Inside my room, I stand gazing blankly out the window. When I came to Avanti I never expected to be in the middle of such strong family politics. I stand watching birds flying by and after a time I spy a man riding on a horse, but it’s such a distance from the palace that I’m not sure if it’s Dante or not. Still he is a good rider, fast and sure.

I watch him until there is a knock on my door.

“Ready?” Cassandra asks when I open the door.

“Ready,” I say with a smile. “Just let me grab my purse.”

“You won’t need it.”

“I won’t?”

“Dante wants to pay for everything.”

I can’t help the surprised expression on my face.

She laughs. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it. Being able to buy whatever you like. Never having to choose between A or B. It’s actually a lovely feeling.”

“It must be,” I say softly.

She laughs. “Come on, let’s go.”

We settle into the back of a grey Mercedes. The ride into the city is quick as there is almost no traffic. I gaze curiously out of the window at the changing scenery. The thing that strikes me most is how clean and fresh everything looks: the perfect condition of the streets, the sidewalks, and the buildings. There is not so much as a cigarette butt littering the ground. Eventually, the car pulls up at the entrance of a place called Louis Rye Sart.

“This is it,” Cassandra says. “My favorite store. Since we don’t have much time and we need to get you something for tonight I thought we’ll just go here. I’m sure you’ll be impressed.”

She gets out of the car, and I follow her. There is a CLOSED sign on the door.

“It’s closed,” I say.

Cassandra laughs. “I know. They closed it for us, silly.”

A blonde woman in a stylish suit opens the heavy glass door. “Good afternoon, Your Highness,” she says with a bow. She turns to me. “My name is Freja and it is an honor to welcome you to our shop, Miss Winchester.”

The store is like an art gallery. The walls and ceiling are white and there are no racks of dresses and blouses or shelves filled with merchandise. Instead, mannequins dressed in the latest Italian and French fashions stand in alcoves and niches throughout the store.

“This way, please,” she says, leading us into an elevator.

When the doors open, we enter an area that looks similar to one of the rooms in the palace. This is obviously the special saloon that was reserved for the super-rich. The décor had been chosen to make them feel at home.

“I have something very special for Miss Winchester to wear to the ball. If she likes it we will make all necessary alterations and have it sent to the palace in two hours.”

A woman dressed in black comes forth, a dress draped over her outstretched arms. Freja lifts the dress by the hanger’s hook and holds it up for me to see.

I work in the fashion industry, but I cannot help the gasp that exits my mouth. When I was young I used to read books about dresses that were made by elves. This dress looks like it has been made by a little child going blind in India. The floor length gown is so meticulously hand-embellished with pearls and tiny crystals that one can hardly see the saffron colored background material.

“It’s perfect,” Cassandra declares. She turns to me. “You must try it.”

Before I know it, I have been herded into a plush changing room and the woman in black is silently helping me into the dress.

Cassandra pushes aside the velvet curtain and clasps her hands. “Why, it doesn’t even need to be altered. It is wonderful.”

I stare at myself. It is definitely the most beautiful thing I have ever worn, but the kind of work that has gone into it makes it an haute couture gown and I’m not about to blow £30,000 or something equally ridiculous of Dante’s money on such a dress. No way. I’d be embarrassed to do something like that.

“It’s very beautiful, but how much is it?” I ask.

It is as if I said I was planning to kill someone. Both shop assistants start with surprise and Cassandra gives me a strange look. “We never talk about prices here. The bills are sent directly to the accounting office.”

“But my dress is going to be paid for by Dante. I can’t make him pay for a dress as expensive as I know this must be.”

Cassandra’s smooth brow furrows. “Well, he knew I was bringing you here and he was more than happy with it.”

“I can’t buy this, Cassandra. I just don’t feel comfortable spending this kind of money. Especially since it is not even mine.”

“Shall I call Dante?”

I shake my head violently. “No. Of course not.”

Her head tilts as she stares at me curiously. “Why not?”

“Because then he will think I want him to buy the dress.”

“Oh, don’t be such a goose. This is not about you. If you are not dressed in the style and manner that is expected of Dante’s fiancée you will embarrass the whole family. People will think you are some kind of ugly duckling that we are mistreating.”

I get what she is saying, I don’t want to let Dante down, but at the same time … I just can’t spend that kind of money on a dress.

With a sigh she takes her phone out of her bag and dials out a number. She speaks rapidly into it in Avantian. She ends the call and smiles at me. “I told you it would be fine. Dante told me to spare no expense.” She turns to the two women watching us with round eyes. “Now we need a purse and shoes to match.”

The assistants bring purses with no price tags on them. I stare at them in confusion. I can still hear Dante’s aunt saying, ‘they’re destroying the country so that they can buy bigger yachts and more expensive watches and clothes for their wives.’ Cassandra picks up a gorgeous one with a pearl clasp.

“You like this? It will be perfect with your dress.”

“Yes, it’s gorgeous.”

“Then let’s get it. Now shoes.” She turns briskly to the assistant. “Please hurry. We don’t have much time.”

I choose a pair of lovely silk shoes with crystal heels. They come in a silver box with black satin lining.

“If you see anything else you especially like,” Cassandra says with a smile, “don’t hesitate.”

“No, that is fine,” I say quickly. I have never shopped like this before. It is disconcerting to not know how much the items I am buying cost. I think I am actually horrified by the idea.

Cassandra laughs, then leans close to me. “What is that expression in English?” she whispers. “It’s just a drop in the bucket. There is far more where this came from.”

I turn to face her, surprised by the naked greed in her voice.

“You should see the expression on your face,” she teases.

“I’m not from a rich family so I’m just not used to spending money like this.”

She laughs gaily. “Trust me, you’ll take to it like a duck to water. Right. Let’s go. We do have to be back in time for the hair stylists.”

I nod. “I’d almost forgotten.”

“Can’t forget something like that,” she says. “After all we want to look our very best.”

“Yes, of course,” I murmur softly.

She is fun to be with and I’m grateful to her for helping me find a dress that will be considered suitable for Dante’s fiancée to wear to a palace ball, but something about her makes me feel uncomfortable.

I am glad that Dante and I will not be living at the palace.