The grandfather clock in her bedroom chimed, making them both jump a little. “I should finish getting ready,” Beatrice murmured.
“Here, I’ll help.” Teddy followed her through her bedroom and into her massive walk-in closet.
“If you insist,” Beatrice teased. She untied her robe, letting it fall in a fluffy heap to the floor, and nudged it to one side with her bare foot. Underneath she was wearing nothing but whisper-thin underwear; her gown tonight was strapless, and too tight to need a bra.
Teddy met her gaze in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. His eyes darkened, turning from cornflower blue to a deeper, burning sapphire. Heat pooled low in Beatrice’s belly.
“How much time do we have before dinner?” Beatrice murmured.
Teddy’s answer was hoarse. “Not nearly enough.”
“Then you’ll have to find me afterward,” she managed. “Especially if you’re leaving soon.”
Her gown—a delicate tulle one with floral lace appliqué down the skirt—hung on a hook inside the closet. Beatrice lifted it off the hanger and stepped inside.
Wordlessly, Teddy walked around to help with the silk-covered buttons that trailed up the back. Beatrice watched his reflection, holding her breath. He fastened the buttons slowly, one at a time, dropping a kiss on her neck with each one. Kiss, button, kiss, button. Beatrice felt like her body had surely reached melting point.
“I love you,” she told him, her breath catching.
“I love you,” he answered, fastening the last button.
Their eyes met in the mirror, and for a moment Beatrice was nothing more than a girl in a pretty dress, standing with the boy she loved.
When he was done, they backed away, breaking the spell that had woven itself between them. Teddy smiled and held out an arm so that Beatrice could place a hand on his elbow.
She stole one last glance at their reflections, then let her fiancé lead her downstairs to dinner.
“I can’t believe I’m going to a royal event without you.” Nina propped her phone against her shoulder and bent down to adjust a strap on her chunky red heels.
“It’s a library event. This is the exception that proves the rule,” Samantha pointed out. A horn blared a few feet from Nina, and on the other end of the line, Sam sighed. “Please tell me you didn’t take the metro in a cocktail dress.”
“Of course not.” Nina’s outfit wasn’t actually a cocktail dress, but she didn’t bother correcting Sam. “I walked.”
“That’s even worse!”
“Why? It’s nice out, and it was only a quarter mile.”
“That’s not the point! You’ll show up at the event with sweat stains,” Sam spluttered. “And messy hair!”
“Like you just said, it’s a library event. No one will care what I look like. I’m just here to get Makayla’s signature and pig out on hors d’oeuvres.” And see Jeff, Nina didn’t say aloud.
Samantha groaned. “You brought books with you, didn’t you?”
“Only one book!” Nina said defensively. “What else was I supposed to do? I’m not going to be one of those weird fans who ask an author to sign a body part.”
Sam chuckled. “Nina—I hate to cut this short, but I actually need to go get ready. I’m having dinner with Marshall’s family tonight.”
“That’s great!” Nina was excited for Sam and Marshall; their relationship was clearly getting more serious.
“Anyway, have fun nerding out! Love you,” Sam told her before hanging up.
When Nina reached the library’s front steps, she paused. The building felt different than usual tonight, its iconic stone columns bathed in the glow of the party lights, making it all seem like a mirage. Inside, she heard the raised voices and laughter of the usual gala crowd—glamorous young people, all vying to outshine and outtalk and outmaneuver one another.
She’d been surprised when Jeff invited her to tonight’s event. He’d brought it up yesterday, over lunch in the dining hall. Nina had resolved not to mention the tailgate, but Jeff had asked about it right away.
“You left before I could say goodbye,” he’d ventured, casting her a curious glance. “Did you have fun?”
Nina wondered why no one had told him about her confrontation with Gabriella. Maybe Gabriella was embarrassed to admit she’d caused a scene.
“I had fun. Thanks for inviting me,” Nina told him. Jeff nodded, though she could tell he didn’t quite believe her.
Nina often couldn’t help feeling like they were enrolled at completely different schools. Jeff belonged to another side of King’s College, populated by the same people he’d known at his all-boys high school, and at court, and in every other corner of his wealthy, royal life. Nina didn’t have much in common with those people.
At least she could be certain that her friends liked her for her own sake, not because of what she could do for them.
“I have this event coming up for the Young Patrons of the Public Library,” Jeff had explained, setting down his fork. “I have to go on Beatrice’s behalf. Do you want to come?”
“That’s okay.” Nina had attended enough of these parties with Sam to know that the Young Patrons—of every organization, whether it was the ballet or the museum or the wildlife conservation fund—were people who wanted to see and be seen. They rarely cared all that much about their so-called cause.
“Are you sure? The guest of honor is Makayla Oyeney.”
“What?” Nina’s voice came out as a barely audible squeak. Makayla was the author of the Kingmaker series, a fantasy epic that had just been adapted into a hit TV show. Now the world was anxiously awaiting the sixth and final book.
“So you’ll come?” Jeff had asked.
“For the record, this is shameless bribery. But yes, absolutely.”
Now, as Nina glanced around the entrance hall, she felt acutely aware that she didn’t know anyone here. Women in couture dresses clutched champagne in thin-stemmed flutes; men in tailored suits laughed as they snatched Gruyère tartlets from passing trays. Nina’s flowy skirt and top felt too casual; she thought of Sam’s admonishment and resisted the urge to check her armpits for sweat stains.
She pulled out her phone, if only to look busy, and saw a notification bubble alerting her to a new email. Reflexively Nina clicked over to the message. As she read, her stomach seized in panic.
Ms. Gonzalez:
We regret to inform you that we are terminating your status as a recipient of financial aid for the upcoming quarter. This year, King’s College saw a tremendous increase in the number of students receiving economic assistance, which forced us to reexamine the qualifications of our current financial aid students. Upon review of your family’s tax records, we have determined that your Expected Family Contribution does not qualify you to receive funding….