Wicked Games Academy

CHAPTER 30

The day of the ball I dressed up before going to Clive's room, and I helped him tie his cravat and straighten his inner vest and cuffs. He swirled in it and laughed freely.

"Don't do that, it's going to rip," I said. I had lent him my old one so I feared it was too smaller but suited him fine. Maybe I had grown more than him.

Clive was fine-boned, and his shoulders were smaller than me. Sometimes if I grabbed him roughly on the shoulder I felt him bone and flinched back.

It felt like I could've broke him.

"It's just—I look like an adult!" Clive laughed. "It's so fancy."

"It's also very expensive so be careful."

"I wouldn't break anything, it fits me comfortably," he went on as he followed me. "Don't you need to enter with your brothers?" he asked.

"No, they're already there and greeting them one by one, and we have to go now. Jonathan is strict about things like this," I sighed.

We both went to the ballroom and I was surprised for a while because it seemed much livelier with candles and food. Our cooks had worked hard and I wanted to sit down and have some finger sandwiches but I saw Jonathan catch my eye.

"Let's go," I told Clive.

"Are you sure I should intrude?"

"Yes," I groaned. "Stay by my side today!"

I walked there and Jonathan pretended he was happy and pulled me to the girls, Jonathan following.

"This is Nathaniel Edgar Rottings. He takes just after father and I, and the golden-haired boy is Clive, his partner in Graycotts. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, all three of us are attending Graycotts. It makes our father very proud, of course..."

I recognized Heloise Leon. Her eyes were somewhat wide in shock. The other younger girl, Carmine Wordsworth, was smiling at us and her older sister gave her a gentle push before she wandered to us.

The older women stayed behind to talk to Jonathan and they were all similar yet different. Some dressed in conservative dresses covering their collarbones, others showed their bosom line, and other looked weighed down by their obviously costly accessories.

Carmine was only fourteen so she didn't seem to know what to say.

"Are you Carmine Wordsworth?" Clive broke the silence, pretending he was deep in thought.

"Oh, yes, I am! You are—?"

"Clive," he responded. "It's my first time at a ball outside of academy. You should teach me etiquette."

Carmine chuckled softly.

I was envious of her, petite and black curls around her face and pinned back with a pretty comb. She reminded me of a poodle with her tight curls and thin limbs. Her arm reach out for a dessert and she handed Clive one, too.

"You're watching them a lot." Heloise stood behind me. I turned to her.

"No, I was just surprised."

"At what? Don't you remember me?" she asked.

"Of course I do, we met at the flower ball in Graycotts. You were in mourning," I mumbled.

"Very good memory."

Heloise wore a green dress, one part falling to show her shoulders, on purpose I suppose. It was very pretty and sleek as I remembered her.

"So?" She narrowed her eyes at me. "Do you have a girl you made a promise with?"