“Yeah!” Pol y screamed, jumping up and down, excitedly rushing about the room. Caitlin marveled how much she was like a little kid. She went through al of Caitlin’s clothes in a rush, and picked out a long, elegant yel ow skirt, with a red trim.
“This one,” Pol y said. “Yes, this is perfect. You have to wear this.”
Caitlin looked at it, and shook her head. She’d never worn anything remotely like it before. It was so long, heavy, formal, and had so much material. It looked like it had enough material to make drapes for an entire house.
“I don’t know, Pol y,” she said. “I don’t think it’s me.”
“Nonsense,” Pol y said, running around and holding it up against her. She gasped. “Oh my God!
It’s beautiful!”
Caitlin decided it would be futile to resist. Clothes were clearly Pol y’s thing. She figured she’d letter be happy with what she wanted, especial y since Caitlin didn’t much care for al these fancy clothes anyway.
“Okay, I’l wear it,” she said.
Pol y practical y screamed with giddiness, clapping her hands. Ruth barked excitedly, joining in.
And Caitlin realized she was in for a long night.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
After what felt like hours getting ready—far longer than Caitlin would have liked—Pol y was final y satisfied with the way that the two of them looked. Because they couldn’t see themselves in mirrors, they had to rely on each other.
According to Pol y, Caitlin looked ravishing. Caitlin wasn’t so sure. She had never thought of herself as ravishing, in any outfit.
But she had spent more time putting on makeup, and getting into this outfit, than she had in any outfit of her life.
There had been layers and layers of fabric, each more uncomfortable than the next, and in this July heat, she felt her body temperature rise with each added later. She had no idea how they did it.
If that were not enough, Pol y had caked her face with layer after layer of thick, white powder.
Caitlin didn’t understand why this generation thought this to be attractive. And even if for some reason they did, wasn’t one layer enough? She was pale to begin with, but now, she was sure she looked ridiculous.
As if al this weren’t enough, as if she weren’t already boiling over and ready to tear off every item of clothing in this heat, her outfit had to be topped off with a huge, heavy hat. Caitlin was so warm and stiff that she could scream.
She felt like a plaything, dressed up to be shown off to people.
She hated it. She preferred loose, simple clothing, that she could throw on and off easily, and she preferred not having to wear any makeup. And she hated spending hours getting ready.
That said, she tried to put on a big smile. She didn’t want to ruin Pol y’s excitement, which, as usual, was brimming over.
“Oh my God, you look gorgeous!” Pol y said again. “You’re going to be the talk of the night!”
Without another word, she took her arm, and the two of them walked out of the guest house, and began to cross the grounds.
They crossed through the perfectly trimmed formal gardens, heading for the main, marble palace of Versail es, Ruth trailing on their heels.
As they headed up the marble staircase, immediately several servants rushed to open the doors for them. Caitlin had never felt so regal.
They glided through the open doors and down a marble hal way, and in the distance, several more servants opened doors for them.
They entered a grand, magnificent, dining room. Caitlin had never seen anything more opulent.
The room was dominated by an enormous dining table, which looked like it sat at least fifty. This was surrounded by thick, grand velvet armchairs, decorated in a light blue velvet with white arms.
The table was covered in flowers and burning candles.
Everywhere was real silver, real china.
There were heaps and heaps of food al throughout, and each guest already had a plate brimming over. Dozens of servants hovered around them, waiting on their every whim, pouring glass after glass of wine into the finest crystal she had ever seen. Above the table were several magnificent crystal chandeliers, reflecting light off of everything.
And this was just the beginning. Everyone was dressed in fineries more opulent than Caitlin had ever seen. There were gowns and dresses and suits of every shape and size and color imaginable.
The table was a rainbow of color. And this was topped by extravagant hats, and even more extravagant jewelry, women and men wearing rings the size of golf bal s, long glittering earrings, draping bracelets. The table positively sparkled.
Off in the corner of the room was a harp and a cel o, and the performers played lightly, providing pleasant background music.
Caitlin surveyed the group, and there were so many faces she didn’t recognize. But there were several that she did.
She spotted Sam, sitting way too close to Kendra, who leaned into his shoulder as he fed her chocolate-covered strawberries.
As she scanned further, she saw Blake sitting at the far end, and beside him, a beautiful, tal blonde girl. Caitlin could sense that she was human, and seeing Blake together with her, and seeing the two of them so happy, felt like a smal dagger in her heart.
She immediately looked away, trying to focus on anyone else. She saw the twins, Taylor and Tyler, and then, to her relief, she saw Lily. That was the only face that set her at ease. She was even happier to see that there was an empty seat beside her. Caitlin hurried over, Pol y at her side.
“Mind if we join you?” she asked Lily.
Lily looked up, and her eyes opened wide in delight.
“Who else do you think I saved it for?” Lily asked with a smile.
Caitlin sat beside Lily, and Pol y sat on Caitlin’s other side.
Caitlin tried not to look in Blake’s direction. She turned her head the other way, and saw Sam and Kendra. But seeing those two so enmeshed upset her, too, so she looked away from that end of the table. She fidgeted, not knowing where to look, already impatient to leave.
“Where is he?” Caitlin asked Pol y, as she scanned the table for Pol y’s new boyfriend. She was eager to meet him, to see what al the talk was about—and then, to leave. She had been surprised not to find him at the door, waiting to greet Pol y and bring her to her seat, as the other men did.
“He’s performing tonight,” Pol y said with great pride, “so he won’t be joining us at the feast.
He always needs to prepare before his performances. He needs time alone. Backstage. That’s because he’s a very great artist.”