by Linda West
"Oh, I don't need to hurry off," she drawled. "I thought we'd bury the hatchet. I'm glad to see you looking well."
I bit my lip. No thanks to you. She had left me to die.
I tight smiled.
"Well, thanks for checking on me," I lied. "But I really do have so much to do before the ball. Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
Sissy drank her glass of champagne as if she had all the time in the world. She perched on our big bed and studied me as she swallowed.
I glanced at her, but all I could see were images of Devlin's warm body, and mine nestled into that big love bed. I tore my gaze away when I heard a loud bang!
We all turned to see the bedroom door fling wide open, and Sissy's two giant white poodles came stampeding into the room.
Of course, they leaped all over me, leaving little tear marks all over my new robe.
I looked down, dismayed.
Jeeves came over to help me, but I noticed one of the dogs had got into the closet and was pulling my chauffeur uniform out of the back!
I ran over and stuck my foot on the uniform and tried to shut the door.
I should have known I was no match for two giant poodles.
Before I knew it, they gang-jumped me and knocked me over. I lost my balance, and as I desperately grasped for something to stop my fall, I toppled most of the hangers from my closet and took them down with me in a blaze of designer duds. I landed with a thump on the expensive Persian rug.
Jeeves was beside himself trying to shoo them out, but they had doubled down on dog crazy and were barking and running around the suite out of control.
I glanced fearfully back at the closet–but my uniform was safely out of sight for now. Phew.
I crawled over to the closet on all fours and attempted to retrieve my new clothes that were now littered all over the floor.
I heard growling and looked over to see the poodles having an all-out tug-of-war with my red ball gown!
I jumped up to my feet like Olga Korbit.
"No! Oh, no!” I prayed to God they wouldn't rip it." Sissy, help!"
She sipped her champagne from the bed like she was watching a reality TV show. Jeeves rushed over to my aid, but it was too late.
An eerie RIPPPPPPPPPP! resounded through the room and my ball gown tore right in half.
I closed my eyes, moaned, and blew out my breath.
Each of the poodles now held half my dress in their mouths triumphantly. The bright red fragments draped from their canines.
Sissy clapped her hands, and the two poodles jumped to obey her. They spat out the remnants of my dead gown on the floor and sat upright like perfect soldiers on command, looking at Sissy for their next move.
I looked from them to her.
"Are you kidding me? You could have just clapped your darn hands? What? Why?"
Sissy sauntered out of the room with a self-satisfied smirk and the dogs at her heels.
"See you at the ball."
Chapter 38
I caught up to Sissy just as she was almost out of the door. I stepped on her flared pant bottom, and she fell back into my room flat on her back.
She looked up at me like a fish I had pulled out and flung on my boat.
I straddled her and motioned for Jeeves to leave the scene. He rushed out and shut the door.
I looked down at Sissy sprawled on the ground and saw the fear in her eyes. Good. She should be afraid.
I pointed my finger in her face. "I know you are undermining Devlin and I know you are lying about your father."
She tried to struggle up, but I dropped to my knees and pinned down both her arms.
"And you almost killed me."
Sissy went to open her mouth, and I dead-eyed her. "Don't you dare," I hissed out in my best Slytherin imitation. "Here's the deal. I'm done with your rotten spoiled attitude. If you do one more thing to Devlin or me, I swear you will not believe the Stephen King horror I am capable of releasing." I double pointed to my big googly eyes.
She struggled again, and I glared at her with said crazy eyes. "Don't forget. I'm from Jersey."
I let her go, and she scampered out of the room. My breath whistled out in a low rumble and I shut the door with a slam for effect. Well that was classy. Pinning my fake fiancé’s sister to the ground like I was Hulk Hogan. In my defense, I'm pretty sure there wasn't any instruction on how to deal with an evil sister in the etiquette videos.
******
I had no idea what I was going to do. I held up the two pieces of the gown like they were kryptonite and showed them to Chef Pierre in the kitchen.
He wiped his hands on his apron and looked at me with a sad face. "Ooh, la la! What has happened here?" He said in his heavy French accent.
"Poodles."
Just then, the twin poodles came running through the kitchen with Sissy's youngest son, Adam. They squealed and romped.
Pierre looked at the dogs. "I see."
"Devlin picked it out special. Do you think Mrs. n might be able to work some of her sewing magic?"
Mrs. Albright had been with the Somersets as long as Jeeves. She oversaw the maids and seemed able to cope with any problem. I wondered if she had a miracle in her pocket for me.
"I hope so, Chérie," he said, looking at the ripped pieces and shaking his head. "Ooh, and Halston, too…my favorite."
Mrs. Albright was in the utility room overseeing the laundry when I came in with my mopey face, and she turned to me with her brows knit.
"What's wrong?"
Pierre and I each held up a piece of the ripped gown. She brought both her hands to her face and shook her head.
"I'll do my best, miss" she said, looking back and forth between the two pieces of my dress.
Just then, I caught sight of a bright red tower bobbing happily down the hall. It belonged to none other than Carol Landers. She was making her way toward us with her red beehive waving back and forth jauntily. It was nice to see her friendly face.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt you all, but we left some of our rolling pins here, and Ethel's having a conniption. I thought I'd stop over pick them up before she complained all through Christmas morning." She smiled brightly.
"Good to see you up and about, doing well, Allie. Devlin well?"
I nodded.
"Yes. Thank you, Carol, and to your husband, Dr. Archibald. You are both so kind."
She glanced at the dress and Mrs. Albright in front of the sewing machine shaking her head.
"Doing some sewing?"
"Not exactly," I said. "More like mending."
She took in the situation, and Carol's eyebrows rose. "Oh my, I see there's been a death in the family."
I nodded. "It was my gown for tonight; I don't have the heart to tell Devlin that I don't have anything suitable to wear to the Mistletoe Ball. It means so much to him."
Aunt Carol picked up the house phone to make a call. "I think I might be able to help you."
Chapter 39
Carol's niece hugged us and welcomed us into her cozy household.
Her lovely home was filled with Christmas delights. The aroma of cookies baking and the homemade Christmas decorations felt like a beam of sunshine in the middle of winter.
The beautiful woman sat us down and went to the kitchen to grab some spiced cider she had made.
"Your niece is Summer Landers?" I whispered to Carol.
She nodded. "Summer Anderson now."
I recognized Summer Landers Anderson from her makeup billboards, commercials, and, of course, her famous Sports Illustrated covers.
She was beaming that star smile at us now as she returned with our cider and juggled an adorable baby at her hip. The infant had big blue eyes and tufts of white hair.
I couldn't help but think how Devlin's hair had been that color when he was a child. Now it was raven black–I stopped myself from dwelling on Devlin and children and focused on my plight.
"My Aunt Carol says you're in need of a fairy godmother?" Summer smiled at me ki
ndly.
I looked at them, confused.
Summer set a plate of cookies in front of us. "A dance to go to and no dress? That is a problem."
"Actually, it's a super fancy ball." I frowned.
"Oooh, then we need a ballgown!" Her stunning blue eyes opened wide.
Summer winked at her aunt.
"You've come to the right place."
She looked me over quickly. "Size Two?"
I nodded.
Within moments, Summer glided out of the room and returned with a dress on a hanger, a clear protector over it.
"I think this will do nicely. They let me keep a lot of the outfits from my shoot. It's a Vanderloo."
I had no idea who Vanderloo was, but I knew I was in heaven when I put on that dress.
I spun around in the mirror, and the gown floated about me like golden clouds and swirls of cream meringue.
I stood in front of the mirror and marveled at myself. It was like a dream–or someone else's life. I reached up and touched my cascading locks and the golden sash that highlighted my waist.
When I moved, little sequins of lights bounced everywhere. I had never looked this good in my life.
My light hair with this cream gown looked angelic, and when I moved, it sent out golden stardust and sparkles.
I gasped. "I can't believe how beautiful this is! Thank you so very much!”
Carol and Summer were all smiles. Carol put a finger to her mouth and glanced at Summer. "It's missing something, don't you think?"
I glanced at the mirror. I looked good to me.
I heard somebody bounding up the stairs and turned to see Ethel Landers appear breathless at the door.
"I brought it!" she said triumphantly as she held up a tiara in her hand.
Ethel came over and placed it on my head.
The tiara was delicate and simple, and it was sprinkled with diamonds.
I caught my breath. I turned to the group for approval, and the three Landers ladies clapped with glee.
Carol smiled. "Oh my, it's a good thing Devlin is already in love with you, because if he weren't, I swear he would drop down on his knee tonight after seeing you!"
Devlin on his knee.
That made me smile.
The arrogant sexiest man of the year groveling at my slippers. It was a delicious thought.
Chapter 40
Ethel glanced at the time and clapped her hands as if she were a coach.
"Okay, gang. We have to get moving and go over and help Dodie at the cookie contest before she gets swarmed." She turned to me. "And it's time for you to get to the ball. Do you have everything, darling?"
I looked at my fairy godmothers. "I can't thank you enough. But I do have one last favor. Do you think you can drop me back at the Chalet on the way? We came in the bakery van and…"
Ethel waved a hand. "Oh, darling, we've got that covered. You are not going to the Mistletoe Ball in that dress in our bakery van!"
I looked at Summer and Carol, and they were shaking their heads and smiling mischievously.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Summer opened it.
A young couple stood dressed in matching old-fashioned coachmen outfits. The young man bowed. "Your chariot awaits."
My mouth dropped, and Devlin wasn’t here to close it. Ethel clapped me on the back "We couldn't find a pumpkin at such short notice, but I could find my daughter-in-law Elle and her husband Dayton who happen to run the stables up at Eagle’s Point."
Behind the couple waited a stunning white carriage rimmed in gold and twinkly lights. Attached to it were four white horses with golden bridals and festive red plumes shooting out of their headgear. I gasped and brought my hands to my face.
"Don't cry!" Ethel said. "You'll ruin your makeup!"
I choked back the tears, remembering Devlin saying the same thing.
She wrapped me in a big embrace. "You're going to be the belle of the ball, Allie."
I held on tight, and it felt good to hug her. It was amazing what good friends they had become in such a short while. I looked past Ethel at the Cinderella sleigh and felt as if I were sleepwalking in a dream. This was the kind of stuff that happened to other girls—not to me. I was just a girl from Jersey trying to save some trees.
Dayton held his hand out to escort me, and Summer draped a fake white fur stole around me at the last minute and gave me a reassuring pat.
I slipped into the magical carriage and settled into the red seat. Is this how Meghan Markle felt? I looked back at the Landers and waved.
I wiped away a lone tear with the handkerchief Ethel had slipped me. I was playing the perfect part of a fairytale princess, but I was the only one that knew this wasn't a fairytale, it was a lie.
Tomorrow when I woke, this game was all going to be over. I'd go home to Jersey, and Devlin and I would never have any reason to talk again.
I took a deep breath and looked down at my sparkling gown. But it wasn't going to be over until I made a heck of a splash at the Mistletoe Ball.
Chapter 41
The ballroom was exquisite. I had watched the goings-on from my window as a child, but now I was here. It was like falling into a fantasy movie.
I gazed around at the splendor and glitz and the stately guests dressed in sleek low cutting gowns much like the chic dress Devlin had initially picked out for me.
All the men were stunning in their tuxes. Mistletoe hung from the rafters, and a full orchestra played from the side.
Jeeves rang a golden bell and beamed at me. "Miss Allie of New Jersey!" he called out to the crowd, my arrival.
The crowd turned as one and looked at me.
I lifted my head as I entered the room. The crowd began to murmur. I felt a blush creep up as people stopped talking and stared at me.
I smiled and cast my eyes about, looking for Devlin. I spotted him next to his father in deep conversation. He looked up, drawn by the buzz, and his eyes opened wide.
He sauntered across the ballroom with a smile on his face.
He slowly perused me with his gaze. I took a deep breath. I hoped I made him proud.
He held out his hand. I realized everyone had stopped talking and were looking at us. I gulped.
Devlin leaned in and whispered,
"We are the guests of honor as we are announcing our engagement." He winked at me. "It's a tradition; we dance first."
I looked around the room, and my head was swimming. Diamonds, gowns, servants, flowers. Devlin took my hand and led me onto the dance floor and pulled me close.
"Breathe, Allie. Breathe." I tried. "Just lean into me and remember what we practiced." I clung to him gladly.
"I'm sorry about the dress you picked out for me," I mumbled as the music started and he embraced me tighter.
"You look amazing," he whispered in my ear, like a caress. I blushed and swallowed. Why was it suddenly so important what Devlin Somerset thought of me? Darn tree killer.
The chandelier light bounced off the ceiling, and my dress, as Devlin swirled me around expertly.
"You're doing great, Allie,” he said, and beamed at me with a genuine smile.
I caught my breath and avoided his eyes. This was making me feel something odd. My stomach felt rumbly, and I was finding it hard to speak. I put my head on his shoulder and moved with the dance.
I was still in a daze when the music ended, and Devlin pulled back to gaze into my eyes.
"I have wonderful news, Allie. And it's all because of you."
Allie. The way he said my name, like an embrace instead of an insult. I looked up at him. It must have been the lights, but he was looking at me differently.
"So, you found a new dress." Sissy's icy voice cut in like a dagger. I dropped Devlin's hands, and the moment was gone. Lord, it was Christmas. Help me be forgiving.
"Too bad it's not at all in fashion this season," Sissy continued.
Carol Landers and Dr. Archibald appeared out of nowhere just in time to hear Sissy's barb. I bre
athed a sigh of relief to see their kind faces.
Carol made a big to-do about me, as if she hadn't been there the whole time I was dressing.
"You look stunning, Allie. Your hair, that dress– dare I say, is that a Vanderloo?"
Sissy gasped and leaned over to look closer. "A Vanderloo?" She stared at my dress in awe. "I've been on his waiting list for five years!"
She eyed me up and down with new respect, and Carol winked.
Devlin waved to the orchestra, and they began playing a new song.
"Excuse me," he said to the group. "But I think this is our dance, darling." He held out his arm for me.
Anything to get away from Sissy. I waved to Carol and the doctor and planted myself securely in Devlin's arms.
He swept me into the center of the exquisite ballroom and whisked me about the room to the beautiful tune. "I love this music," I began to say, and then it dawned on me. I knew this song. I looked up at Devlin, and he was smiling at me.
"Is this from the Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella soundtrack?"
Devlin nodded.
"I thought you hated this," I said.
"You love it, though, right?"
I nodded, confused. As if he'd ever cared what I wanted before.
Devlin was the picture of a gallant gentleman as he twirled me about the dance floor like a pro. My dress billowed around me, and I felt like a princess.
"I have wonderful news, Allie, and it's all because of you." He beamed his dynamic smile at me and pulled me in close, then dipped me backward dramatically. I caught my breath and was thankful I took those yoga classes that allowed me to be contorted like this without passing gas.
His gray eyes bore into mine.
"I can't tell you how happy you've made me, and I can't wait to share the news with you when we're alone." He squeezed both my hands, and I couldn't help but smile ear to ear. "Now I want to make you happy. I requested this song, especially for you."
