“You deserve it Ally.” She smiled and drew her into a hug. “Besides you need something bold to catch his eye,” she winked.
“Who’s eye?” Ally asked feigning innocence.
“The man of your dreams,” Adele looked her square in the eye “you are destined to be together Ally.”
Ally was stunned. “What?” she asked. That was the second time she had been told that.
“I have decided you need someone like him and he needs someone like you.” Adele laughed.
“Doesn’t he get some say in this?”
“Yes and no.”
What a strange answer, Ally thought. “Let’s just see what happens. I might think he is a total jerk.”
Adele laughed. “You won’t.”
Ally focused her attention back on the dress and took it from her grandmother as if it was sacred. “This dress…” she let the words hang in the air.
“Was made for you darling. He won’t be able to resist you.”
“I don’t know, Gran. You are still beautiful, he might lavish his attentions on you,” she joked.
In all seriousness, Ally thought her grandmother was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Even though she was into her mid-sixties, if Ally didn’t know better she would say that Adele wasn’t a day over forty. Her long brown locks still reached half way down her back. She refused to cut it saying, “Women are supposed to have long hair.” Her grandmother could be very old school sometimes. With bright violet eyes that still shined as if they belonged to a newborn babe but with the intelligence of Einstein. Her ivory skin had very few wrinkles and appeared to be almost as smooth as Ally’s was. Given the age difference it was remarkable. Ally hoped she had inherited whatever gene was responsible for that.
“Oh pish posh girl!” Adele giggled, “I’m far too young for him.”
“Young? Don’t you mean old?” Ally asked a bit confused.
Adele looked at her mysteriously and then answered, “Young at heart, my girl. Besides he is too serious for me.”
“He isn’t too serious is he?” Ally asked suddenly concerned. Perfect, he is a bore she thought.
“No I just like my man to have an inner goof ball.” Adele laughed.
“Hmm…Grandpa definitely fitted the bill then.”
“Yeah Grandpa,” she answered distractedly.
Not noticing her grandmother’s mental departure from the room Ally remarked, “It has been so long since I wore a dress,” as she was hugging the dress over her figure in front of the full length mirror getting an idea of what the dress would look like on.
“Far too long if you ask me,” Adele huffed, “but tonight we shall change that.”
Ally looked at her grandmother and rolled her eyes but Adele was taken aback by what she saw. Happiness, excitement and nervousness were shining through Ally’s eyes. It had been so long since Adele had seen anything but sorrow, loneliness and confusion reflected back at her. James is already working his magic and he doesn’t even know it yet, she thought smiling to herself.
“Now run along and relax before tonight. Go lose yourself in that book you have been dying to read.”
“Thanks Gran.”
“You’re very welcome sweetie. Go relax. I will bring up another coffee soon.”
Ally picked up the latest historical romance she had acquired. She had found that there was nothing more relaxing than losing herself in a good book. Alessandra had a weakness for historical romances. Some days she was convinced she had been born in the wrong century, she would have been more suited to the days when men were chivalrous, women wore beautiful dresses and everybody rode horses everywhere. It sounded magical to Ally who just happened to love all those things.
It was one of the reasons she had loved her grandmother’s annual masquerade balls. She always felt like she was transported back to another century for the evening. Adele shared Ally’s love of all things historical. She used to tell her the most romantic stories about a warrior and his love in Scotland. They were so real that if she didn’t know better she would swear her Gran was telling her about something she had personally experienced.
“Hmm reading in bed or the armchair?” Ally pondered aloud.
She lit the fireplace in her room and got snuggled into the armchair with a blanket just as her grandmother brought her a cup of coffee and a melting moment.
Ally beamed at her Gran. “Aw thanks Gran! Melting moment and all.”
“Enjoy sweetie.”
She got stuck into her book, coffee and biscuit.
A few hours later, Ally was feeling so relaxed she was in a state of bliss and decided to move over to the bed to stretch out for a bit. Before she knew what had happened, she was sound asleep, dreaming of far off lands, chivalrous men on horses, ball gowns and parties.
Adele crept into the room a couple of hours later and was sitting beside her on the bed. It was tempting to leave her sleeping. Ally looked so peaceful and content, something she didn’t see very often in her granddaughter these days, but she knew Ally would want time to get ready.
The fact that Ally also remembered Vincent’s name troubled her. Maybe James was right and this was a bad idea, but what’s done is done and she’s finding out the truth tonight anyway, Adele thought.
She gently nudged Ally, “Time to wake up sweetheart.”
Ally opened her eyes slowly and stretched, “Gran?”
“Time to get up.”
“Oh, what time is it?”
“It’s just on four so you have plenty of time.”
“Thanks,” Ally said still trying to fight of the fogginess of sleep.
“Go have a bath and take your time getting ready.”
“Thanks.” Ally paused, “When is Kat getting here?”
“She will be here in about an hour so you girls have time to catch up before the party.”
Ally nodded and got up out of bed.
Adele was about to leave the room, when she turned around saying, “I have invited someone here tonight who I think Kat may be interested in. They would make a wonderful couple. Her life might even cease to exist as she knows it.”
Ally stopped dead in her tracks and looked right at her grandmother, “What did you say?”
“That I invited someone for Kat.”
“No you said that her life might cease to exist as she knows it.”
Adele moved back towards Ally. “Is everything alright sweetie?”
“Oh god, it’s happening again.”
“What’s happening again?”
“The predictions,” Ally said as she sank down onto the bed. “The predictions are starting again.”
“Predictions?” Adele’s eyes lit up as she realised Ally was talking about Madame Isabella’s predictions all those years ago.
“Yeah,” Ally answered distractedly.
“You never did tell me what was said.”
“To be honest, I just wanted to forget about it and pretend it never happened.” Ally could feel the panic swelling within, threatening to consume her.
“If you want to tell me I will listen but if not I won’t push it.” She paused, “If there was something that I needed to know you would tell me though, wouldn’t you?”
Ally snapped out of herself, aware that she was probably freaking her grandmother out. “Yeah of course, I’m sorry Gran. I didn’t mean to worry you I was just caught off guard.”
“That’s ok sweetie. Just know I’m here for you.”
Ally didn’t know what she would do without her Gran, she was so accepting of everything. “Thank you.”
“Now, go have that bath and get ready.” Adele smiled and headed for the door calling over her shoulder “And wear your hair down, curled towards the bottom and down. I think it will complement the dress perfectly.”
“Oh, let me guess, he likes girls with long dark hair falling freely,” Ally quipped.
“Perhaps, try it and see what happens,” Adele said mysteriously as she left.
Running her hands thro
ugh her hair she went to the bathroom and turned on the water. It’s just a coincidence she thought, but look what happened last time I went with that theory…
She went back out to the bedroom and laid the dress on her bed then spotted Coco, her little cavalier dozing away on her pillow. On seeing her puppy, she changed her mind and decided to hang the dress over the door. Ally loved her baby girl but she could not be trusted with clothes. It seemed that dogs found clothes a wonderful sleeping place. The newer and cleaner, the more desirable it became to Coco.
Chapter Five
AN HOUR LATER, ALESSANDRA EMERGED FROM her room, looking nothing short of a goddess in search of her god. Her long raven locks fell half way down her back with the curls beginning near her shoulders. The dress looked as though she had been poured into it and it gave her the confidence boost she needed for tonight.
Alessandra felt beautiful. She had decided on a smoky eye shadow to bring her vivid green eyes further into focus and scarlet lip gloss to match the dress. It was an ethereal otherworldly effect that she had mastered. For some reason she was drawn to it and it felt right to look this way. She felt more graceful, her posture had straightened, and something else she couldn’t put her finger on had changed.
“It couldn’t all be the dress…Could it?” She thought aloud as she left her room.
Descending the steps with the grace and stealth of a jungle cat, she felt her senses were more alert tonight. These balls always seemed to have a magical effect on her but never before had she felt like this.
At the end of the stairs, she made her way to the kitchen and found Adele and Kat sitting at the table in their ball gowns. Kat was in an elaborate jade green silk creation in a similar style to hers that made her blue eyes sparkle and her auburn hair shine. She had naturally curly hair that had been pulled and twisted up loosely on top of her head. Adele was in a deep violet ball gown that matched her eyes perfectly with her long dark hair pulled up in an extravagant creation and she had a matching violet mask. They both had a stunning natural look and they were engrossed in deep conversation. It appeared the ladies were also knee deep in scheming something that involved her.
“What are you both up to?” Ally asked. They both visibly jumped. “Bit skittish ladies. What mischief are you planning?” Ally was smirking with clear enjoyment.
Kat jumped up from the table threw her arms around Ally. “You look incredible, Ally!”
“Thanks, you look gorgeous too.”
Kat blushed. “Thanks. Adele said there someone she wanted me to meet so I made an extra effort.”
“Well you look amazing. He is a very lucky man.”
Adele shared a look with her granddaughter. “You look breathtaking Alessandra.” Her eyes had misted over with unshed tears.
Now it was Ally’s turn to blush. “Thank you. It’s the dress.”
“Oh pish posh! You have always been beautiful, you just never saw it.” Adele said with a big smile to them both. “Now you girls take a glass of champagne each and get caught up.” She handed each of them a glass. “I will call you when your perspective suitors arrive. Now off you go.”
Kat took Ally’s arm just like old times and started dragging her towards the veranda. “Come on, I want the gossip on this man Adele was telling me about.”
So Gran didn’t mention the name, she thought.
“And what about you, there is some suitor lined up for you as well,” Ally laughed.
They took a seat at one of the many tables that had been set up for the evening.
Ally looked around her. The lawns were decorated with fairy lights and the big white silk tent stood tall and proud in the middle of the magical garden.
Despite the cold, it was beautiful outside and Gran had ordered enough outdoor heaters to melt the Antarctic which didn’t hurt either. The cool crisp breeze that flowed past, tickled her back into reality.
Kat was looking at her expectantly. “So who is this god? It all sounds very romantic. You have met before but were kept apart by circumstances.”
Ally looked at her curiously. “What has my grandmother been telling you?”
“Just that,” Kat was curious now as well.
“Yes I met him once before. The morning that my parents…” her voice trailed off for a moment. “But I never saw him again so that part is true. However, as far as I know we haven’t been kept apart by circumstances,” Ally said with an amused smile.
“She always was a good story teller,” Kat laughed. “What is his name?”
“Well…this is the part where I expect you to run screaming towards the hills.” She looked at Kat trying to predict what the reaction would be when she revealed his name.
“Why would I do that?” She was genuinely puzzled.
“It’s a name you have heard before.”
She started to say something then Ally saw the wheels turning in Kat’s head as the pieces of the puzzle all started fitting into place and then the comprehension hit. “Oh, you mean…the man that Madame Isabella predicted was your guardian and soulmate?”
She’s still here, that’s a good start Ally thought. “James Carlisle.”
“You met him,” her face was alive with excitement again. “You met him and you didn’t tell me Alessandra!”
“Well no, not as such.”
“Why not? We never hid anything from each other?” Kat said sounding a little hurt.
“Because it freaked me out, and I thought that if it freaked me out then what would you think?”
“Oh Ally. I have stood by you through thick and thin haven’t I?”
“Yes, it was me that became distant.” She looked at Kat, “I’m sorry. I just didn’t know how to deal with everything so I hid from everyone.”
Kat put her arm around Ally. “No one would know how to deal with what happened to you honey. I’m just glad that I’m back in your life.” Kat said as she drew her friend in for a hug. “I have missed you.”
“I missed you too Kat.”
“No more secrets ok. Even if you think it is going to freak me out, you must tell me.”
“Ok I promise.” Ally smiled at her newly returned best friend.
“So tell me about James,” she said with a smile, full of glee and excitement.
“There isn’t much to tell yet. All I know is that he is gorgeous, there was a definite spark and that he is apparently a friend of the family.”
“So fair he sounds great,” She paused as if deciding whether to ask the obvious or not. “Ally, what was he doing there that morning?”
“That’s where things start getting freaky again.”
“I’m listening.” Kat leaned closer in anticipation.
Ally smiled at her then proceeded with caution. “Well it seems that Madame was right on a few things. My parents died, I met James and there was a secret.” She let the words hang in the air for a moment.
“What?” her best friend was clearly shocked and intrigued.
“I don’t know what it was though. My parents said they would tell me in the morning. Then when I woke up and found Gran and James in the kitchen, she told me that he was invited by my parents, because they had something to tell me and I assume it involved him somehow.”
Kat’s mouth was hanging open.
“You’re catching flies,” Ally joked.
“Oh please, you just tell me all that and expect me not to have my mouth hanging open,” she laughed with a twinkle in her eye. “So what does that mean? Is it something to do with this prophecy? Did they know about it? There are so many questions”
Ally let out a sigh. “Far too many questions that I fear will never be answered.”
“But that can’t be right. Madame Isabella said when your parents died it will have begun.”
“You’re right. But what has begun? She wasn’t really clear on all that.” Ally answered.
“No, of course not, “she said laughing. “They never are. Well my girl, it seems we have a mystery to solve.”
“Re
ally?”
“Yes really! I’m appalled Ally, you’re a private investigator and you’re not investigating your own mystery.” That twinkle of mischief was back in Kat’s eyes.
“Isn’t the point of my job to investigate other people?”
“Well yes obviously, but put your skills to use for yourself, you goose.”
Ally rolled her eyes. “I have been investigating mum and dad’s case, it doesn’t add up to me but I never thought to check up on my own mystery. I guess in some ways, I don’t want to know. Who knows what I might find myself in the middle of? This unknown man gives me the creeps.”
“There would be something wrong with you if it didn’t. But wouldn’t it be better to be prepared?” Kat pointed out.
“Yes it would be,” Ally sighed defeated. “But what if it doesn’t come true.”
Kat looked at Ally as if she had two heads.
“Ok fair point. So where do we start Miss Kathryn?”
“I say we start with the facts. Your parents knew, so wouldn’t Adele know?”
“I asked her but she said that she didn’t know what they were going to tell me.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I think so. I have no reason not to trust her.” Ally said as she was thinking about the possibility, maybe her grandmother did know more that she said.
“What about James?”
“What about him?” Ally asked.
“He is involved in this prophecy and he was searching for you, so in theory he would know what is going on?”
“Yeah that’s a possibility but how do I find out. I can’t just walk up and say hey what’s this prophecy business about?”
“It’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had,” Kat laughed.
“Very funny.”
“Use your detective skills, Ally.”
Ally nodded vaguely. “So tell me about your man?”
“Subtle change,” Kathryn laughed. “I don’t know much just that he is tall, dark and handsome according to Adele.”
“Good start though,” Ally replied.
“It is, isn’t it,” Kat smirked.
“Does Romeo have a name?”
“Chase Callaghan.”
“Is he Scottish?”
Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) Page 5
