budget production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and with the English teacher’s bored tutelage, we made all the props, sewed our costumes, and learned our lines.
The show was as bad as you’d imagine, but who cares? We all had a blast, and it was better than doing whippets in the underpass with the other neighborhood kids.
I’m channeling that energy right now.
This is a role. I’m an actor in a play.
The swanky gathering out on the terrace is my stage, and this dress and these murder-heels are my costume. Sebastian Bamford is my sexy leading man, and when I laugh politely at some boring lawyer’s anecdote and wind my arm through Sebastian’s, I’m following the stage directions. That’s all.
Bamfords bristle all around me, exchanging hard looks. They’re not the whole party, but they’re still everywhere. Hovering and tutting and pursing their lips.
They do not like me. Not one bit. I’m touching the crook of Sebastian’s elbow, but from their horror, you’d think I just licked the side of his neck.
Oh, they greeted me in the foyer politely enough, sweeping us inside and ordering the driver to see to our bags. Sebastian’s mother took the lead, flanked on either side by two aunts.
