Making the Grade (The Model Spy #2)

Epilogue

The ballroom of the posh London hotel looked like a scene out of The Secret Garden. Pink roses and white lilies and brilliant green vines and yellow sunflowers adorned the faintly lit room. Every table was decorated with a copper lantern, the little tea lights inside of them flickering like hundreds of fireflies in the darkness.

And Millie, bouncing towards Max and me in her pink gown, looked like a beautiful fairy from an enchanted forest.

"Ugh," she groaned, her hand reaching for Max's. "Making the rounds like that is such a bore." She rolled her eyes. "I have to thank everyone for coming and for donating and how their contribution is sure to make such a difference in the lives of blah blah blah." She leaned into Max and looked up at him longingly. "You have hair in your face, darling." Gently, she tucked it behind his ear.

Blushing, I turned away from them just as a young couple entered the ballroom. All around me, the conversation hushed. The man and woman stopped at Millie's mom and dad and instantly engaged in a polite, yet subdued, conversation. I noticed other, larger, men in black suits standing several feet away, their eyes locked on the young couple.

"Is that..." I couldn't get the rest of the words out of my mouth.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, yes." Millie's eyes, however, were not on the royal couple, but still on Max. He did look utterly handsome in his tailored suit and colorful tie. "I told you they were invited," she said, as if I had ever doubted her.

Max, Fred, Professor Scott, and I were all invited to the charity banquet Millie's parents were hosting. They did it as a "thank you" for saving their daughter's life and waived the entrance fee. Otherwise, I would have literally had to steal the Crowned Jewels to attend. The money raised would be split amongst several charities, one of which was a special scholarship to subsidize the costs of St. Margaret's. Which was opening again in the fall.

"Care to dance?" Millie asked Max.

Max looked to me, like he needed my permission.

"Will you be okay?" he asked.

He meant will I be okay, standing here, alone. "You two youngsters have fun. I went to prom a few weeks ago, I'm all danced out. Honest," I said when Max and Millie continued to look at me hesitantly, somewhat pityingly. There was no need to tell them that I didn't get to dance at prom either. Will and his friends got drunk in the boy's bathroom and I spent a good part of the night sitting at a round table covered in dirty dishes as the rest of my tablemates puked in the alleyway behind the hotel.

Millie frowned and looked through the crowd. "Harry should be here somewhere. I can introduce you two." She waved an arm. "There he is. He's just joined his brother." She pointed to a shock of red hair standing out against the crowd. Harry turned towards us, Millie catching his eye with her flailing arm.

I grabbed her hand and brought it back down to her side. "Actually," I said quickly, not wishing to make a fool of myself in front of a prince, "I'm going to take a walk." I nudged the two of them towards the dance floor. "Go dance!"

Millie giggled and pulled Max along, to the middle of the dance floor. I smiled when Max's hand hovered above her waist. Millie took her own hand and placed it where it needed to be. Even in the darkness, I saw the pink blush on both of their faces. Max was so tall, he had to bend his head down so he could look into Millie's eyes.

I waved dumbly when I noticed Harry still looking my direction. He raised his glass of champagne my way before turning away.

"Agent Porter," a cool voice said quietly.