She stood alone, gazing longingly out at the water. Fairy lights twinkled along the railings, and lanterns above her cast a soft glow, chasing away the darkness. Against the dimly lit backdrop of London, she looked like a figure from a painting.
I felt a tug in my chest. It almost hurt how beautiful she was, in every possible way, and I stood no chance against the overwhelming wave of affection that crashed over me.
37
Henry took his employee to the ball as his plus-one! What was he thinking? Everyone’s talking about her, but he seems completely oblivious.
Message from Charlotte Ashford to a friend
Kate
I was no longer alone. I had my back turned to the door, but I didn’t have to see Henry to know he had joined me. His presence was like the sun—even with my eyes shut, I felt it on my skin.
With a soft click, the glass door closed behind him. The lively voices, the laughter, the music—all of it faded into the background. Only the sounds of the city remained. I kept my eyes fixed on the Thames. The lights of the surrounding buildings were reflected in the dark water, which lay still and peaceful below.
“I was looking for you,” Henry said. Despite the balcony heaters, he took off his tailcoat and draped it over my shoulders. The fabric was warm and heavy, and smelled of him. The unfamiliar sense of security, overwhelming in its intensity, returned. “How long have you been standing out here?”
I wasn’t sure. I only knew I couldn’t bring myself to go back to the ball, unable to bear the thought of subjecting myself to the judgemental stares of the other guests. I hadn’t wanted to leave Henry in the lurch either, so I had fled to the balcony, trying to muster the courage to go back in. But there was no way I could pretend I hadn’t heard the spiteful things that had been said about me.
I pulled Henry’s tailcoat tighter around me. “A while.”
He leaned his hands on the railing, his right one only millimetres from my left. He playfully extended his little finger and touched it against mine. I smiled, reminding myself why I was still here. It would have made sense to leave the ball and accept that Henry and I were just too different, but I was incapable of making reasonable decisions about Henry. When it came to him, I couldn’t think—I only felt, my heart overriding all reason.
“Thank you,” Henry said unexpectedly.
I looked up from the river to him. He was gazing out at the Thames, his mask looking even more diabolical in the dim light on the balcony. He looked like he’d just stepped right out of hell. “What for?”
“For coming with me tonight. The conversations at these events can be pretty dull. I hope you aren’t too bored.”
“Not at all.” But Henry’s sceptical expression told me he clearly didn’t believe a word. “OK, I was a little bored. But there’s no one I’d rather be bored with than you, Snowflake.”
He grumbled. “So we’re back toSnowflake. What happened toMr. Darlington?”
“I decided I didn’t like it.” His last name reminded me too much of who he was and what I wasn’t. When I called him Snowflake, hewasn’t Henry Darlington, billionaire heir—he was simply Henry. The man who ate pizza sitting on the floor, wore holey socks, thought dirty thoughts about me, and secretly bought my favourite book to read it himself. The man who, after months of uncertainty, made me feel like I’d finally found a place where I was safe.
“Kate?” His tone was sharp, but not demanding. When I looked up to meet his eyes, I realised he could see right through the carefree front I was putting on. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I lied. “Why?”
Shit.Rule number one: Never ask why.
“Why were you out here alone?”
My mouth felt dry. Part of me wanted to tell him the truth, but I also didn’t want to repeat what the women had said about me—which was presumably what everyone was thinking. “I just needed some fresh air.”
“Why didn’t you find me? I would have come out with you.”
“I...”
I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.
I needed a moment alone.
I just wanted some fresh air, and I lost track of time.
But by the time I’d invented these lies, Henry had noticed my hesitation. His expression darkened. “Did my parents say something to you?”
“No, they didn’t say anything.”
