the back with the nimble expertise of the dressmaker that she was.
“Here are your shoes.” Gigi held out the sparkly pair Summer had bought specifically for tonight.
As she slipped into them, Portia hurried through the door. “Oh good, I’m not late. It took longer than I thought to get these.”
Summer turned as Portia opened a large velvet case that held a small fortune in jewels.
Gigi ran her fingers over the stones. “Those belonged to Grandmother Eugenia, didn’t they? I remember getting in trouble for playing dress up with them.”
“Weren’t they in the lot that was sold to Jackson’s company?” Rosalind asked suspiciously. “That was given to the auction house to be sold?”
Titania lowered her camera. “If you stole jewels for Summer to wear, I’m going to be impressed.”
Summer couldn’t help touching the stones, stolen or not. “I’ll represent you for free if you go to jail.”
Portia rolled her eyes. “You do business mergers, not criminal law, and I didn’t steal them. I got special dispensation from Martin for this night. They aren’t to be auctioned until sometime this fall.”
“So Summer won’t be arrested either?” Viola asked.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that to her.” She faced Summer. “They belonged to Father’s mother. She was your grandmother, too, so it seemed right that you should wear them tonight.”
Eyes misting over, she put a hand to her mouth. She’d always longed to belong, but she’d never imagined they’d accept her so wholeheartedly. All her dreams were coming true, one by one.
She just had to win the prince.
“Now you’ve done it, Portia,” Titania said, snapping a quick shot. “Gigi just spent an hour doing her eyes and you’re going to ruin in it seconds.”
Summer laughed shakily, dabbing the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. “I’ll stop before I set us back another hour.”
“Because you’re in danger of turning into a pumpkin.” Rosalind checked the time. “You need to get going.”
“Okay.” She fastened the earrings as Portia secured the necklace on her. She glanced in the mirror.
“Your mask,” Vi said, coming behind her to set it on her face. She carefully tied the satin ribbons at the back of her hair, which was piled up on one side and then trailing down the other in large ringlets.
“The tickets are in your purse. Bea’s driver is outside.” Rosalind handed her the small clutch that attached to her wrist. “I think you’re set to conquer your man.”
“Am I?” She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and almost choked on the air.
“You are.” Gigi took her by the shoulders. “You’re beautiful and smart. A man would have to be a fool not to want you.”
“Plus you’re a Summerhill,” Titania added. “If he doesn’t cooperate, you’ll gut him with a knife.”
Summer stepped into the foyer, her breath catching. Lights twinkled all over, like a magical fairyland. People milled about, all dressed in the fanciest of clothes, their faces covered in glittering masks. Even the waiters wore them, simple white ones to go with their uniforms.
One came up to her, offering champagne. She shook her head, craning her neck. She was interested in only one man.
If she’d be able to find him. She hadn’t thought about how she’d recognize Ryan given he’d be masked. She should have had Bea find out what he was wearing. If anyone could find that out, it’d have been Beatrice Summerhill.
And then she saw him.
He leaned in an archway that opened on the ballroom. Even though his face was covered, she knew he was The One. The way her heart beat as she looked at him confirmed it.
His mask was black—simple compared to the gilded masks of other people. He wore a tuxedo that was obviously designer, perfectly tailored to his form. She’d seen plenty of men in tuxes in her life, but none had ever looked as scrumptious as him. Seeing him filled her with a quivery sort of
“Here are your shoes.” Gigi held out the sparkly pair Summer had bought specifically for tonight.
As she slipped into them, Portia hurried through the door. “Oh good, I’m not late. It took longer than I thought to get these.”
Summer turned as Portia opened a large velvet case that held a small fortune in jewels.
Gigi ran her fingers over the stones. “Those belonged to Grandmother Eugenia, didn’t they? I remember getting in trouble for playing dress up with them.”
“Weren’t they in the lot that was sold to Jackson’s company?” Rosalind asked suspiciously. “That was given to the auction house to be sold?”
Titania lowered her camera. “If you stole jewels for Summer to wear, I’m going to be impressed.”
Summer couldn’t help touching the stones, stolen or not. “I’ll represent you for free if you go to jail.”
Portia rolled her eyes. “You do business mergers, not criminal law, and I didn’t steal them. I got special dispensation from Martin for this night. They aren’t to be auctioned until sometime this fall.”
“So Summer won’t be arrested either?” Viola asked.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that to her.” She faced Summer. “They belonged to Father’s mother. She was your grandmother, too, so it seemed right that you should wear them tonight.”
Eyes misting over, she put a hand to her mouth. She’d always longed to belong, but she’d never imagined they’d accept her so wholeheartedly. All her dreams were coming true, one by one.
She just had to win the prince.
“Now you’ve done it, Portia,” Titania said, snapping a quick shot. “Gigi just spent an hour doing her eyes and you’re going to ruin in it seconds.”
Summer laughed shakily, dabbing the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. “I’ll stop before I set us back another hour.”
“Because you’re in danger of turning into a pumpkin.” Rosalind checked the time. “You need to get going.”
“Okay.” She fastened the earrings as Portia secured the necklace on her. She glanced in the mirror.
“Your mask,” Vi said, coming behind her to set it on her face. She carefully tied the satin ribbons at the back of her hair, which was piled up on one side and then trailing down the other in large ringlets.
“The tickets are in your purse. Bea’s driver is outside.” Rosalind handed her the small clutch that attached to her wrist. “I think you’re set to conquer your man.”
“Am I?” She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and almost choked on the air.
“You are.” Gigi took her by the shoulders. “You’re beautiful and smart. A man would have to be a fool not to want you.”
“Plus you’re a Summerhill,” Titania added. “If he doesn’t cooperate, you’ll gut him with a knife.”
Summer stepped into the foyer, her breath catching. Lights twinkled all over, like a magical fairyland. People milled about, all dressed in the fanciest of clothes, their faces covered in glittering masks. Even the waiters wore them, simple white ones to go with their uniforms.
One came up to her, offering champagne. She shook her head, craning her neck. She was interested in only one man.
If she’d be able to find him. She hadn’t thought about how she’d recognize Ryan given he’d be masked. She should have had Bea find out what he was wearing. If anyone could find that out, it’d have been Beatrice Summerhill.
And then she saw him.
He leaned in an archway that opened on the ballroom. Even though his face was covered, she knew he was The One. The way her heart beat as she looked at him confirmed it.
His mask was black—simple compared to the gilded masks of other people. He wore a tuxedo that was obviously designer, perfectly tailored to his form. She’d seen plenty of men in tuxes in her life, but none had ever looked as scrumptious as him. Seeing him filled her with a quivery sort of
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