‘Sorry, sweetie,’ said Davina, holding the door open while hopping on one foot. ‘This bloody dress keeps getting caught on my heels. It’s a living hell.’
‘It looks amazing.’
‘Thank you, darling, but I know you’re just being kind. It’s going straight back to Browns; I don’t know why they sent it over anyway, it’s a size
four
!’
April followed Davina down the hall and up the stairs as the girl kept up a constant stream of complaints about the personal shoppers at Harvey Nicks. ‘You should have seen some of the things they brought out,’ said Davina, her lip curling. ‘I wouldn’t have dressed a dog in them. They even brought out Armani diffusion. I mean,
diffusion
!’
April walked in to Davina’s huge room, stifling a gasp. It was April’s idea of a dream bedroom. Canopied bed, voile at the windows, polished wood cabinets. The carpet was so deep, April’s feet sank into it as she walked across the room. It was hard to get the full effect of the interior design, however, as every surface was covered with clothes. Dresses, skirts, jackets, draped over drawers and chairs, plus a huge pile on the bed. There was even a scarf hanging from the light, as if it had been thrown there in a fit of pique.
‘I know, it’s such a mess,’ said Davina, waving a hand at the pile. ‘But I need a pair of fresh eyes, I’ve tried everything on twice and it all looks revolting.’
She went over to the dressing table and, moving aside a pillbox hat, poured April a generous measure of something that looked creamy and sweet. ‘Here, have a belt of this,’ she said, handing her the glass. ‘You’re going to need it.’
April took a tentative sip and sat down to watch the show.
Davina, of course, looked amazing in everything. The big surprise, however, was that she was also great company. Complimenting April on her figure as she tried on gowns too, giggling about boys, bitching about parents and teachers and reality TV, she was surprisingly witty and even wise about relationships. ‘No boy, whatever he says, really wants a one-night stand,’ she said as she forced her feet into a pair of silver sandals at least a size too small. ‘They’re all looking for “the one” just as much as we are, it’s just they feel they have to conform to this Neanderthal Boy Code and never admit it. Now, take my brother for example …’
‘Did I hear my name?’ said Benjamin, putting his head around the door. April squealed, clutching a dress to herself.
‘Hey!’ said Davina. ‘Ladies only!’
‘I can only see one lady in the room,’ grinned Ben. ‘And honestly, April, whatever she’s been telling you about me, it’s not true.’
‘Don’t flatter yourself,’ said Davina. ‘We’ve got better things to do than talk about you.’
‘Well if you need any assistance with a zip or anything, just yell,’ he said.
‘OUT!’ screamed Davina, flinging one of her silver sandals at him.
‘I’m going, I’m going. See you in history tomorrow, April.’
Davina rolled her eyes. ‘God, rather you than me,’ she said, refreshing April’s glass. ‘I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as that witch Holden, let alone listen to her chirp on for hours on end.’
‘Why do you hate her so much?’
‘Hate is rather a strong term,’ smirked Davina. ‘Dislike might be more accurate. It’s that nose-in-the-air attitude, as if she’s so much better than the rest of us. I mean, darling, not in
those clothes. And an Oxford degree or whatever she’s got? I mean, is that supposed to impress us? What has she ever done in her life?’
‘I found some magazines she’d written for in the library.’
‘Exactly,’ said Davina. ‘I mean, I’m guessing it wasn’t
Vanity Fair
?’
April laughed. ‘No, some boring old history journal.’
‘See? When I’m as ancient as that old bag, I intend to be living the life of Riley, sitting on a yacht, fingers covered in jewels, being handed a Mojito by some gorgeous heir with a six-pack.’
‘Sounds like a plan.’
‘What about you? I suppose you’re dreaming of running off with Gabriel Swift?’
April blushed.
‘I mean, I get it, the boy does have heavenly cheekbones. But what else does he have? You should be setting your sights higher. Someone with a car, perhaps? Maybe I’ll hook you up with some more eligible bachelors at the Ball.’
‘There’s no need.’
‘Come on, we’ve got to get you over this crush. Trust Davina, okay?’
‘All right, you’re on,’ said April. She needed to get in with the Suckers, didn’t she? And anyway, why shouldn’t she make new friends? Gabriel seemed too busy to talk to her at the moment.
‘Listen, I’d better get back,’ said April, standing up. ‘My mum gets super-jumpy if I’m out of her sight these days.’
‘Understandable, given what’s happened,’ said Davina picking up her phone. ‘I’ll get Miguel to drop you home.’
‘No, no,’ said April quickly, ‘it’s only ten minutes’ walk.’
‘Please,’ said Davina seriously. ‘I let Layla walk home that night. If I had insisted on getting her a car, maybe … maybe …’
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
‘Hey, don’t,’ said April, walking over and rubbing her arm. ‘Come on, it wasn’t your fault.’
‘Oh, I know,’ sniffed Davina, brushing the tears away. ‘It’s
just … I know people think I’m this ice queen, but Layla was my friend.’
She looked into April’s eyes, her face a picture of misery.
‘She really was and I wish … I just wish I could have stopped it.’
‘Stopped it?’ said April, looking at her more closely. What was she saying? Was this a confession? ‘How could you have stopped it?’
‘You know, asked her to stay the night, called her a cab,
anything
. Instead she went into that cemetery and I could have prevented it.’
April didn’t know what to say. If Caro was right and Davina had been behind Layla’s so-called suicide, then this was the coldest, most manipulative thing April had ever heard.
But then she’s a vampire, a pure-bred killer, what do you expect?
she reminded herself. But there was something about Davina at that moment, a brittle vulnerability April had never seen before. She seemed genuinely broken-up about the death of her friend: April could have sworn the tears were real. Even if she was lying about being able to prevent Layla’s death – surely if they believed she was a Fury, the vampires would
have
to kill her, whoever she was? – she certainly seemed racked with remorse.
‘It’s easy to think we could have done something afterwards,’ said April. ‘I’ve gone over my dad’s death time and time again, wishing I’d done something differently: if only I’d run straight home, if only I’d told him I loved him, but “if onlys” are futile, I know that much. They only make you feel worse.’
Davina nodded and looked up at April gratefully. ‘Thanks, honey,’ she said. ‘Maybe you’re right, but it all seems so … so unjust. Layla wasn’t perfect, but she was a good person underneath it all. Why is it always the good ones?’
April shook her head.
‘I’ve been asking myself the same thing. There’s no answer.’
Davina took a deep breath and stood up purposefully.
‘Well one thing’s for sure, I’m certainly not letting you walk home,’ she said reaching for the phone. ‘I’ll get Miguel to come around.’
‘Okay. Thank you.’
‘No, thank you, April Dunne. I’ve had a lovely time.’
For once April almost believed her.
It was raining as the Bentley pulled up. The windows were misted and the street lights looked like hazy lollipops. ‘Is this all right, miss?’ asked the driver, opening her door and escorting her to her front door with an umbrella.
‘That’s fine thanks, Miguel, please don’t wait,’ said April, fumbling in her purse, wondering if she was expected to tip the chauffeur, but he moved off before she had a chance to make a faux pas. She hunched her shoulders against the drizzle, cursing as she failed to locate her front door key. Just then her phone chirped and she sent half the contents of her bag clattering down onto the step in her rush to answer it. Just a text from Caro.
Need to talk – urgent
.
Not so urgent I can’t pick up my stuff
, she thought, bending down to scrabble it all back into her bag. It was then that April spotted the bouquet sitting propped against the step, looking a little bedraggled in the rain. Well,
bouquet
was stretching it a little far. It was an old-fashioned bunch of flowers: roses, daisies, chrysanthemums and the like, obviously picked from flower beds rather than bought from a florist. She picked the bunch up and saw that there was a small rain-smudged note attached.
Sorry for earlier
, it read.
There’s no one else I’d rather talk to. Gx
April grinned and clutched the flowers to herself. He did care after all!
‘I thought I should hand-deliver them,’ said a voice behind her.
‘Gabriel!’ she gasped.
He was drenched: his hair was plastered to his forehead, the shoulders of his coat soaked through, but he still looked incredible.
‘Have you been waiting here all night?’
‘Not
all
night,’ he laughed, pulling her into an embrace, kissing the rain from her nose and her eyelashes. ‘I just wanted to make sure my apology was accepted.’
‘Oh, it’s accepted all right,’ she said, closing her eyes and feeling his arms around her. It felt all kinds of good. ‘Are you coming inside?’
‘Not tonight, I wouldn’t want to ruin your carpet. But I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?’
‘Tomorrow night?’
‘The Spring Fundraiser, remember? We do have a date, don’t we?’
‘Really?’ said April, her heart fluttering. ‘I didn’t think we were allowed to be seen out together.’
‘Not any more,’ smiled Gabriel. ‘No danger of me keeling over from Fury-itis, is there? Unless I give in to my urges and kiss you again.’
‘I wish,’ said April.
‘Me too. But at least now we can walk into that party together – I can’t wait to see the jealous looks of every man in that room.’
Reluctantly she watched him walk back across the square before she opened the door and ran inside, straight up the stairs, calling Caro as she went.
‘What’s up?’ she said, looking around for a vase to put the flowers in. ‘Your message said urgent.’
‘You sound happy,’ said Caro.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘For once, Gabriel has done everything right.’
She told Caro about the flowers and Gabriel’s impromptu appearance.
‘So what was the thing you wanted to tell me about?’
‘Oh,’ said Caro, ‘er, don’t worry, it’s nothing that won’t wait.’
‘Okay, tell me tomorrow.’
April ran up to bed, sliding a rose from the bouquet under her pillow before she fell asleep.
Gabriel looked amazing. He was wearing a grey overcoat over his black dinner suit, his shoes were polished and there was a flower in his buttonhole.
‘Wow!’ said April, standing on her doorstep. ‘Who are you?’
Gabriel smiled.
‘Special delivery for Miss Dunne. Have I come to the right house?’
‘Special delivery?’ she grinned. ‘What is it?’
‘It’s me,’ whispered Gabriel with a playful smirk. ‘I’m all yours.’
‘Shhh!’ said April, glancing behind her and hoping her mother wasn’t eavesdropping. She stepped forward and kissed his cheek. Up close, she could see that his skin was radiant and his hair was sleek. He was like an airbrushed version of the man she knew.
The man I love
, she corrected herself, feeling butterflies in her stomach.
‘You do look beautiful, you know,’ he murmured, his lips close to her ear. Davina had allowed April to borrow one of her dresses, a long sheath of dark red that felt a little tight, but she knew looked pretty good. She had pinned her hair up to show off her long neck and her mother had lent her a gold Egyptian pendant; it was about as good as she got.
‘And you smell good enough to eat.’
‘Hey, you keep your fangs out of me,’ she replied, giggling. ‘Well, at least until you’ve met my mother.’
She took his hand and pulled him along the corridor and into the kitchen where Silvia was touching up her make-up.
‘Good evening, Mrs Dunne,’ said Gabriel formally. ‘I hope
you don’t mind my escorting April to the party.’
‘Silvia, please,’ she said, holding out a hand. ‘It’s so good to finally meet you properly. I never got the chance to thank you for saving her life.’
Gabriel gave a slight nod.
‘It was nothing, Davina’s father was the one who got her to the hospital.’
‘Don’t be so modest,’ said Silvia. ‘The doctors told me that without you, April would not have made it and for that I’m eternally in your debt. Do you understand?’
April looked from Gabriel to her mother and back. Their eyes were locked, as if something was passing between them.
‘Mum …’ said April, squirming. ‘We’ve got a party to go to?’