“Invitation, please,” the announcer asked, holding out his hand for my card.
“Oh, right.” I handed it to him.
“The Lady Aria,” the announcer boomed to the room. My face turned bright red.
“I’m not a lady,” I quickly told him. “I’m just normal.”
Andre snickered. “Everyone is announced as a lord or a lady with their first name only for the masquerade,” he informed me. “In honor of the Peasant Queen.”
“Oh. That makes sense.” I remembered Henry’s story of how the prince snuck his love into the ball, tricking everyone into thinking she was royalty so she would be accepted. My face was still beet red, though. “Thanks, Andre.”
He nodded. “Henry’s over there. He’s been waiting for you.”
I grinned, feeling the butterflies that always seemed happy to dance at Henry’s name. He was why I was here. I gave Andre a small wave and started to walk in the direction he pointed.
The ballroom was huge and golden. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and everything seemed to be gilded. Party-goers mingled on the open floor. Everyone wore floor length gowns or tuxedos. Diamonds sparkled on the necks of nearly every woman, the wealth of America on display.
Masks of all shapes and colors dotted the faces of the wealthy guests. I thought I recognized some of the guests, but the masks made it difficult to point them out.
That’s kind of the point, I told myself as I thought I saw the Vice President of the United States walk past. Tonight, you can be anyone.
“You’re here.”
I turned at Henry’s voice, a smile on my face. He crossed the space between us in two steps and kissed me on the lips. I pressed into him, not caring that people were looking. What was the point of wearing a mask if not to hide my identity?
“Sorry I’m late,” I whispered when he broke the kiss.
“I would have waited all night for you.” He looked me up and down, his hands on my shoulders. “You look unbelievable.”
“Thank you.” I stepped back to look at him. He wore his military dress uniform with a simple black mask across his eyes. His uniform was black with bright accents of gold and deep red. A string of medals hung across his breast for his service. He looked like a prince out of a fairy tale on his way to marry a princess.
A princess dressed like me, I realized.
“You look pretty nice yourself,” I told him. I reached out and straightened one of his medals. “I like the uniform.”
He flushed slightly at the compliment before tucking my hand into the crease of his arm.
“I’d like you to meet my brothers,” he said, guiding me across the floor. “And my mother.”
I nearly tripped at the mention of meeting his mother. Wasn’t that something you did after a long period of dating? I wasn’t sure. I hoped she liked me since I certainly liked her son.
At least I wasn’t worried about what I was wearing.
“Did you know that Andre is working security for this thing?” I asked him.
“It’s part of his job,” Henry replied. “He works security for me, actually.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that. I guess I just assumed you two did the same thing for your work.” I frowned slightly as I realized I wasn’t really sure what that was. Henry had managed to stay rather vague about the details of his job. I knew that he was a businessman who dealt with trade, but I hadn’t really asked more than that.
I was more interested in who he was than what he did.
Henry nodded to several guests as we walked. Some of them whispered after we passed, and I could feel a million eyes on my back.
“Why are they all looking at me?” I whispered to him.
“Because you’re the most beautiful woman in the room,” he replied, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “This way.”
He led me to another room, nodding to three men wearing the traditional “I’m in security” uniforms and ear pieces. There were less guests in this room, probably due to the security standing guard at the door. Most of the guests didn’t dare venture past them.
Two men stood talking near one of the windows. They both wore military uniforms that matched Henry’s, although the medals on their chests were different. They turned and smiled as we approached. The men were replicas of Henry, but with just enough differences to mark them each their own.