Worst Impressions

Chapter Nineteen

Old money meant an enormous mansion.

It had been owned by Jenny's family since before the French revolution and had since been passed down to each generation. One day it would all be hers. Although I had no idea what she'd do with fifty bedrooms and a billiard room, it had to be nice for her to know that she would never have to earn enough to get a deposit on a cramped little flat as I would. I mean, my Mum would buy me a house if I asked, but I had no intention of doing that.

It wouldn't be worth anything if I didn't get it myself.

The cars parked in an orderly line outside and the drivers hurried to open the doors for their passengers. Wyatt was the first out and fussed over Meg and Chrissy, insisting on helping them to step down from the vehicle like it was a carriage and he was a loyal footman. Gideon had no choice in helping Lisa. If she'd been any closer to him, he'd have been forced to carry her. He smiled at me with a somewhat helpless expression and I shrugged in response. Lisa was silly enough to do that to any man. There was no reason to feel jealous about it.

Although I kind of did.

Jenny took my hand and led me up the grand stone steps to the front door.

When rich people threw a party, they went all out.

There were people in attendance I didn't recognise, who drank and jeered noisily as we entered. Even if the excuse for the event was Jenny's recovery, hardly any of them noticed her arrival. It was just a reason to enjoy themselves at someone else's expense.

At least there was one friendly face in the sea of inebriated ones.

'Jenny, darling.' Ms Ayers hugged her daughter tightly. She beamed at me and beckoned me closer for the same greeting. I wished that Jenny and I were really sisters. Her mother had treated me better than my own ever had. She kissed the top of my head affectionately. 'Don't you both look beautiful this evening? Ah, and you brought the rest of the rabble with you! Good evening, girls.'

'Hi, Ms Ayers,' Lisa greeted cheerily. 'This is Gideon Wickham. He's on a student placement. Isn't he dreamy?'

'Charmed,' Gideon greeted. He shook Ms Ayers' hand and made no mention of Lisa's improper observation.

'A pleasure to meet you. And this is...?'

'Wyatt, Madam. Wyatt Collins,' Wyatt introduced himself. He bowed his head to her like he was in the presence of royalty.

Ms Ayers struggled to contain a smirk at the display, while I resisted the urge to slap my hand to my forehead so hard that I fractured my skull.

'Nice to meet you, Wyatt. Please don't call me Madam. Help yourselves to the buffet. But steer clear of the alcohol. I have warned the catering staff that you're not to have a drop. You're still abiding by boarding school rules.'

'So unfair,' Lisa complained. 'I'm almost eighteen!'

Chrissy pleaded, 'Can't we have just one glass of wine?'

'No, but there's an endless supply of lemonade.'

'Very sensible, too. You know, I didn't have a drop until I was twenty-one. It's all nonsense, this... letting children drink at eighteen,' Wyatt said in a pompous voice. 'Furthermore –'

And he was off.

I didn't think it mattered to him that no one was listening. Once he got started on a subject, there was no stopping him. I inched away slowly until I was at a safe enough distance that I could slip into the crowd unnoticed. I took Jenny with me. The others were too far away to rescue. I trusted Gideon to look after them for the time being. Poor Ms Ayers was stuck with Wyatt. At least until someone distracted him.