#Chapter 200: The Dress

Iris Unfortunately, the champagne winds up doing very little to calm my frayed nerves as I weave through the crowd, staying close to the walls where I’m less likely to be noticed. Every few minutes, I catch a glimpse of Veronica’s glittering red gown across the room, and my stomach performs somersaults. And every time I catch a glimpse of that gown, I also catch a glimpse of those cold gray eyes swiveling toward me. I swear she’s scanning the crowd, searching for something—or someone. Me. Just as her head turns in my direction, I duck behind a group of patrons. Veronica’s eyes sweep across the area, but thankfully don’t land on me, and I take the opportunity to study Arthur from across the room. Ezra was right; there is something sort of… off about Arthur’s mannerisms. He’s nodding politely at whatever the person he’s talking to is saying, but he looks strangely mechanical and his eyes are glazed over, as if he doesn’t want to be here. Or rather, as if h