“You’re with Veronica?” Edith gasped out.
Kathleen cleared her throat, a flush creeping up her neck. “Veronica agreed to be my plus one for the night.”
Edith was silent for a moment, and then to Marise’s surprise, she chuckled. “This is delicious. Darlene has been going on about you, Veronica. She’s quite taken with you and now you’ve turned up here with Kathleen.”
Before Kathleen could reply, someone came onto the terrace door.
“Well,” came Darlene’s voice. “I see you found the woman of the moment, Edith.”
She stepped nearer, two flutes of champagne in hand, eyes immediately falling on the three of them. Her gaze stalled the moment it landed on Marise. For half a second, she said nothing, simply stared.
Then she smiled.
“I didn’t realize we were having a reunion out here.”
She crossed the terrace with that slow, deliberate grace Marise had come to recognize as a warning. She handed one glass to Edith, then turned to Kathleen.
“You’re glowing. It’s intoxicating.” Her eyes flicked to Marise. “Or maybe it’s the company you’re keeping.”
“Veronica was kind enough to accompany me tonight,” she said. “Thank you for coming tonight.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t have missed it.” Darlene’s smile deepened. “Not every day one gets to witness a scientific revolution—and such a well-dressed one, too.” Her eyes lingered on Kathleen’s dress, then moved to Marise’s face. “Though I must admit, I’m surprised to see Veronica here. I thought she was indisposed.”
Edith sipped her champagne, watching quietly now, like someone seated front row at the opera.
Marise straightened. “I’m not hard to find if someone actually wants to see me.”
Darlene tilted her head. “Is that so? I must’ve mistaken your silence for something else.” She took a slow sip of her drink. “Or maybe I didn’t rate.”
Kathleen frowned. “Darlene?—”
“No need to defend her,” Darlene said smoothly.
“I’m not. She’s here as my guest tonight,” Kathleen said firmly.
“That much is obvious,” Darlene said, her voice still light, but there was something sharper glinting beneath. “You’re lucky, Kathleen. She’s a woman of many talents.”
“She is,” Kathleen said, lifting her chin. “And she’s here because I asked her.”
Darlene studied her for a long moment, then turned to Marise with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You do have a way of landing on your feet.”
Marise didn’t blink. “I land where I’m meant to.”
Darlene laughed softly, her tone still too bright. “Well then. Let’s all drink to landing well.”
She lifted her glass. “To scientific stardom, and to old friends who turn up in the strangest places.”
Edith clinked her glass against hers without comment. Kathleen hesitated but raised hers too. Marise didn’t move.
“I’ll leave you to enjoy the view,” Darlene said lightly, stepping back toward the terrace doors. “Edith introduced me to your parents, Kathleen. Your mother’s terribly curious about Veronica.”
She let that hang in the air like perfume and then disappeared inside.
Edith turned to Kathleen. “Well. I’m glad I came. That was more entertaining than I expected.”
Kathleen exhaled, clearly rattled. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Edith glanced at Marise with a flicker of dry humour. “It’s not every day I get to see Darlene play second fiddle. You must be very compelling, Veronica.”
