We move through to the ballroom after dinner, where a band is playing some jazzy numbers and a cocktail bar is set up in one corner, which I intend to make full use of this evening. I’m no doubt going to be introduced to Francelia’s oh-so-perfect nephew – plus any number of potential suitors – so I’ll need the alcohol to get through the evening.
Alice hands me a menu of the drink concoctions on offer. ‘I’ll head to the bar while you keep your eyes peeled for any possible matches. What would you like?’
I hand the menu back to Alice. ‘Anything, as long as it has at least three shots and an umbrella in it.’
I circumnavigate the dance floor, where couples are already twirling away, and make my way to a dark corner where I can hopefully hide away for the evening. I know it will be no use. Alice is determined to couple me up with somebody – anybody – and there is no corner dark enough to protect me from the onslaught. But I have to at least give myself a fighting chance of surviving the week.
‘I got you a blood orange margarita.’ Alice pushes a glass into my hands and clinks her own against it. ‘Anybody caught your eye yet?’
I take a large sip (read: drain half in one go). ‘Nope.’
Alice’s shoulders slump. ‘I haven’t seen Archie yet, either. I was sure he’d be here.’
‘Archie?’
Alice has been scouring the room with her eyes, but she throws me a contemptuous look now. ‘Francelia’s nephew.’
‘Ah. Mr Perfect.’ I drain the rest of my drink.
‘You scoff now,’ Alice says. ‘But wait until you meet him.’
I’m itching with anticipation.
‘What was the deal with that woman at dinner?’ I ask, partly to shift attention away from myself and partly because I’m a nosy cow. I regret it, however, when I see a flash of pain cross Alice’s face. She takes a long sip of her own drink before she turns to me, eyes wide and pleading.
‘It was a huge mistake, okay? I didn’t do it, no matter what Francelia says. You have to believe me.’
I straighten, my shoulders whipping back. ‘Always. You know that. I’ll always be on your side.’
Alice nods, her teeth biting into her bottom lip. ‘It happened years ago, the summer before uni, just before I met you. We were all here, like always, the whole gang. It was the last time the four of us were together.’ Alice pauses, flashing me a pleading look again, silently begging me to believe what she’s about to tell me. I take her hand in mine. ‘One night, Francelia’s necklace went missing. It was this really expensive antique, passed down from her mum’s family for generations. It was so ugly, but Francelia thought she was wearing the bloody crown jewels or something. Anyway, one evening she runs into the dining room, in a proper flap, because her necklace has gone missing. She can’t find it anywhere. She had us searching the entire castle, but it didn’t turn up anywhere.’ Alice squeezes my hand. ‘Until Francelia marched us all to my bedroom and made me empty my underwear drawer. And there it was! Just sitting there. But I swear, Emily, I didn’t take it. I didn’t.’
‘I believe you.’ Alice is looking down at the floor, so I gently tilt her face so we’re eye to eye again. ‘I know you wouldn’t do that.’
‘Thank you.’ Alice’s voice is hoarse. She leans against me and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her in tight. ‘The thing is, Francelia is adamant I took that necklace and she told everyone. It was humiliating, and now nobody trusts me. Not even my dad.’
‘I do. I trust you completely.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Alice straightens. ‘Because there’s Archie. Trust me when I say he’s perfect for you.’
I walked into that one, didn’t I?
‘Come on, quick!’ Alice grabs hold of my hand and tows me towards the throng of people. ‘He’s disappearing into the crowd.’ Tugging on my hand, she weaves us between partygoers at an alarming rate. My feet, already aching in the heels I’m wearing, are struggling to keep up.
‘Slow down,’ I call out over the increasing music volume as we race across the dance floor, but it’s no use. Alice is on a mission. Nothing can stop her. Nothing, apart from a six-foot gardener stepping into her path.
‘Fuck’s sake,’ I hear him growl even over the loud music. He’s batting at his shirt with one hand, where there’s a wet patch soaking through to his skin, while the other holds on to a now near-empty glass. A couple of ice cubes have clinked onto the floor, and Alice has crouched down to scoop them up.
‘I’m so sorry.’ Alice plops the ice cubes back into the glass. ‘Let me get you a fresh drink.’ She goes to take the glass, but Tom snatches it away.
‘It doesn’t matter. I’m not in the mood anyway.’
I do not like this guy. He’s about as charming as a bag of steaming dog turds and I can’t understand why Alice and Carolyn were so excited about being reunited with him.
‘Let me at least get you a napkin.’ Alice’s eyes move to the damp patch on Tom’s shirt and she pulls a face.
‘It doesn’t matter, honestly.’ Tom swipes at the patch and shrugs. ‘It’s only a small spill, and I’ll be getting off soon. I only came to wish Carolyn well.’
‘She’ll be thrilled you came. It’s been too long.’
Tom scratches the back of his neck. ‘Yeah, well, a lot happened back then.’
Alice nods, her gaze dropping to the floor. ‘It did, but we shouldn’t have let it affect our friendship. We were so close.’ She looks up again, her eyes on Tom, but he’s gazing down at the dregs of his drink and the melting ice cubes in his glass. ‘You were one of my best friends, Tom. I’ve missed you.’
‘Look, it’s been great to see you again, Alice, and I’ve enjoyed the drinks and canapés.’ There are canapés? Where? I’ve just stuffed myself stupid with a three-course meal, but I never say no to snackage. ‘But I should get going. Stuff to do, you know? Give Carolyn my regards, won’t you?’ Pressing the glass into Alice’s hand, Tom strides away, heading straight for the door. He wrenches it open before disappearing from the ballroom.
Alice frowns and shakes her head. ‘He didn’t used to be like this. He was so lovely. Kind, funny, like a big brother, really.’
‘That guy?’ I thrust a thumb at the door, which has now closed behind him, and wrinkle my nose.
The corners of Alice’s lips have turned down and she sighs. ‘He was one of my best friends growing up, but he feels like a stranger now.’
‘He couldn’t have been that good a friend if he didn’t believe you about the necklace.’ I wasn’t even at the castle at the time, yet I know Alice didn’t take it.
Alice shakes her head. ‘Tom believed me. He stuck by me, with Carolyn and Archie. They were the only ones who did.’
‘Then what happened to drive a wedge between you?’
But Alice doesn’t answer. Her smile is back on her face, as though she’s rebooted her settings. ‘There’s Archie!’ She points ahead. ‘Let’s go!’
I groan as she grabs my hand and starts to tow me through the crowds once more, but at least it’s at a much slower pace this time.
The barman is wielding a cocktail shaker as I approach, the ice cubes rattling and the liquid sloshing as he jiggles it in the air. There’s already a pair of glasses set out on the bar in front of the guy who helped me with the suitcases, which the barman fills with the red liquid before adding a maraschino cherry to garnish.
‘That looks delicious.’ I lean against the bar in an attempt to take the weight off my aching feet. We’ve traipsed back and forth across the ballroom in search of the elusive Archie but have yet to locate him. I feel like I’m taking part in an interactive Where’s Wally? Alice was not impressed when I made the comparison.
‘It’s a Poison Apple,’ he tells me before taking a sip. His eyebrows lift once he’s swallowed. ‘It’s pretty potent stuff, actually. Wow.’ He grins at me and I smile back, trying not to laugh as he eyes the glass with great suspicion before taking another – tiny – sip. ‘Can I get one for you to try?’
‘Why not?’ I was going to go for another blood orange margarita, but this looks much more enticing. ‘Can I get two, please?’
‘Thirsty?’ he asks once he’s placed the order with the barman.
‘The other’s for my friend.’ I’d finally convinced Alice to pause the search for Wally (aka Archie) to grab some drinks, so I can’t turn up empty-handed. ‘What about you?’ I point at the second drink waiting on the bar.
‘For my aunt.’ He picks up the glass. ‘I should get this to her. She isn’t the most patient of people. But maybe we’ll bump into each other again?’ He starts to move away, but turns to face me again. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’
‘It’s Emily,’ I say as the barman places a couple of martini glasses on the bar.
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Emily.’ He smiles warmly at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. ‘I’m Archie.’
‘You can call off the search,’ I tell Alice as I pass her a Poison Apple cocktail. ‘I’ve found him.’
‘You found Archie? Where?’ Alice is on her tiptoes, eyes searching the room.
‘At the bar. He recommended these.’ I lift up my glass before taking a sip. Wowsers. I’ll be squiffy after half a glass.
‘But where is he now?’
I shrug. ‘With his aunt somewhere.’
‘Oh.’ Alice returns to her normal, non-tiptoe height. ‘That’ll be Francelia. There’s no point in disturbing him if he’s busy.’ She takes a large sip of her drink and doesn’t even bat an eyelid at the strength. ‘What did you think of Archie? He’s cute, right?’
‘Hmm.’ I shrug. ‘I guess.’
He is good-looking – especially in his tailored suit – but I know Alice will pounce if I even hint that he’s an attractive member of the opposite sex. She’d up her game. Hunt him down and make sure there was a firm introduction, where every single bit of salient information was exchanged: ages, job titles, hopes for the future, whether marriage and children are on the cards. I’ve been there before – and mortifying doesn’t come close to describing the experience – and I’m not keen to return.
‘He’s such a sweetie, honestly. When all that “stolen necklace” nonsense happened, he stuck up for me, going against Francelia and everything. He knew I wouldn’t do something like that and he wasn’t afraid of saying so. Shows great strength and loyalty, don’t you think?’
‘I guess.’ I take another sip of my drink. I wonder if Alice’s meddling would seem less annoying if I downed the lot in one go…
‘And he isn’t like Francelia at all. You wouldn’t even think they’re related.’
‘I suppose not.’ Archie didn’t seem to possess the same iciness as his aunt, but then I’ve only encountered him briefly.
‘So? What do you think?’ Alice leans in close to me, one hand on her chest, breath held.
‘I think I’d quite liked to get drunk on these cocktails.’
Alice sighs, her hand slipping back down to her side. ‘We had a deal, remember? You have to take this seriously.’
‘Sorry.’ Not sorry. ‘I will take it seriously. Very seriously. But I can’t promise to fall head over heels for him. We might not be compatible at all. You can’t force that kind of thing.’
‘I know.’ Alice takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. ‘But don’t worry, honey. There are plenty more fish in the ballroom. Your Prince Charming is here somewhere, and we’ll find him. Trust me.’