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‘I wouldn’t call them gifts,’ Raul delivered some hours la
ter, looking deadly serious in the reflection Polly could see of him in the mirror as she dazedly fingered the fabulous diamond necklace and earrings he had just presented her with. ‘They belonged to my mother, so now they’re yours.’
Polly stared down at the fabulous river of diamonds and the teardrop earrings with a lump in her throat. ‘They’re out of this world.’
Lifting the necklace, Raul clasped it round her throat. ‘No one but me ever saw her wear them. My father never took her out in public.’
Polly gulped. ‘Oh, heavens...that’s so sad!’
‘No, mi esposa.’ Raul watched her put on the earrings and then stand up. ‘We’re a different generation, and the Zaforteza family has enjoyed a rebirth. I’m very grateful that the warmth I foolishly condemned you for has helped to heal the wounds of the past and persuade Fidelio to become a part of our lives.’
Wrinkling her nose to hold back tears in receipt of that surprisingly humble accolade, Polly turned to study her reflection in the cheval mirror. She looked elegant, with her hair swept up in a French roll, loose tendrils curling round her face. And then there was the dress, the designer sleeveless evening gown in green with the wonderful sweeping neckline and elaborate gilded embroidery, not to mention the spike-heeled shoes and all the diamonds catching fire under the lights. But none of that meant anything when set beside the burning sincerity she had glimpsed in Raul’s stunning golden eyes. That filled her to bursting point with love.
Without the slightest warning, Raul reached for her hand and practically crushed the life from her fingers with the unwitting fierceness of his grip. He exhaled in a stark hiss. ‘I think I love you...’
Polly’s eyes opened very wide, and then flooded with pain. She hauled her fingers free in a gesture of repudiation. ‘No, you don’t. You’re just feeling grateful and more emotional than usual,’ she told him unevenly. ‘Don’t call that love.’
‘I said it wrong, but I haven’t had a lot of practice at this!’ Raul gritted rawly. ‘I shouldn’t have said, I think—’
‘You shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that nothing short of true love will satisfy me,’ Polly responded tautly, the stress and strain of the day mounting up to betray her into saying exactly what she was thinking. ‘Actually, fidelity would do...so there, I’ve finally lowered my expectations to a more realistic level!’
His fabulous bone structure prominent with tension beneath his bronzed skin, Raul dealt her a thunderous look of disbelief that shook her. He parted his lips to respond at the same moment that an urgent knock sounded on the door.
‘Our guests have begun to arrive,’ he relayed seconds later.
Before he could leave the room, Polly rushed over to him, all cool abandoned in the growing awareness that she had reacted in the worst possible way, her blue eyes deeply troubled and full of guilt. ‘Raul, I didn’t mean...you took me by—’
‘Relax...you’ve cured me of my delusional state,’ he derided, silencing her, convincing her that he could only have spoken those words out of an impulsive need to reward her in some way for helping to bring him and his grandfather to a closer understanding.
It was not a good moment to go downstairs and discover that Melina D’Agnolo had arrived with the first wave of guests. Melina—spectacular in a glittering scarlet dress, blonde hair gleaming and a brilliant smile on her ripe pink mouth.
‘What a lovely dress,’ she said sweetly, and passed on.
Loads of baggage was being carried upstairs. Not everyone was staying the whole weekend, and not everyone was sleeping in the house. The equestrian centre had a spacious block of comfortable accommodation, used when Raul staged polo matches and occasional conferences, and many of their guests would be staying there. In the busy buzz of people, several different languages filling the air, Polly suffered a stark instant of panic, and then she drew in a deep, steadying breath and took her place at Raul’s side.
Since being nice had never been a challenge for Polly—ironically with anyone but Raul—she soon found that natural friendliness was all that was required, and the approval in Raul’s eyes soon dissolved her anxiety about socialising. Mid-way through the evening a fabulous fireworks display brought everyone out into the gardens. Polly was walking back indoors, hanging back to wait for Raul, who was chatting to a group of men, when Melina approached her.
‘You watch him like an anxious mother, don’t you?’ It was an open sneer.
Polly coloured, suddenly painfully conscious that, whether she liked it or not, she had been sticking to Raul rather like superglue.
‘Draped in diamonds worth millions,’ Melina scorned with glittering green eyes. ‘I hope they comfort you for sleeping alone at night.’
As Polly paled, the beautiful blonde flung her a triumphant look and strolled past her.
A pair of lean hands settled unexpectedly on her taut shoulders from behind. ‘Dios mío, how wonderfully friendly Melina’s being!’ Raul drawled above her slightly downbent head.
Polly jerked as if he had slapped her. ‘Actually...’
‘Actually?’ Raul encouraged silkily.
‘She was admiring my diamonds,’ Polly completed dully.
‘She’s very fond of jewels...but not of her own sex.’
And who would know that best but him? That statement only served to remind Polly that Raul had intimate knowledge of Melina’s character. It made her feel more isolated than ever.
The musicians began to play the haunting country music of the llanos and one of them began to sing. ‘What is he singing about?’ she whispered.
