Timothy gave us some drinks and we made small talk for a bit, but Ethan seemed restless, as though he’d rather be somewhere else.
‘Is everything OK?’ I asked finally, giving up on trying to ignore his frantic glances around the room. ‘You seem distracted.’
‘Yes, sorry.’ He sighed. ‘I guess I’m feeling guilty about inviting you to be my date tonight.’
‘Oh.’
‘It’s just. I don’t –’
‘It’s OK, you don’t have to explain.’ I blushed.
‘No,’ he protested, putting his drink down on one of the tables. ‘I do. Everyone I knew was going with a date, and I had no idea who to take, so I just asked you because you’d been so nice.’
‘I’m not sure this is making me feel better.’
‘I’m explaining this badly.’ He sighed, pushing a hand through his hair. ‘I guess, I felt you actually listened when I talked to you.’
‘Well –’ I shrugged – ‘you’re Ethan Duke.’
‘You’d be surprised how few people in this industry really hear what you’re trying to say.’
He abruptly straightened up as he saw someone come into the room, not even noticing that in doing so, he’d knocked over his drink onto the table, narrowly missing splashing the Queen of Spain’s gown. I followed his eyeline and then everything made sense. His uninterested texts, his ‘playing-it-cool’ attitude, even that night at the fashion show and the car ride home.
‘Does he know?’ I asked, placing a hand on Ethan’s arm.
‘What?’ he asked, flustered.
‘Jacob. Does he know you like him?’
Ethan sighed and shook his head. ‘No. I’ve never told him.’
We both looked over at Jacob who’d sauntered into the room with a familiar-looking model on his arm. I remembered he had been standing next to Jacob when we’d gone backstage afterwards.
‘That guy was on Lewis Blume’s catwalk too,’ Ethan explained. ‘When we went backstage, Jacob told me he was going to ask him to be his date for the Christmas Ball and I had to get out of there right away – by a stroke of luck, so did you. I felt like such an idiot. But you were so nice in the car . . . and I thought it might be fun to come here with a friend, rather than as a third wheel with Jacob and his date.’ He looked over at the two of them chatting to Lewis Blume. ‘Have you seen that guy? How can I compete?’
‘Have you seen you?’ I retorted. ‘You were sculpted by the gods.’
He smiled weakly.
‘You should tell him,’ I insisted. ‘Maybe not tonight, but some time. How do you know that he doesn’t feel the same way about you?’
‘He would have said before now.’
‘He might be thinking the same about you!’ I pointed out.
Jacob saw us and waved across the crowd.
‘Go say hey.’ I nudged him.
‘Yeah, I will.’ He smiled at me. ‘I’m really glad you agreed to be my date.’
‘Me too. We’ll talk about the vlog later. I’m thinking I could talk about Colin Whittle.’
‘Who’s Colin Whittle?’
‘Oh, he’s a very important figure in the hotel’s history. You wanted to know about that sort of thing, right? There was this ghost and stuff . . . Trust me, it will blow your viewers’ minds.’
He leaned over, gave me a kiss on the cheek and made his way through the crowd. As I watched him leave, I was surprised at how . . . OK I felt. I should have been angry, or upset, or disappointed or something. But I felt fine. I think I had secretly known that Ethan wasn’t interested all along and at some point I suppose I lost interest too. I did feel a tiny bit mournful about that chiselled jaw, though.
I felt a hand on my elbow and found Grace beaming at me.
‘You’re here!’ I squealed, giving her a hug and then stepping back to admire her pretty pink dress and the delicate rose clips carefully pinned over her hair.
‘Is it lame to have brought my brother as my plus one?’ she asked, stepping aside to point at Olly coming towards us holding three drinks.
‘Hey,’ he said, passing one to each of us. ‘Wow, Flick, you look beautiful.’
I was so stunned by (a) seeing him there (b) the fact that he’d just called me beautiful and (c) how good he looked in a tuxedo, that I genuinely couldn’t scramble my brain together quick enough to reply.
‘You . . . uh . . .’ I spluttered.
Grace must have noticed I was just staring at her brother, opening and closing my mouth like a fish, as she interjected, ‘Mum said he looked like a young James Bond. I think he looks like one of those rubbish magicians at a kid’s party.’
‘Thanks, sis. Always there to bring up my street cred.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Where did your date get to, Flick?’
‘Oh,’ I began, finding my ability to speak, ‘he’s gone to say hey to someone. We’re just friends anyway. Are you both having fun?’
‘It’s great.’ Olly smiled.
‘This is the most amazing party in the world,’ Grace enthused. ‘Apparently the fireworks start soon?’
I looked over at Fritz, who was being shifted from his chair on to a velvet cushion before being rushed out of the room by Jamie.
‘Yes,’ I replied knowingly. ‘That’s the signal. Fritz hates fireworks. Jamie takes him for a snack in the kitchens when they’re getting ready to start. The fireworks are amazing. The terrace is a good view but the best view is –’ I suddenly had an idea. ‘Hey, do you guys want to get out of here?’
‘Uh, no?’ Grace snorted. ‘I am not missing a moment of this party. George Clooney is here and I haven’t asked him to sign my arm yet.’
‘I mean, to get a better view of the fireworks,’ I explained. ‘Wait for me in the corridor, I’ll be with you in a minute. Seriously, go on.’
I ushered the two of them back in the direction of the door and pushed through the crowd to Sky, who was listening to Prince Gustav telling her and a group of friends about the time he accidentally bought a canoe.
‘Prince Gustav,’ I said, interrupting his flow of conversation, ‘would you mind if I borrowed Sky for a moment? I promise I’ll bring her back.’
‘Where are we going?’ Sky whispered as I led her away.
‘I’ll show you,’ I explained as we approached the others in the corridor. Grace’s eyes widened to saucers when she saw who I was with. After hurried introductions – during which Grace just stared at Sky, not uttering one word – I led the way down the hall towards the lift. Just as I pressed the button, Ella and her parents came through the revolving doors. She saw me and froze, midway through taking off her coat.
I don’t know if a sudden Christmas spirit descended upon me or something, but seeing her alone, staring at us all together, I felt a wave of sympathy for her. I told the others to wait as I went over to where she was standing.
‘Oh, Flick, hi!’ Her mum smiled, fiddling with her earrings. ‘Don’t you look wonderful. You’ve really managed to find a good colour dress for that hair of yours. That must be so difficult. Did you know it’s Ella’s first year at the ball? We never miss it, of course.’ She waved at someone standing in the archway of the ballroom. ‘Oh, there’s Sally. I’ll leave you girls to chat.’
She swanned off, dragging her reluctant husband with her.
‘It’s good to see you, Ella,’ I began apprehensively.
She didn’t say anything.
‘I’m really sorry we fell out this term,’ I continued, taking her silence as nervousness. ‘I hope we’ll all be OK back at school. I know the others would like that too. We’re about to go and watch the fireworks. You want to join?’
She looked at those waiting for me at the lift. Her eyes lit up when she saw Sky and for a moment I thought everything might be OK, but then her gaze shifted over to Olly and Grace, and she flinched, returning quickly to her unimpressed facial expression.
‘Why would I want to hang out with you?’
‘Because we’re going to get the best view in the place
. Trust me, I know.’
Her lip curled mockingly. ‘No, thanks. I think I’ll skip the staff quarters, and join the real guests. See you at school.’
She threw her coat to the porter and without another word, she swanned down the corridor and towards the ballroom, patting her coiffed hairdo neatly into place. I watched her go and then ushered the others into the lift, pressing the button for the fifteenth floor.
Grace patted my arm comfortingly. ‘You tried.’
‘You know what?’ I sighed, as the doors shut. ‘I have a feeling next term is going to be interesting.’
After our first ever fight, Cal found me on the roof of the hotel.
We were eight years old and I had accidentally broken this weird robot thing he’d been letting me play with. He wouldn’t let me go near it for weeks because he’d saved loads of pocket money to buy it, but I eventually wore him down and he lent it to me the day of that year’s Christmas ball. I was so scared when I broke it, that I hid it in my room and went to the ball with my mum, thinking I’d just tell him later. But he must have gone to get it back before coming to the ball, and he was so angry with me when he found it, that he came to find me and he yelled all these mean things at me. I was so upset, I left the ball and ran back up to the flat. But Mum had locked the door and I didn’t have keys, so I went out on to the fifteenth floor’s fire escape, and climbed up on to the roof.
Cal came to find me a few minutes later and must have seen the fire-escape door wedged open. He climbed up and sat down next to me as I continued snivelling. He didn’t say anything, he just put his arm round me and then the fireworks started and we realised we’d happened upon the best view in the city.
‘Look at all those lights,’ Grace whispered, when we got to the top and the four of us took in London’s glittering skyline in the cold night air. I was pleased they were all impressed because, let me tell you, it had not been easy getting three girls in ballgowns and heels up the rungs of a fire escape.
I think Olly was scarred from the experience.
‘That’s what I call a view!’ Sky exclaimed, getting her phone out to take photos. ‘And to think the actual royal family have to make do with the first-floor terrace.’
‘How did you find this place?’ Olly asked.
Before I could answer, another voice came floating up from the fire escape.
‘She broke my robot.’
‘Cal!’ I cried, peering over at him. ‘You’re here!’
‘Yeah, well, the award ceremony finished and I told you I didn’t want to miss the fireworks.’
He climbed up from the last rung, looking very smart in his tux. A warm feeling crept into my stomach as he grinned at me.
‘How did you know we were up here?’ Olly asked, as Grace and Sky started the tricky process of sitting down elegantly on the roof in their ballgowns.
‘When I couldn’t see Flick downstairs, I had a hunch.’ He held out his coat to me, which had been hanging over his arm. ‘I also figured you wouldn’t think to bring a jacket, even though it’s December.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, as he helped me to drape it over my shoulders.
‘Where have you been?’ Grace asked.
‘He’s been collecting a big journalism award,’ I informed them.
‘I didn’t win,’ Cal interjected quickly, his cheeks turning as pink as his nose. ‘I came second.’
‘Whatever.’ I smiled. ‘Your article was great.’
‘I can’t take all the credit. You were the one who gave me the idea.’
‘I did?’
‘You don’t remember? When you pooh-poohed my Prince Gustav interview, you suggested I write a feature about getting in everyone’s way at a hotel . . .’
‘The whole thing was Flick’s idea? That’s cool,’ Sky declared, before pouting for a selfie with Grace.
‘Wait.’ I held up my hands. ‘Can we all just focus on the fact that Cal just used the phrase “pooh-pooh” like it was an actual thing?’
‘It is an actual thing,’ Cal argued.
‘Yeah,’ I snorted. ‘Back in the Dark Ages.’
‘I think he can pull off “pooh-pooh”,’ Olly declared, as Cal nodded appreciatively.
‘Out of interest, would pooh-pooh be spelled with an “h” or no “h”?’ Grace asked thoughtfully.
‘Can people please stop saying “pooh-pooh”?’ Sky asked, laughing. ‘The fireworks are about to start and all this pooh-poohing is kind of ruining the moment.’
Olly held out his hand to help me sit down in my impractical-for-roof-climbing dress, before offering his jacket to Sky and Grace to share.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Cal began as he sat on the other side of me, ‘you should start vlogging.’
‘Veeeeeery funny.’
‘I mean it.’ He laughed. ‘Seriously. People are really interested in what goes on behind the scenes of a hotel like this one. Now that you’ve swotted up on it a bit, I reckon you’d be the best person to show it off. Not giving away its secrets, obviously,’ he added.
‘Cal, are you saying that people might actually be interested in my life?’
‘Those weren’t my exact words.’ He grinned. ‘I think it would be fun.’
‘That’s a really cool idea, Flick,’ Sky piped up. ‘I’d watch it. Maybe I’d be lucky enough to have a guest spot on it when I’m next in town.’
‘It’s a great idea,’ Olly agreed. ‘I think you should go for it.’
‘And me!’ Grace said. ‘We can help you come up with ideas and launch it after Christmas.’
I smiled. ‘OK. I’ll think about it.’
As we waited for the fireworks to start, I looked down the line of friends sitting with me: at Sky laughing with a star-struck Grace as they attempted to huddle under the one jacket; at Olly, who was rubbing his hands together to keep them warm, his dark eyes twinkling under those boy-band-worthy eyelashes; and then at Cal, who leaned back on his elbows, before reminiscing out loud about the robot I had broken, even though no one was really listening to him. It really was a weird little crew I had assembled up here.
Olly nudged me. ‘What is it? You keep staring at everyone with a strange look on your face.’
‘Nothing,’ I replied quickly. ‘It’s just . . . I guess a lot of things have changed recently.’
‘Change can be good sometimes.’ He nodded, looking out at the view. ‘Of course, not all the time. For example, I think that I speak for everyone when I say, we really miss that strut of yours. You should bring that back.’
I whacked him on the arm as he grinned mischievously.
Suddenly there was a loud swishing, whistling noise as the fireworks launched through the air, lighting up the night sky.
‘Just like I said in my feature, Flick,’ Cal said softly, as we all sat in silence, captivated by the spectacle. ‘There really is no place like your home.’
‘You know what, Cal Weston –’ I smiled, as millions of twinkling lights of all different colours exploded above our heads – ‘for once, I might just have to agree with you.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Huge thanks to my wonderful friend and agent, Lauren Gardner, who is always there, every step of the way. I am so grateful to you and the Bell Lomax Moreton team, who made all this possible in the first place.
I’m very proud to be part of the Egmont publishing team. Special thanks to Lindsey, Rachel, Liz, Ali and Emily; I have been so lucky to have your invaluable guidance. And to Alice, Rhiannon, Emily and Siobhan who make me look a lot better than I am. Seriously, guys, #SquadGoals.
To my family, thank you for all your incredible support and for constantly cheering me on. You are truly the best and I will always look up to you. That obviously includes the Labradors.
To my perfect godson Sam and the beautiful new additions to our family, Luke and Lily – you bring us all so much joy and laughter. I have hundreds of videos of you all so that I can embarrass you with them when you grow up. Mwahaha.
Huge thanks
to my genius friends for your continuing inspiration. Strong friendship is a major theme in all my books. Hey, they say you should write what you know. Couldn’t do any of this without you losers, you know who you are.
Thanks to the brilliant team at Stir Coffee in Brixton. Your coffee keeps me writing.
The idea for this book was sparked when I stayed at The Ritz, London – I was in awe of the magic of it all. Special thanks to the passionate team there for inspiring this series.
And the biggest thanks of all to my readers. Without you, I couldn’t do what I love every day. I owe you one. As always, I hope this book makes you smile.
Q & A with Secrets of a Teenage Heiress
author, Katy Birchall
Which of your heroines do you have more in common with – Anna from The It Girl: Superstar Geek or Flick from Hotel Royale: Secrets of a Teenage Heiress?
Taking into consideration the number of embarrassing situations she manages to get herself into, I’d be lying if I didn’t say Anna!
I have quite a similar thought process to her, and certainly grew up with the same lack of self-esteem, always worrying over the tiniest of things. Anna’s friendship with Jess, who is constantly teasing her, is similar to the relationship I have with my best friends – making fun of one another is our way of showing we care, there’s none of that soppy malarkey!
Flick is much more confident in herself, which I think is marvellous, and I’ve absolutely LOVED writing a character who thinks so differently from me. She’s so much fun.
Do you know any real dogs as stylish as Fritz?
Unfortunately, I don’t know any who have quite so extensive a wardrobe, BUT I do know a lot of pampered pooches. I was dog-sitting a couple of dogs recently who not only sleep in bed with their owner, but they also have the poshest food I’ve ever seen. One example was chicken pâté with brown rice and garden vegetables. They are so cute, though, they totally deserve it.
Secrets of a Teenage Heiress Page 19
