Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1) (30 page)

‘There’s another bottle in the cabinet to your left,’
Anthony said without turning around. ‘Mr Harte thought you might need it.’

Eva contemplated taking offence, but she just smiled. Julian was right. She really did need it, but she needed him more.

              ‘Whatcha thinking?’ Nathan asked randomly.

Eva hadn’t noticed the lack of conversation. Or that she had been staring out the window for the past ten minutes.

‘Sorry, just nervous - you know.’

‘Nothing to be nervous about.’ Nathan took her hand in his and kissed her palm. ‘We’ll have a great night.
Fuck the haters and the bull-shitters.’

Eva exhaled. ‘Yeah, fuck them.’

‘That’s the spirit. Now pour the booze.’

             
By the end of the second bottle, Nathan was looking rather glass eyed and Eva wondered how much further this place was. They seemed to be driving forever. They’d turned off the motorway ages ago and now there were no street lights and minimal road markings.

‘Eh
Anthony,’ Eva said, leaning forward. ‘Where are we?’

‘Almost there,’ he replied. Eva could hear him smile. ‘Just at the end of this road. Look
, you can see the gates from here.’

Eva stared out the window. All she could see was the full moon shining down on huge trees in the open countryside. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable about their isolation when large granite pillars
, elongated by low stone clad walls, came into view.

             
They pulled into the huge open mouth of the driveway and Anthony got out of the car, chatted briefly with the security guard and waited as the enormous wrought iron gates swung slowly open before sitting back into the car.

             
‘Looks nice,’ Nathan said as the car began to move again.

Eva sat silently as the car followed the contours of the long, sweeping, drive. Falling darkness was pierced by the light of evenly-spaced, tall, ivory lanterns at the edge of precisely manicured gardens
, that seemed to stretch back for eternity.

             
‘Oh. Holy. Shit,’ Eva whispered to herself as her eyes couldn’t take in the enormous mansion in front of them in a single blink. The limo circled a huge fountain just in front of the house and stopped opposite the main door. Eva knew from the invitation, requesting the pleasure of their company at an evening of splendour and entertainment, that she should have high expectations, but this, this amazing place, was mind blowing.

             
Eva savoured the crunch of her shoes as she stepped out of the car. Nathan walked around the back of the car and took her hand like a princess. She threw her eyes up the ridiculous amount of solid concrete steps leading to the open main doors and looked pitifully back down at her new and beautiful Louboutin shoes. She smiled at the irony. She was in a stunning wonderland dressed in the most elaborate dress imaginable, and she had to climb a small mountain to get inside.

             
Eva heard the engine of the limo start again and she looked back to see Anthony drive away. Christ there was no turning back. She gulped painfully and tried not to wobble in her stilettos.

             
‘Name.’ A large man in a black tuxedo demanded as they approached the doors. His hand was raised and his palm was turned towards them. Eva didn’t think it was possible to feel more nervous, but she discovered she’d just been scratching the surface before now.

‘Nathan
Shields and Evangeline Andrews,’ Nathan answered.

The man leaned back until Eva was certain he would fall over. He was checking with someone hidden behind the doors.

‘Good evening, Mr Shields. Welcome.’ The man stepped aside to let Nathan pass.

Nathan linked Eva’s arm and she wrapped her fingers tight around him.

‘Sorry Miss. You’re not on the list.’

Eva stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart raced until it hurt. Silence hung in the air for what felt like eternity.

A huge grin crept across the man’s face and he began to chuckle.

‘You should see your face. I’m just having a laugh. Do come inside.’

Eva didn’t find it funny.

Nathan pulled her closer to him. For a second
, she let herself relax into his arms.

Inside was as beautiful as Eva expected. A huge, sweeping, marble staircase took over most of the foyer. She looked up to take in the view of the massive, overhead balcony. She scanned the landing and couldn’t’ help wonder what was up there. Her stare was drawn back to the heavy silver chain linked across the mouth of the stairs; clearly anything beyond that point was out of bounds. She forgot her curiosity when Nathan’s hand pressed on the small of her back, leading her to one side.

             
Eva heard her name squealed excitedly in the distance and growing closer. Someone pounced on her, grabbed both her hands and spun her around.

‘Oh my fucking
God. You look incredible.’

She was wearing her mask already. It was pretty, deep burgundy and it sparkled with lots of coloured glitter. A long
, black cape with oversized hood covered her from head to toe. Eva smiled. She recognised her friend’s voice straight away. Just knowing Shelly was there, instantly helped her relax.

             
‘It’s awesome here, isn’t it?’ Shelly was physically bouncing up and down on the spot with childlike excitement.

Eva flashed a toothy grin. ‘It’s fab, yeah.’ She was only half listening. Her subconscious was watching Nathan as he chatted with the girl behind a large
, oak table that acted as the reception desk for the evening. Eva had never been to a masquerade ball before, but she’d guessed seeing everyone behind a mask would be different, but what the hell was the cape all about? Shelly was in total disguise. It wasn’t just different, it was bloody weird.

             
Nathan returned with two glasses of champagne and some folded garments in his hand. A huge satisfied grin lit up the lower half of his face and emphasised his dark blue mask with a hand drawn, black and white eagle on the left side. It was really rather good and Eva smiled, learning that Nathan was obviously very artistic.

             
‘It’s time,’ he announced like they were about to take a giant step into the unknown. And to Eva, in that moment, that’s exactly what it felt like. She recognised the fabric in his hand; it was the same as the cape Shelly wore.

‘Here’s yours,’ Nathan said, shaking out the long black silk and draping it over Eva
’s shoulders before she had a chance to protest.

It was soft and comfortable and she hated to admit it, even to herself, but the anonymity gave her a strange confidence. Eva rummaged in her rucksack for her mas
k, hoping no one would notice that she was the only one not collecting hers at reception. She tried to ignore how flushed her cheeks were by the bags frayed edges and out of place appearance.

             
‘Jesus, you came prepared. What do you have in there? The kitchen sink?’ Shelly joked.

Eva adjusted her mask on her face and stuck her tongue out at Shelly
, before she knocked back the full glass of bubbly in one gigantic gulp. ‘Let’s do this thing. Before I change my mind.’

She kicked her
rucksack behind the heavy, floor-to-ceiling curtain on the bay window beside them and turned around to discover Nathan had both his cape and mask on, completely transforming him.

             
‘You look like the Phantom of the Opera,’ Eva said.

Nathan stepped back dramatically and flung his arms as far apart as they could stretch. ‘Sing for me my pretty,’ he sang loudly in a low
, deep voice.

Eva laughed. Maybe tonight would be more fun than she thought. And if not, she could always pretend to be something she wasn’t. After all, she had the perfect disguise.

              A large golden banner hung over the massive double doors leading into what Eva imagined was the main function room. Black and Ivory letters reflected the evening’s black tie elegance.

‘’Libertia Supra Omnis’’

‘Freedom above all,’ Nathan whispered into Eva’s ear.

Tiny bubbles of excitement popped inside Eva’s tummy. It was just the sign she needed. Maybe she could fit in after all.

‘No inhibitions,’ she replied.

‘Well yeah. I think that’s the idea. It’s the theme.’

‘Pretty cool huh?’ Shelly said, obviously not wanting to be left out of the conversation.

Eva nodded. She really wished Julian was here. It was as if the banner was made with him in mind. Nathan and Shelly just didn’t understand what it meant to her. How could they?

‘C’mon,’ Shelly said, charging forward. ‘It’s a free bar and there are shots inside with our name on them.

             
Eva’s hands instinctively covered her mouth as the doors swung open. She needn’t have worried about being early, the room was already a wash with people. She couldn’t believe the Romanesque beauty in front of her. Large golden columns were spaced evenly around the perimeter of the room supporting the incredibly high ceiling. The intensity of the rich ruby walls was broken up by cream and mirror panels, evenly spaced the entire length of the room. Matching drapes huge on the opposite wall, open and exposing the moonlight from the countless number of floor-to-ceiling windows.

             
‘C’mon, Eva. You can’t stand lurking in the doorway all night. People will think you’re weird,’ Shelly said.

‘People always think I’m weird,’ Eva whispered, purposely not loud enough for Shelly to hear. She reached across her chest
and pulled her cardigan closed. She laughed out loud as her fingers grabbed the silk robe instead of the cashmere she’d expected. Old habits, she thought, laughing even louder.

Nathan and Shelly stared, obviously confused.

‘Champagne,’ Eva snorted, pointing to her head.

‘Well you know the only thing for that?’ Nathan asked.

Eva shook her head.

‘More
,’ he said confidently and walked towards the bar.

The large, sterling silver candelabra in the centre of the table obscured Eva’s view of the guests sitting opposite them. She snorted and shook her head. It wouldn’t make a difference even if she could see them, they were as well disguised as everyone else. It was actually kind of fun, an entertaining game, trying to decipher familiar voices under the masks that were designed to reveal their souls. Eva tried her best to disguise her New Jersey twang. It was a total giveaway. She wasn’t sure if it was the wine gone to her head or the sheer elegance of the venue that made her feel everything and anything but herself. She liked this new version her herself. This new confident, sexy version. She wished she could feel like this all the time.

             
The meal was divine, the wine flowed freely and the staff were attentive if not slightly unnervingly dressed. The women wore barely-there bikinis and the men were topless with tight fitting grey trousers and a neat bow tie. Eva tried to disapprove but their gorgeous bodies made it hard to look away.

             
Nathan had a least two drinks for every one Eva or Shelly had. Freedom above all, Eva said silently in her head as Nathan draped his arm across her shoulder for a third time in as many minutes. Eva stood up and made her excuses, mumbling something about the bathroom and hoping Shelly would follow. She didn’t.

             
The surreal surrounding suddenly became daunting. Maybe it was because she was on her own for the first time or maybe it was because she finally became aware of the strange tension in the atmosphere. She looked across the open dance floor at a sea of black capes, laughing and chatting as if it was any Friday night in their local bar.

             
Eva breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a hand on her shoulder, delighted that Shelly had followed. A tiny shriek escaped when she turned around to come face to face with the man from the opposite side of her table. He didn’t speak and Eva didn’t react to his silence. They just stood, statue like, as Eva’s pulse thundered through her veins. His mask was as black as his cape, and the only colour was four, block gold letters spanning across the front. M.I.N.E.

             
Eva was hypnotised by his big, beautiful, chocolate eyes. She couldn’t walk away, even if she wanted to. She fought her instinct to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. He was here, but why? Julian was standing right in front of her and try as she might, she couldn’t get a single word to pass her lips.

             
After many more minutes of silence, Julian finally led the conversation. ‘Hello.’

Hello
, Eva thought, hearing the word ring in her ears. After the way they had left things; the letter, sending his driver for her, the expensive dress she wore - everything. After all that, that was all he wanted to say? Just bloody hello? Eva was so frustrated she could have screamed.