Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, #4)(37)

“Thank you.”

With masks properly secured, they entered the country club hand in hand. It seemed the doors to the ballroom hadn’t been opened yet and everyone was mingling in the foyer. Tuxes, ruffled dresses, and perfume filled the air, and the impending quest made Mina feel nauseated.

They were there barely a minute before Lara, wearing a skin-tight green formal dress and Daphne in short purple mini-dress descended on them from a spiral staircase in the middle of the room. They must have been lying in wait for Brody. Both girls wore matching masks, covering just their eyes and noses. The way they smiled in Mina’s direction filled her with unease.

Their smiles were too confident, too pasty white, too fake.

“Oh, Brody sweetie, you’re here,” Lara drawled. She came up and planted a kiss on each of his cheeks. Daphne sidled up close and followed suit, but her pecks on each cheek were drawn out much longer than was appropriate.

Brody pulled back in surprise at Daphne’s advances and almost tripped over another attendee.

Daphne laughed and pulled him closer to her. “Careful, I’m not usually the one doing the saving.”

Lara looked irate, but she quickly calmed herself and turned to offer Mina a small booklet with a ribbon. “Here you are.”

“What is this?” Mina asked, looking it over. She opened it up and saw each of the songs laid out in order. Next to each song was an unfamiliar name.

“It’s your dance card, silly.” She opened up her own book and explained. “It’s the song list that we worked on, and next to each is your dance partner for that song. Since you’re new to this event, and we didn’t feel it was right for yours not to be filled, we took the liberty of filling it out for you.”

Mina scanned the list and her heart fell. Brody’s name was only on there twice, right after a Simon Rochester. She looked over at Lara’s dance card and raised her eyebrow.

“Honey, it’s not considered proper to dance with the same person too much, and Brody said you were just a friend. We thought it pertinent to fill it with other eligible men.” She smiled, and Mina wanted to shove her fist through those pearly whites.

Brody, confused, picked up Mina’s dance card and scanned it himself. Then he pulled Daphne’s from her wrist, much to her own surprise. “I’m on your card three times.”

She pouted beautifully. “That’s because I’m not just a friend from school.” Daphne ran her hand around the back of his neck and he yanked away from her.

He looked ready to explode. “Who approved this?”

“Why, your own mother, Brody. Weeks ago. It was her idea. That’s why she wanted the music picked out ahead of time,” Daphne said. “Then at the end of the night your cousin’s band the Dead Prince Society will perform. But until eleven o’clock we follow these.” She held up her own card.

“We posted the available dance cards online, and they were mostly filled within hours,” Lara added. “We sent you the link, Brody. The ones who didn’t sign up got distributed among the dance cards. Did you not check your email? You can talk to your mother if you want, but it’s all been approved. Don’t create a scandal for your family.”

Brody ran his hands through his hair. Clearly, he was torn. Of course he didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass his parents.

Daphne smiled like the cat who ate the mouse. “I’m surprised you didn’t know. I’m almost certain I heard your mother mention it to you.”

He looked defeated and turned to Mina. “I’ll fix this…I’ll—” The ballroom doors opened and everyone began to press forward into the room. Mina was caught in the hustle and bustle of activity and became separated from Brody. She found herself off in a corner near one of the verandas and desperately scanned the crowd for him.

But with every male wearing a tux and a similar mask, it was impossible to pick him out.

Mr. Carmichael stepped up on a small stage near the seated orchestra and pleasantly welcomed the guests. He held out his hand and Melody joined him on the dais. Brody walked up the steps next to her. Mr. Carmichael continued, “We’re so thankful for your support of our theme this year. I have to give a warm round of applause to the wonderful gem who put this together—my lovely wife Melody.”

Melody smiled, tossing her head to the side, and waved to the room. Applause followed, dying down when her husband started to talk again. “I also have to say that I’m extremely proud of our son, Brody, who has become quite the eligible young man.”

The room filled with feminine cat calls and Brody shoved his hands into his tux jacket, staring at his feet. His face reddened and his dad playfully punched his shoulder. Brody gazed across the crowds, and Mina knew he was searching for her.

“We’d like to begin the evening with the first dance. So ladies, look to your cards—and gents, find your partners.” Brody moved to step off of the stage, but Melody grasped his hand. “Brody, wait.”

He turned expectantly.

His father said, “You can’t skip out on the first dance with your mother.”

Brody’s smile was genuine. “Oh, I hadn’t realized. It would be my pleasure.” He extended his elbow and led his mother onto the floor. Soon more couples joined them.

Mr. Carmichael cued the conductor and the music began. It sounded like a slow waltz. Mina looked to her card and saw a name she didn’t recognize. The good thing about wearing a mask was that her partner might not find her.