I came to the V&A on a school trip when I was thirteen and ever since then, it's been one of my favourite places in the world. As a teenager, museums weren't my thing but as I walked inside, I knew that the Victoria and Albert was different to all those other, stuffy old museums. Yes, it looks the same but it's the feel of the place that makes it stand apart from the others; whenever I walk inside, it's like coming back to a magical kingdom that no one else can see.  

Walking in this evening, that feeling of coming home hits me again; decorated tastefully with white minimalistic ornaments dotted around the space, a red carpet leading up the steps to the costume department and waiters dressed like penguins mingling in the crowd, offering flutes of champagne to the guests, I can't help but feel proud that between a handful of us, we've accomplished something amazing. Let's just hope that the rest of this evening doesn't let the side down. 

I recognise most of the people here but I think quite a few are from the art world that Sam and Evie have invited as part of a charm offensive. As we walk deeper into the museum and make our way to the stairs, photographers from several society bibles all demand that we pose for photographs. Despite Daniel trying to run away, we oblige; as I pose, I make sure that I'm angled so that my bloated stomach is away from the lenses, a genuine smile playing my lips. After the pictures were taken and I'd given a journalist from the Daily Mail a quote about the importance of the fundraiser, Daniel escorted me inside. 

We're quickly introduced to the new editor of British Vogue by an old colleague of mine that survived the exodus; I listen with great interest to what he says and when he offers me a position as a contributing editor for the magazine, my eyes bug out. It wasn't at all attractive if the snort coming from Daniel's direction was anything to go by. Regaining my composure quickly, I give him my best polite smile and tell him that I will have to think about it. I've just become used to not working in that industry and to go back in after months, it made me anxious. The fashion world has moved on and I'm seasons behind. 

Next, we move to greet a few more people from the philanthropic world that I now patrons. The money raised from this evening was going to a charity that ensured children in India weren't exploited while making clothes for fashion companies in the UK. I had read an article a few months ago about how underaged girls barely earned twenty pence a day in sweatshops and I started to lecture Daniel about it, saying that we had to do something to ameliorate the situation. Daniel suggested that if I wanted to change the industry, I could and I should. And that's what has become my mission recently.

"Oh, no," Daniel's voice suddenly whispered in my ear. "Eleven o'clock."

Looking over my shoulder to where Daniel had just glanced, I saw my grandmother making her way to us. Harlow Delaney still scared the crap out of my husband even though he's met her at least five times by now. The way her eyes watched him was 'unnerving', in Daniel's words. I can't help but roll my eyes at the way he ducks out of the impending conversation, running off to where his friends stand. Thankfully, just as Daniel disappears, Charlotte comes to my side and grips my hand while Emma shoves Adam in Harlow's path, slowing her down. 

"Run!" Charlotte whispers in my ear before dragging me off into the crowd. When we're a good distance away from Harlow, Charlotte slows down and leads me towards the bar, picking up a glass of champagne and handing it to me. When I decline, she frowns. "Are you in Irish AA?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "No, just not partaking tonight. My stomach is majorly bloated already and bubbles just make it worse. Emma will just have to drink my share as well as yours."

On cue, Emma joins us and takes the champagne flute from Charlotte, throwing is to the back of her throat in milliseconds and swallowing it in one. She does exactly the same again to Charlotte's drink and a third time with her own drink. "God, I needed a drink," Emma tells us, her voice weary from who-knows-what. When she notices Charlotte and I staring at her, Emma shrugs and changes the subject quickly. "Have either of you seen Keira this evening? She's looking so different these days. I think that boyfriend of hers is doing her the world of good. And yes, I am aware of how much I sounded like Harlow when I said that, you don't need to tell me. This is why I drink, by the way. Pass me another glass, will you?"

While Emma downed her fourth known drink, Charlotte and I did the obvious- stand on our tiptoes to see where Keira was so that we could take a damned good look at what she was wearing. Neither of us could deny that Emma was right about Keira's boyfriend being a good influence on her; since she and Logan got together, Keira's been tamed to a degree without truly losing that uniqueness that made her stand out. It was a fine line but one that she walked with precision. Not that she would ever tell anyone that. At times, Keira still refused to refer to Logan as her boyfriend despite the fact that they've been together longer than Charlotte and Isaac. 

When I finally spotted my cousin, I couldn't help but smile at what she wore. A deep red coloured gown clung to her fabulous figure, the plunging halter neckline giving Logan a good view of her assets, no matter how small she always complained they were, and the central front thigh-high split was dangerous without being obscene. But my favourite thing about the dress, apart from the red colour, is the fact that it's backless. Red and backless. Last summer, when I sent her a red and backless dress, she threatened to shave off my eyebrows. Now look at her. 

Keira caught me staring at her but instead of glaring at me like she would have done two years ago, she smiles and raises her hand to wave at me. 

"Do you think she's been possessed?" I can't help but question my sisters. 

Emma scoffs while Charlotte laughs. "No, she's in love, that's all. Happens to the best of us," Charlotte sighs dreamily. "That reminds me, I need to go and make sure Isaac isn't getting blind drunk. Dad has Sera tonight and I am damned well going to make the most of having a baby-free house. Isaac better not screw that up by passing out blind drunk on me before I get my rocks off."

When it's just Emma and me left, we look at each other, silently questioning how long it'll be before Charlotte and Isaac become engaged. We're all more than aware that Charlotte didn't want to marry before Seraphina was born but surely she would have changed her mind by now. That man adored her in a way that most women long to be adored- not me, of course, because I have Daniel and he's the Dan to my Phie- but I can imagine other women being jealous of the relationship my sister has with Isaac. 

"Hey, Soph, are you ok?" Emma suddenly asks, her face contorting into a look of worry. She reaches her hand up to my forehead and frowns. "Sophie, you're burning up and your skin is clammy. Do you need to go out for some air?"

"Actually, now that you mention it, I'm not feeling so great," I explain. There's been a dull ache at the lower of my back and in my abdomen but I'd put it down to nerves about this evening but so far, everything was going well. The room was warm, which was expected since there are hundreds of people here, so maybe that's playing with my body. Whatever it was, I needed to head somewhere quieter where there were fewer people. "I'm going next door to see the presentation before it's opened up to the guests."

Emma nodded and began to follow me. I shook my head at her as if to say that she didn't need to accompany me but she wasn't having any of it. "Don't even start with me," she warns me, her feistiness coming through. Emma was far scarier than Charlotte and me, although she did a better job of hiding that side of herself to the outside world. "I don't want to leave you on your own and anyway, you can give me a private tour of the presentation. Lead the way, oh great one."

Keira's Dress

https://youtu.be/FC1C4g8YOA4

Chapter Song - Lady in Red ~ Chris de Burgh