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Archie buried his head against her shoulder, and Dora frowned apologetically. ‘Sorry, he’s just really tired.’
‘Of course. Let me show you to your rooms.’
Dazedly, Dora followed him into the house. Lack of sleep and a surfeit of adrenaline was making her feel a little light-headed, so that she barely took in her surroundings. Just felt an awareness of space and cool opulence.
‘These are your rooms.’
Smiling, Chen stepped back, and Dora felt her face slacken. Charlie’s apartment in London had been impressive, but this...
She turned slowly on the spot, her heart reverberating against her ribs. It was an East meeting West fusion, the decor effortlessly blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with the stealth luxury that was only available to the truly rich—people who didn’t need to shout about their wealth.
Polished dark mahogany furniture, oriental rugs and cherry-coloured silk blinds offset the white marble floor perfectly, and the chrome-framed mirrors and lacquered chests added an art deco vibe.
Archie’s bedroom made a lump form in her throat. She knew Della would have adored the simple cream-painted cot, but it was the beautiful hand-painted mural of monkeys and romping pandas and tigers that made Dora rub her face against Archie’s silken hair.
Seeing with her own eyes what Charlie could offer Archie made her feel horribly anxious, but it would be churlish not to acknowledge how lovely it was.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she said quietly. ‘Gently,’ she added as Archie made a grab for a display of delicate blossoms. ‘These are beautiful too. What are they? They smell divine.’
‘Plum blossoms.’ Chen smiled. ‘Mr Law asked for them specifically.’
He had?
Gazing at the delicate pale pink flowers, she felt a pulse of joy, brief as a heartbeat, dart over her skin.
But before she had a chance to question her reaction, a thought occurred to her. ‘Is Mr Law not here, then?’
Chen’s expression shifted slightly. ‘Mr Law sends his apologies. Unfortunately there was a problem at the casino.’
She felt her shoulders stiffen.
A problem? Seriously!
Her pulse was darting in angry little bursts.
This had been his idea. He had cajoled and manipulated her into coming here, and she and Archie had flown halfway across the world, and now he’d stood them up because of a problem at his casino.
With an effort, she hung on to her indignation. It wasn’t Chen’s fault that his boss was a scheming, selfish bastard, and she wasn’t going to take it out on him. Working as a waitress at a casino had made her all too aware of how casually people exploited their positions of power.
‘That’s a shame.’ She managed a smile as Archie yawned. ‘Perhaps you could show me the kitchen? I think this little one needs to eat and then go to bed.’
As it turned out, she didn’t need to go to the kitchen.
Before they’d left England, someone had called her requesting a list of Archie’s favourite foods. And, although she’d rolled her eyes at the time, watching her nephew now, wolfing down his favourite meal of cheesy tomato pasta, prepared by the somewhat bemused chef, Jian, she had to admit that Charlie’s obsessive need to be in control of everything had its plus points.
Not that she’d forgiven him for not being here earlier, she thought, as she tried to guide a wriggling Archie into his sleepsuit.
Even though he was shattered, she’d expected him to play up when she tried to put him in the cot. Since Della’s death he’d grown clingy at bedtime, and she’d been letting him stay up later and later. But, incredibly, he went straight to sleep.
More incredibly still, she felt bereft.
She realised she’d grown used to cuddling up with him in the evenings, and without him she suddenly felt close to tears, and homesick for their small, cosy living room.
Probably she was tired too, although, actually, she didn’t feel tired at all. Maybe she just needed to eat something.
She took one last look at Archie, picked up the baby monitor and, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar, crept out onto the landing, turning right towards the stairs.
Back in London, even at night, the streets were never silent. There was always a car alarm going off somewhere or the distant sound of police sirens. This house, in comparison, wasn’t just quiet—there was a stillness to it that was both calming and unnerving.
