Page 102

‘What did you wear on your first formal interrogation?’

‘Oh, it’s not an interrogation.’ Her voice faded under Elsie’s ironic gaze. ‘I honestly don’t remember.’

‘It was tasteful?’

‘I expect it was,’ she admitted dully.

‘And they were still pretty bloody awful to you.’

‘That was different. My husband didn’t…he wasn’t protective.’

‘I don’t need protecting,’ Elsie said, thinking And never, ever forget it! She turned her back on the clothing selection and walked to the wardrobe, opening it wide. ‘I have another idea.’

It took her five minutes to select and put on her new outfit.

‘Oh, my goodness!’

‘So, how do I look?’ Elsie asked, sliding one foot into the impossibly high heel.

‘Quite restrained, really.’ The Dowager’s lip trembled before she burst out laughing.

The sound of a male voice made both women turn their heads. Standing in the open doorway, his hand on the frame, Leandro was dressed in a beautifully tailored formal dark suit. He looked elegant.

‘What did you say?’ Elsie asked innocently as she slowly spun around, arms outstretched, defiance sparkling in her eyes as she waited.

‘I said wow and I will say it again—wow!’ Hands wide, he traced curves in the air and swallowed. His warm olive skin heated as he ate her up with his eyes. He cleared his throat. ‘Red is definitely your colour.’

His eyes followed the flow of the dress that ended several daring inches above her knees, the silky fabric pulled smooth and tight over her hips and behind.

The deep vee at the front was only slightly higher than the vee at the back, and between the swell of her creamy cleavage sparkled a familiar jewel.

‘Your mother lent it to me.’’ Elsie shook her silky shiny hair back from her face, smoothing it down as she waited.

‘And the dress?’

‘You like it?’ she asked, pouting and striking a pose. ‘This little piece of haute couture—’ her elegant shoulders lifted in a negligent shrug ‘—wickedly extravagant, but Emily and I share it. I have no idea why I packed it.’

‘Share?’ The confession made him laugh. ‘You will make a very frugal queen. I’ll buy you one of those for yourself.

‘I take it this is a message?’ And quite a message it was. ‘I’m just not totally sure what it’s saying. Or who it is intended for?’

‘The world!’ she cried dramatically, throwing up her hands as her blazing blue eyes zeroed in on his face.

‘Well, that’s very much clearer. Could you narrow down the parameters a little?’ He mimed the narrowing with his outstretched hands. ‘See you later, Mother,’ he added in a soft aside as the older woman kissed his cheek, announcing to them both her intention of taking a walk.

The mocking mildness of his response increased the antagonism that was now rolling off Elsie in waves, her blue eyes sparking. ‘This isn’t funny,’ she snapped as he lowered his long, lean, athletic frame elegantly into a small armchair that was dwarfed by his proportions.

‘I am not laughing.’ He was admiring. In full flow she made him think of a goddess. She was fizzing, her eyes blazing, nostrils flared—she looked totally incredible! ‘You’ve had a change of mind?’

‘No…’ she flung back, irritated by his smug I told you so expression. ‘It’s…that man…’ She took a deep calming breath. ‘His office sent a person, his niece…who…actually, I can see you together. You missed a trick there, Leandro.’

‘She is very attractive.’

Elsie swore.

He fought off a grin. ‘Colourful, but anatomically impossible. So, what did charming Liliana have to say?’

‘A lot…fashion advice and, of course, some helpful pointers on etiquette because, apparently, my background is known for its informality.’ She could take the personal attacks but when they went for her family Elsie struggled to act nice.