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‘I don’t know her at all.’
‘Ah.’ Emma looked around in a covert fashion. ‘Well, just a word to the wise—she’s not very happy with you. I suspect she thought this weekend was going to play out somewhat differently. Otherwise I doubt we would have got her here.’
Sybella didn’t have to ask what Marla imagined might be different.
‘You make a fabulous couple,’ said Emma, clearly wanting to hear all the details.
‘I don’t know if couple is the right word. We’ve only known one another a handful of days.’
Emma’s face fell. ‘So you don’t think you would have any sway with Nik if Benedict and I were to ask him to sponsor our Wells for Africa project? It would mean so much having his name attached, and I think it would go over well, you know, socially if he was seen to be contributing.’
Sybella felt as if she’d suddenly waded out beyond her depth. Her parents-in-law existed on the edges of the county set in the area, but she’d never paid any attention to it. She didn’t like snobs—she’d been raised by two. But Emma’s entire manner, even if it was a little manufactured, had something engaging underneath it. She seemed like a genuinely nice woman.
‘I’m sure he’s open to charitable enterprises—you only have to ask him. He’s not nearly as ferocious as his reputation.’
Emma beamed at her. ‘As soon as we heard he was bringing a local girl with him we knew Edbury Hall must be in safe hands.’
At dinner Nik was monopolised, but again she didn’t mind, although it was a little disconcerting when the man sitting beside her slipped his business card under her plate.
‘If you could get this to Mr Voronov, and let him know Forester & Bean have represented most of the established families in the area for over a century.’
Sybella politely smiled and went on with her dinner.
Nik sat opposite her, fielding questions from their host about the ecological impact of mining. Nik rolled out a convincing line about his company’s determination not to log where it wasn’t necessary and his refusal to use chemicals underground. Any mine was a major habitat modification and Voroncor did their best to limit biodiversity issues. But he admitted freely once a mine had gone in, the site would never be the same again.
Some of the other guests were clearly dinner table ecological warriors—rather like herself—but Nik handled them well. He explained Voroncor had posted bonds with all their sites. Once mining ceased the clean-up would not stop until they had proved the reclaimed land was once more productive.
‘So you’re not just digging holes in the earth and ruining habitat,’ she said to Nik as he pulled her out of her chair after dinner.
‘I’d be a poor excuse for a human being if I did,’ he said, taking her hand. ‘Mining isn’t for sissies, Sybella.’
‘I don’t think anyone here is going to mistake you for a sissy, Nik. Do you know everyone here wants a piece of you?’
He had his other hand around her waist now and was leading her into the ballroom.
She had so many questions, but mostly what she wanted to do was be in his arms, far away from all these people.
‘I do know every man here is envious of me at this moment.’
He finally held her in his arms as they drifted onto the dance floor and Sybella rested her head against his shoulder.
Envious? Probably not. But right now her heart was wide open and banging like a barn door and she was just waiting for him to come on in.
Because she could have this. Nik didn’t seem to be going anywhere and she’d spent the last week pretending to herself it didn’t matter if he came back.
All the silly things she’d been telling herself. None of it was true.
‘I never get to do this,’ she said confidingly, ‘put on a beautiful dress and be admired.’ She shook her head against his shoulder. ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you that. You’re a man. You wouldn’t understand.’
He stroked an invisible strand of hair from the curve of her neck. ‘You’ve denied yourself a great deal, I think,’ he said.
‘Not any more.’ Emboldened, she put a hand to his chest. ‘Are you going to make love to me?’ She framed the question she’d been longing to ask him all night.
