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Chapter Sixteen

Scarlett

I step onto the midnight-blue carpet with Teddy by my side looking very dapper in his traditional tux, crisp white shirt, and black bowtie. Both our masks are black, though mine also has silver beads and some lace. We’re quite the pair, us outcasts, who came from nothing.

We arrive just behind Piers and Willow. She looks stunning in a sleek silver dress, though I can’t bring myself to admit it out loud. I hold my head high and plaster on a smile as I stand between Piers and Teddy, posing for photographs. As the flash of bulbs go off all around us, I switch angles and expressions, noticing how overwhelmed Willow seems.

“Piers! Great timing! You look dashing.” I nod in Willow’s direction. “Willow.”

“Scarlett,” she replies flatly.

“Hello, Scarlett.” Piers takes her hand, and off they go through the massive wooden doorway, away from the glare of the lights. “Are you okay?” They stand together, talking in hushed tones as he searches her face.

“Why wouldn’t she be?” I ask, stepping around him to a large gilded mirror hanging on the wall, checking my wine colored lipstick. She needs to see this is all a part of his life. A very important and public part. They can’t stay hidden away on her blessed estate forever.

“That kind of press is intimidating for anyone, especially someone not expecting it.” Piers sticks up for her, turning his attention away from me. “Willow, you remember Theodore Stone?”

Teddy steps forward, moving his mask aside. He pulls out tortoise shell specs and puts them on. “This might help.”

She studies him for a moment. “Teddy!” She wraps her arms around him in a hug, which earns them a growl from Piers. Stepping back, she catches up with him, while I continuing pretending to check my makeup in an attempt to avoid looking at her. “How are you? You look fantastic!”

“Hello, Willow. You look lovely.” He smiles bashfully in true Teddy fashion. “Yes, it’s me, but I go by Theo these days.” He and Piers exchange greetings as I turn around and look at my childhood reincarnate standing in the entry hall.

“So, you and Scarlett?” she blurts out, looking at him, then me.

“Oh, God no!” I jump in, wrapping her arm through his. “He’s much too busy with his books and doing whatever it is anthropologist’s do to actually talk to women. I needed a date when Piers dropped me last minute to bring you.” I attempt to smile without showing contempt, but the look on her face tells me I’m failing miserably. “Teddy was kind enough to come along. He was on the list anyway, so it wasn’t an entire seating chart nightmare rearranging everything for Piers’ last minute change of heart.”

Piers gives me a heated look, and taking the hint, I wrap it up. “He never brings dates anyway, so I knew he would be available,” I offer, and suddenly feel bad when I feel Teddy go still beside me before looking away and fiddling with his mask.

“No need to be rude, Scarlett.” Piers takes Willow’s arm and continues walking. “Theo, I owe you a drink, mate,” he calls after them.

“I’m sorry, Teddy. I didn’t mean it like that.” I put my head down in shame, so many emotions still raw.

“It’s fine,” he cuts me off.

We walk farther into the venue and down a large, sweeping staircase. My back straightens in pride as Willow oooh’s and ahhh’s to Piers over the large ballroom glowing in shades of pink and purple, blue and green. Tables are adorned with miniature flowering trees that house what looks like tiny, floating globes with candles inside. Little fairy wings act as place card holders. I’m rather impressed myself. I’ve poured my life into this and the Anderson deal alone over the last few months. A dreamlike room for a dreamlike evening. But someone else is living my dream.

“Underglobe is directly beneath the Globe Theatre. In the daylight hours, it houses Globe’s Shakespeare exhibition, but at night, it comes alive as one of London’s exclusive hidden events spaces. It’s really a unique space and very different from the Town House at Kensington where we usually host our more intimate events. This called for something a bit more dramatic,” Piers explains as she holds his arm tightly, hanging on his every word.

The ceiling is covered in thousands of tiny white, twinkling lights. “Oh, Piers! Look!” she exclaims, pointing out two acrobats moving gracefully on large streamers suspended from the ceiling.

I snort, which earns my arm a gentle tug as Teddy clears his throat. “Scarlett,” he scolds under his breath. “Best behavior. You promised.”

“So I did,” I agree. It’s the large glass of chardonnay I had before he picked me up that has seemed to loosen my tongue.

“It seems we got the dramatic part down.” Piers smiles. “We came in the secret river-side entrance, which, thanks to Scarlett’s PR team, wasn’t so secret. And hopefully, news of tonight’s event will be splashed all over the papers come morning, bringing attention to London Lost. That’s what it’s all about, for me anyway.” Hearing him praise me makes me stand a little taller, even if he can’t say it to my face. And my heart swells hearing him talk about London Lost. That is what it’s all about. I’ll do my best to keep my cattiness in check. I’ll try.

I mentally do last minute checks over everything in my head, my stomach filled with butterflies.

“Welcome to A Mid Summer’s Night Dream Gala for the London Lost,” Shakespearian dressed men and women greet us as one blows fire up into the air.

“It’s fantastic, Scarlett. You should be very proud,” Teddy leans over and whispers in my ear. I’m so grateful he agreed to be my date. I knew he would be here, but walking in on his arm, rather than trailing behind them like the third wheel—or worse, a shadow—would just be too much.

I focus on the wonderful cause we’re supporting and the incredible night ahead of us. It’s hard not to get caught up in the whimsy of it all. This venue really is perfect.

Piers finds our table and we all take our seats just as he’s called up to give the opening remarks.

Teddy goes to grab us a drink, so I take the opportunity to have a little girl talk with Willow.