Chapter 11: The Masked Ball

The Delacourts held their Halloween ball every year, and every year my family had come in matching costumes.

Tonight I came in a black gown and a gold mask, on Lawrence's arm.

My father and Teddy walked two steps behind me, dressed as a pirate and a very bad ghost.

"Nobody's looking at us," Teddy said happily.

"Everybody's looking at us."

"Nobody knows it's us. It's the mask."

"You're a ghost with a Yale scarf."

"It's called a signature."

The ballroom was done in black and orange, with a thousand candles and a string orchestra on the balcony.

Regina stood in the middle of it in a silver gown and a swan's mask, and the moment she saw us she lifted a glass.

The orchestra faded out.

"Friends," she said, her voice ringing in the high room. "Thank you all for coming."

"Tonight I want to do something kind."

I felt Lawrence go still.

"Lockridge Point has been in that family for ninety years," Regina said.

"It's a beautiful old place, and it would be a tragedy to see it broken up by creditors."

She turned her swan face toward me, and I knew she'd seen through my mask from across the room.

"So I'm offering twelve million dollars for it," she said.

"In cash, tonight, in front of all of you, to spare Gerald the shame of a forced sale."

A hush fell, then a rustle of admiration.

Twelve million.

It was worth forty.

Beside me, my father said something under his breath that I will not repeat.

"Don't," I whispered to him. "Let me."

I let go of Lawrence's arm.

I walked out onto the polished floor and took off my mask in front of the whole room.

"Mrs. Delacourt," I said. "That is very generous."

She smiled.

"I'm only trying to help, Ainsley."

"I know. I'd like to help you too."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Before you spend twelve million dollars on my house," I said, "I'd like to see how you paid for this party."

The smile held, but only just.

"I beg your pardon?"

I turned and looked at the service door at the back of the room.

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