Forget Me Not

Chapter Nine

"Now I said you were a Murphy, but you have gone beyond that. You are a goddess." Jude laughed. Victoria rolled her eyes as her father mimicked bowing down to her.

"Just be careful, the lot of you," Sienna said.

Arthur, Nancy and Victoria stood in the hallway of the Miller household. Aurora was in bed in Daisy's twin bed. Daisy and Tiffany were also asleep. Sienna had helped cook some dinner while Victoria and Nancy got dressed and Jude and Arthur discussed gadgets. Now they were all stood in the hallway. Arthur looked unrecognizable in his suit, tanned and dyed. He had his ring on and Nancy had her rings on. Victoria had no choice but to take hers off. Lillian and Timothy knew the rings. Nathan had shown them before he had proposed. It was beautiful but it had to be done. Now Nancy was stood, very much recognizable but only by those who knew her and no one should. Finally Victoria. Victoria barely recognised herself.

"We need to go," Arthur said. They had hired a chauffeur and a rented Mercedes for the night and everything was prepared.

"Wait a minute, Vick," Sienna said. Arthur held the door open for Nancy.

"We'll meet you at the car, Vicky." He said. Victoria nodded and watched Arthur and Nancy leave.

"Good luck, darling," Jude said, kissing her cheek.

"Thanks, Dad," Victoria said. Jude smiled and went to the kitchen, leaving Victoria and Sienna. Sienna took Victoria's hand.

"I wish you luck, Victoria. I do. But I'm worried this could go wrong."

"I know Mum. Me too. But I have to try. I can't sit around and mope. I need to get my husband back. I'll deal with the consequences when they come."

"Just... Be careful, Vick," They hugged and Victoria opened the door. "Oh and Vick?"

"Yes, Mum?" Victoria turned back, smiling. Sienna was smiling too.

"You look completely different and beautiful. I'm proud I raised someone so strong." Victoria smiled one last time at her Mum and then left. Arthur was standing by the car door. He helped her in, took a seat next to her and shut the door.

"Let's go."

The house of Lillian and Timothy Carter was a massive and grand building. A five storey mansion which each floor was filled with rooms. Offices, family rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, guest rooms, a ballroom and even a servant's quarters. Victoria was certain that the charity event would take place in the ballroom because it was the ground floor and had doors leading onto the gardens, acres of land which was divided with a paddock for horses, a relaxed area with a swimming pool and hot tub and then the garden itself which a marquee would be set up.

The massive driveway leading down to the mansion was lit with lanterns in the trees. At the left side of the house was a space for all the cars for the night to be parked. The car followed a queue down to the house. As they drove around a fountain, they finally reached the steps. The chauffeur got out and opened their door. Arthur got out first then helped Victoria and Nancy out too. He took both their hands and led them up the red-carpeted stairs. A guy in a white suit checked their invite and granted them access to the door. The entranceway had a huge marble staircase, suits of armour and paintings which probably cost more than every guest's outfit. However, a red carpet continued to roll past the staircase to the left, through another smaller wooden door where another guy in a white suit bowed and they were in the ballroom, a huge room with an ebony wood floor, cream painted walls and a stage where an orchestra was playing music. A bar was set up as well but servers in white suits were walking around handing out drinks. People were already crowded on the floor, talking and dancing. All of them were dressed to impress, all of them were wearing masks.