Chapter 78

Aria’s POV

I barely started searching through my dresses when the doorbell rang. Nervous it might be Lucian again, I slowly walked to the door and called through it this time.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Jasper. Were you expecting someone else?”

“I’m here, too, Aria. I’ll let him in,” Cathy said. “If you want!” she added, like an afterthought.

“Hey!” Jasper said, as if outraged.

“Cool your jets, Romeo,” Cathy said and unlocked the door.

“It’s fine, Cathy,” I told her.

As the door opened, they both came walking in, Jasper carrying that evening’s flowers. Cathy accepted them before I could.

“I think there’s some counter space left in the kitchen,” she said, rolling her eyes. She wasn’t wrong to criticize. Jasper had delivered so many large bouquets of flowers that we were running out of places to put them. They were beautiful, and the whole place smelled fantastic, but it was starting to be inconvenient.

Jasper just smiled. “I’ll have more tomorrow.” Glancing at me, he took in the sight of me. “Something happen?”

“What happened?” Cathy called from the kitchen. She reappeared in an instant, after hearing Jasper ask.

“I’m fine,” I told them. “Well. I will be.”

“Why ‘will be’?” Cathy asked.

“Lucian was here,” I said.

Cathy cursed. “What did he want?”

“I bet he was asking you to the family event,” Jasper said, watching me closely. He had a sharp eye when he wanted to. I needed to be careful not to give too much away. “Are you going with him?”

“No,” I said.

“Ah, so then you’ll go with me,” Jasper said.

“No,” I replied.

“No?” Jasper seemed surprised.

Cathy seemed a bit surprised too. “Jasper could keep an eye on you,” she said.

Jasper pointed at Cathy as if doubling down on her reasoning.

I shook my head, adamant. “I have no intention of making Lucian jealous anymore.” I also didn’t want to lead Jasper on. In attending this event together, it could give him the wrong idea. I had always been clear that a relationship between us was not possible. I didn’t want to start sending mixed signals now, especially when I was so close to leaving town.

“Why go at all?” Cathy asked. “You could just stay home this time.”

“I want to check on Harold,” I admitted. I didn’t give my second reason, about the diary. Not with Jasper there. Once he was gone, I could confide my secret plans to Cathy, but not before.

If Jasper knew about the diary, he’d likely find a way to weasel himself over there tonight and steal it from under Lucian’s nose. While I’d rather have it in Jasper’s hand than Lucian’s, Jasper’s hand was still dangerous.

The only safe place for that diary was with me.

“Well, I can tell you your appearance at the event is certain to turn more than a few heads,” Jasper said. “Rumors around most of the upper class are that your long absence from public appearances has everything to do with your heartbreak over Lucian, who has apparently decided he’d rather be with Sheila.”

“Jasper,” Cathy snapped. “Don’t be cruel.”

Already my heart squeezed tightly.

“What?” Jasper asked, clearly not seeing or understanding the problem. “It’s not like it’s true.”

“Isn’t it?” Cathy said. “Watch your tongue.”

“It’s not,” Jasper said, looking back at me now. “Everyone hates Sheila.”

“Not Lucian,” I said.

Jasper pulled an unhappy face. “I don’t know if that’s true.”

“We don’t know. That’s the problem,” Cathy said.

“No. None of this is a problem anymore. I don’t care if it’s true. I don’t care about Sheila. If I could go the rest of my life without seeing Lucian again, I’d be happy for it.”

“Liar,” whispered my wolf in my mind.

“What I’m saying,” Jasper continued, “is that the people at this party won’t expect to see you Aria. They believe Lucian has either already dropped you or soon will. At this event, your every move will be viewed under a microscope.”

He was right. I frowned deeply, bothered by this. I couldn’t have people looking at me if I was going to search for the diary.

Unless…

Maybe their attention was exactly what I wanted. In response, Sheila would likely go to extremes to reclaim the eye of the room. Whatever she would do to reclaim it would be big and flashy. And in that distraction, I could make my escape up to my room to search for the diary.

My plan had been to hide my growing belly with a modest gown, but maybe I needed something flashy. If I accentuated my figure in just the right way, then I could hide the secrets I wasn’t ready for others to know.

“What are you thinking?” Cathy asked.

Thinking back to all the dresses of my closet, I doubted I had any that would fit the bill.

“I need a dress,” I said. “I want to impress. But also…” I motioned to my waist. As Jasper knew about my condition, having been there when I fainted, I didn’t think to hide it from him now.

Cathy touched her finger to her chin.

“I know just the thing!” she turned and rushed toward her room.

“I don’t suppose my opinion would be wanted?” Jasper asked. “I could tell you which dresses would draw the eyes of all the men in the room.”

I already could guess what he would pick – whichever showed the most leg and boobs.

“Thank you for the flowers, Jasper.”

“Is this the part where I get kicked out?”

“You know the drill.”

He sighed dramatically, but his smile took the edge off of it. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. I expect to be shown the dress then, so that I can properly critique it.”

“Goodbye, Jasper,” I said, feigning annoyance but I was laughing.

He was stubborn and ridiculous, but he could make me laugh. That was such a rare thing lately, with everything going on. After seeing Lucian tonight, I really needed the pick-me-up.

Though, even with the laughter and the smiles, my heart still ached, and my wolf still howled with mourning.

She hadn’t done much but howl lately. Each time, I ached and ached, my loneliness fierce.

“Goodbye, Aria,” Jasper said and walked out the door. I carefully closed and locked it behind him. Then, backing away, I turned and headed for Cathy’s room instead.

Cathy was deep into her closet. It wasn’t a walk-in, yet I still couldn’t see the top of her, only her legs and occasionally an arm as she threw dress after stylish dress out onto the bed.

Approaching, I saw a vast of colors and styles, most of which were at the peak of fashion. Cathy had a good eye for this kind of thing, much better than I did, and always read all the magazines.

Yet, through the sparkle and the flair, one dress seemed to call to me. I pushed the others aside, entranced.

It was an older style.

A much, much older style. Like it was straight out of the silent movie era. Or maybe the early talkies.

And it was gorgeous. When had Cathy even purchased this? I didn’t remember seeing it before.

It was so beautiful, I couldn’t wait to wear it.

In the back of my mind, a little voice in my head wondered…

Would Lucian like it too?