Page 24 of Tis The Season for Secrets
Juliet got out her lipstick. “No, I’ve only just met him. I came with Margot Roth. Last time I checked, she was at the bar with Harvey…” She trailed off, realising she didn’t know his last name.
“Harvey Bryce,” Fiona filled in. “I wondered if they were dating, considering the rest of her family aren’t in attendance. Not that I’m surprised; everyone knows about their little family tiff.” Fiona liked to be involved in everyone’s business. Juliet wondered how she had the capacity to remember so much gossip. “Bryce is quite the catch, and you with Will Duncan – seems you’re both doing quite well for yourselves.” Fiona nudged her, and Juliet nearly streaked her lipstick across her cheek.
“I’ll introduce you,” she said through a forced smile, merely wanting the conversation to end.
“Oh, no need. There’s no one here who doesn’t know Mr Duncan, and Harvey Bryce is not a man whose radar I want to be on. I hate to mention it again, but I thought I really should mention how the ladies were put out that you seemed to get the catch of the evening.” Fiona rested her hand over Juliet’s,feigning concern. “But I don’t blame you for wanting to get there first.”
“Will asked me to dance, and it would’ve been rude to decline. If he wants to ask anyone else to dance, then that’s up to him.” Juliet didn’t like the insinuation that she’d ensnared him. She couldn’t imagine Fiona’s reaction if she knew they’d already been… acquainted.
“No need to explain; I’m sure the ladies will understand when I explain you were merely doing as instructed. At least Will fared better than the prince!”
Fiona’s laugh grated on Juliet’s last nerve and made her want to pull out the woman’s expensive hair extensions. “Will knows where to keep his hands,” she said pointedly.
“I’m sure you’ll put his hands to great use by the end of the evening.” Fiona winked. Juliet gritted her teeth. “We should meet up soon. I’m serious– maybe a night out with Margot? She must need a good cheering up. I heard Mr Roth cut her off,” Fiona went on, clearly rooting for the truth of the situation. “I suppose her aunt took pity on her and allowed her to come.”
“Ms Roth was invited. Some of us can make it just fine on our own,” Juliet snapped, and Fiona’s lips formed a tight line. This woman could insult her all she wanted, but no one went after her friend. “Speaking of, I was so sad to hear about your marriage, and after such a beautiful wedding! I hope it didn’t set you back too much, but at least you won’t have to return the wedding gifts.” She didn’t like to stoop so low – and she didn’t want to get Margot into trouble either, given that she only knew about Fiona’s husband buying his mistress an apartment because Mr Caldwell had hired Margot to make the purchases untraceable – but she couldn’t resist reminding Fiona that her shit did in fact stink. “To be divorced after only two years of marriage must be humiliating.”
Fiona straightened her narrow shoulders, gathering herself. “You’d know all about humiliation.” She stepped so close, Juliet could smell the alcohol on her breath. “Given that your mother was a gold-digging social climber who left you on a doorstep after failing to snare your father. It’s amazing how you find the strength to face the world.”
Juliet glanced at the other women in the bathroom. Either they hadn’t heard or didn’t want to get involved. She refused to crack, to let Fiona see how her words had cut her. She simply picked up Fiona’s glass from the sink and handed her the flute.
“Drown in it,” she whispered, before pressing her red lips against the woman’s cheek. Fiona gaped; Juliet left her standing there like the trout she was.
Her bright smile dropped as soon as she spotted Mark Hume at her table. He was Ms Baum’s boss, and had clearly dropped the news before she could.
“Juliet, we were talking about your work. Apparently you’ve been promoted! How could you not tell me?” her father said, as she reached their table. Hurt and anger at Fiona swirled in her gut, making it hard to focus.
“It was only just made official,” she said, trying not to let her emotions into her voice. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m not feeling too well. I’m afraid the champagne has gone to my head.” It was code to her father that she’d been insulted and unless he wanted a scene, he should let her leave.
“I wouldn’t want to keep you if you’re unwell.” Mr Frost rose from his chair and glanced around the room as if to see who had upset her, but she knew he only wanted to know who’d spoken against a Frost, not out of a desire to defend her.
The first tear fell. Juliet swiped it away as she kissed her father’s cheek and wished the table goodnight. Concern creased Will’s brow, but she couldn’t explain here, even if she didn’t want him to think he was the reason for her leaving. Glancingaround the room, she spotted Margot dancing happily with the man she now knew as Harvey Bryce and couldn’t bring herself to interrupt them.
“Could you make sure Margot gets home?” she asked her dad. He might have his failings, but he wouldn’t let anything happen to his friend’s daughter on his watch.
“I’ll have Victor pick her up when she is ready,” Mr Frost agreed curtly.
“It was lovely to meet you,” she said to the table in general, before grabbing her clutch from the table and leaving without looking back. She didn’t know where she was going, but she just had to get out of there.
Watching as Juliet left the room, Will lost track of the conversation. He didn’t want to run out immediately, but the tears he’d glimpsed in her eyes tested his willpower, and he desperately wanted to know what had caused her to become so upset.
“Sorry you didn’t get to spend more time together. Perhaps we can arrange another get-together over the holidays?” Mr Frost said, clearly eager to bring them together again. Not that Will would complain. He needed an in, and her father was throwing the door wide open.
“That would be great,” he agreed, “but if you’ll excuse me—” Unable to think of an excuse, he simply left the table.
Once he was in the clear, he hurried down the corridors, hoping he wasn’t too late to catch up. He was about to give up his search when he spotted Juliet sitting on a bench in front of the elephant exhibit with her back to him. He heard sniffling as he approached her and felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her, and strangle whoever had upset her.
“Are you okay?” he panted.
“You frightened the life out of me!” Juliet’s hand flew to her chest, and he noticed her necklace. He tried not to react.She has the Yule bell necklace! So she’s been in the chest. The bell wouldn’t work for its intended purpose unless she truly believed in the spirit of Christmas.
“I’m sorry– I got worried when you disappeared. I wanted to make sure you weren’t upset with me about the other night,” he explained, wishing his arrival into her life hadn’t been so rocky. It wasn’t exactly winning her over.
“I didn’t leave because of you. I just needed to get away from that room, so I found some other mammals to hang out with.” She wiped the smudged mascara from under her eyes, as though trying to conceal her tears from him, and moved over on the bench so he could sit down.
He eagerly accepted the silent invitation, relieved she wasn’t pushing him away, given how she’d run off the dance floor like a woman possessed.
“Elephants?” He wanted to distract her from whatever had upset her. “I’m more of a lions and tigers kind of guy.” Her teary eyes increased his desire to wrap her in his arms. Not the most professional urge to have, but screw it. He’d already gone too far to turn back now.
