“Better still, I’ll make sure she gets the message.”
Marise went still. “She’s not to be hurt.”
Darlene raised an eyebrow. “Nothing so crass, darling. I’ll have a talk to her mother before I go. Edith says she’s a doctor, an upstanding citizen of New York. I’m sure she’ll be horrified her daughter’sdateis a paid escort. I imagine Edith will be too. For all her liberal ideas, she’s a staid academic who’s remained in a cloistered society all her life.”
Marise swallowed back the bad taste in her mouth—Darlene really was a nasty piece of work.
“I’ll see you at my hotel. Don’t leave me waiting too long.” With that, she turned and slipped back into the crowd, leaving behind a trail of scent and suggestion.
Marise’s stomach churned. She stood with her empty wine glass and let the noise of the party swirl around her.
She had what she needed but the bitterness was nearly overwhelming. A few minutes later, she saw Darlene approaching the Knowles who stood near the entrance to the terrace. She moved quickly around the edge of the crowd and slipped into the shadows on the terrace. From there, she could see and hear the conversation.
Darlene stood talking with Rhonda and John Knowles, gesturing elegantly with her hands as she said, “I imagine this has been a thrilling night for you both. Your daughter has become quite the rising star. And so photogenic, too. I saw the university’s press release earlier. That dress is a knockout.”
“She cleans up well,” John replied, pride in his voice.
“She’s always been gifted,” Rhonda said, smiling. “It’s lovely to see her finally being noticed.”
Darlene let out a low, cultured laugh. “Her companion, Veronica has such poise and style.”
Rhonda gave a nod, her mouth tightening slightly. “We haven’t had much of a chance to speak to her.”
Darlene tilted her head as if in confidence. “She’s... interesting. I met her through a friend some time ago. She works in a very particular kind of consulting. High-level companionship. Very exclusive and discreet.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Oh,” Rhonda said. Quiet and tight. Her gaze drifted slowly across the room, trying not to betray anything.
John cleared his throat. “She seems nice enough.”
Darlene smiled as if the conversation had simply passed through her. “Kathleen’s always had an eye for the unconventional, hasn’t she?”
At that moment, Kathleen stepped into the circle, holding a glass of white wine, oblivious to what had been said. “Hi. What are you all talking about?”
Darlene turned to her, radiant. “Merely telling your lovely parents how striking you looked tonight. And that your friend Veronica is quite the mystery. Not many women can wear two faces so well.”
Kathleen blinked. “What do you mean?”
Darlene’s smile tightened. “Only that she presents one way here and another elsewhere. That sort of duality takes practice. Or training.”
Kathleen’s eyes narrowed. “Darlene…”
Rhonda touched her daughter’s arm gently. “Sweetheart, can we talk for a moment.”
“No,” Kathleen said sharply. Her voice dropped. “Darlene, what did you say to them?”
“Oh, nothing scandalous,” Darlene said, lifting her glass. “Only a few quiet truths. You’ll thank me later.”
“No,” Kathleen said, more forcefully now. “You don’t get to decide what I should know.”
Darlene’s smile finally cracked. “Some people are born into worlds with rules. Others pay to pretend.”
Kathleen stared at her, stunned. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And you,” Darlene said, brushing a hand along Kathleen’s bare shoulder, “are very young.”
Without waiting for another word, she turned and glided out the door.
