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“Sorry, Princess,” said Danni with a syrupy smile. “Your car or mine?”

“Is that really a question?” asked Eleanor, picking up herpurse.

“Yours got hit by a tractor, remember?” Danni said. “Thought you might want to take mine.”

“Just get in the damn car,” Eleanor said, gritting her teeth and already regretting this little outing.

???

The country club turned out to be all dark wood and plush carpeting and Danni had an inexplicable urge to graffiti the toilet walls, but held herself back.

She was on her best behavior. Despite what Eleanor might think, she did know how to behave herself, and she knew how to play nice. She was going to keep to her side of the bargain, she knew what there was to gain.

So she shook hands and smiled politely and even managed to fake interest in some truly awful conversations.

Eleanor, to her credit, seemed surprised and rather gratified at how well Danni was doing. She smiled and was graceful, and Danni found herself wondering why Eleanor couldn’t be a little more charming at home as well.

But even Danni’s patience eventually wore thin. The rich might dress nicely, and have decent taste in little snacky things, to be fair. But they were also fake, all smiles and polite nods until someone walked away, and then it was open season with the barbed insults.

“These people are awful,” Danni hissed, leaning toward Eleanor.

Eleanor sighed. “That’s just how it is.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Danni snorted. “Who’s the wanker with the kilt?”

A look passed over Eleanor’s face that interested Danni.

“Go on, who is he?” she poked. “Ex-boyfriend?”

“No,” said Eleanor sharply. “As it happens, he’s my great-uncle.”

Danni peered at the blonde man across the room. “No shit? But he’s not that much older than Hector.”

“Mmm,” Eleanor said. “My grandmother’s sister was… a woman of certain tastes. And Stephan wasn’t above taking advantage of those tastes. I’m surprised they let him in here, the last I heard he’d declared bankruptcy.”

“Looks like he’s doing alright now,” Danni observed. “He’s chatting up anyone that’ll listen. He does look a wanker in the kilt, though.”

“I didn’t know he was Scottish,” Eleanor admitted.

“Don’t think he is,” said Danni. “Think he just thinks he’s got nice calves and wants to show ‘em off. He’s that kind of bloke.”

“Behave yourself,” Eleanor said threateningly.

“Don’t worry, new tractor on the line, I’ve got it,” Danni said. “I’m all out of drinks, though, so you could probably bribe me with alcohol for better results.”

Eleanor put her hand in the small of Danni’s back to escort her to the drinks table, and Danni felt an odd shiver go down her spine as her skin started to tingle. Jesus, these toffs made their drinks strong. Maybe she should go easy on the next one.

???

Just as Eleanor was steering Danni toward the drinks table, a familiar, unwelcome voice rang out. Eleanor’s stomach dropped.

“Well, Eleanor, darling, isn’t this… unexpected?”

Eleanor took a deep breath before turning around to see Beatrice Allenton standing there, lips curved into a razor-thin smile.

Beatrice had been the bane of her existence since boarding school, always ready with a mean quip or spiky insult. She had the uncanny ability of being able to pin-point one’s weaknesses, an ability she took full advantage of.

“What is unexpected?” Eleanor asked, already dreading the answer. She really must learn to stay far away from Beatrice.She’d been avoiding the woman all evening, but Danni had distracted her.