It’s funny how just four days away from ‘real’ life can leave you feeling like a completely different person; and one who has no idea how she’ll somehow manage to fit back into the life she left behind.
It’s funny, yes, but it’s also crazy, because one thing I do know is that, no matter what happens next for either of us, it can’t happen for ustogether. There are too many miles between us, and too many unknowns for us to make even the slightest bit of sense.
But I wish it could.
I wish we could at leasttry.
I wish there was more time; time to find out if that spark between us could ever turn into something more, or time to justbe together, without a looming departure date hanging above our heads.
I just need more time.
Time, though, is running out; as evidenced by the grandfather clock in the hall, which announces each hour with a DING-DONG, so loud we can hear it in the ballroom. By the time that clock strikes twelve, my time in the Chrysalis will be almost over, whether I’m ready for it to end or not.
‘Comeon,’ I say, looking down at the magic jumper, which I’m wearing over the top of the same sequinned number I overdressed for dinner in. ‘If you’re planning to work some magic here, this would be areallygreat time to do it.’
But tonight, the sweater seems to be all out of magic. So the night goes on, and the clock keeps striking, no matter how much I will it to stop. Much to my relief, however, there’s no trace of animosity between the people from the village and those from the castle. Villagers dance with hotel staff. Hannah and Rowan go skidding across the polished wooden floorboards in their socks, with a small gang of children following close behind them. Izzie offers to read the Laird’s palm, and the Laird is only mildly rude in his response.
At one point, Dante comes staggering into the room, his dark suit draped with cobwebs, and a sprinkling of dust on top of his glossy head, like dandruff.
‘You!’ he says, pointing a shaking finger at Sabrina, who’s sitting with Luna, each of them treating the other with exaggerated politeness. ‘I thought you were supposed to be locked in the attic?’
‘I beg your pardon?’ replies Sabrina frostily, a semblance of her old self returning at the sight of her arch nemesis. ‘What would I be doing in anattic, of all places? Haunting it?’
‘I’ve been up there for hours,’ Dante splutters, ignoring the question. ‘I thought you might have gotten lost, or hurt. I’ve been beside myself!’
‘Gosh, how romantic,’ says Millie, sipping a cocktail in exactly the same shade of pink as her dress. ‘Look how worried he was about you, Sabrina! I wishIcould get locked in an attic so someone could come and find me.’
‘I was worried she’d sue us if she’d fallen over and hurt herself,’ Dante snaps. ‘That’s all. I don’t care what happens to her other than that.’
‘I don’t care what happens to you either,’ Sabrina retorts, tossing her head like a capricious pony as she gets up to walk away. ‘I didn’t even notice you weren’t here.’
‘That reminds me,’ says Millie, touching me on the arm. ‘We never found out about that invisible woman you mentioned, Rosie? Was it a ghost, do you think? Izzie says sometimes the souls of people who didn’t do the things they were supposed to in life can become trapped, they can’t move on. So they just keep doing the same thing over and over, and no one can even see them doing it. Isn’t that wild?’
‘Pretty wild,’ I agree, staring at the bubbles in my champagne glass. ‘That would be .?.?. that would be terrible.’
Thatisterrible, I mean.
And I would know, because she’s literally describingmy life. But maybe it doesn’t have to be anymore.
Maybe it’s time I took Sabrina’s advice to eat the bloody cake while I still have the chance.
‘Whoever she was, I think she’s gone now,’ I tell Millie. ‘I haven’t seen any sign of her in days.’
Which is true, actually. I’ve organised this party, haven’t I? I’ve rescued a woman from a runaway horse. I’ve done my very best to build bridges between Hunter and the villagers.
I haven’t been invisible, is what I’m saying.
Actually, I think I’ve been pretty damnvisiblefor once in my life.
And I think I’ve quite liked it, too.
‘Oh, that’s good,’ Millie says, relieved. ‘She must have figured out whatever it was she had to do to be free.’
‘Yes,’ I say slowing, my mind whirring as I put my champagne glass back down. ‘I think she did. It’s just whether or not she’s brave enough to actuallydoit that’s the question .?.?.’
Millie looks at me questioningly, but before she can ask what I mean, the sound of someone tapping a glass with their knife cuts through the air.
‘If I could have your attention, everyone, for just a few minutes,’ says Sabrina, who’s standing at the front of the room, in front of the fireplace, with a laptop set up in front of her. ‘It’s time to announce the results of our exciting influencer competition, and find out who’s going to be the face of the Chrysalis hotel.’
