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She turned her head from side to side. The neckline was perhaps a little lower than she’d normally wear, and her pinned-up hair would probably not survive the dancing, but overall she was satisfied. Still staring at her reflection, she bit her lip. She seemed to be looking at two separate versions of herself. One was serene and cool, the deep smoky grey of the long silk dress highlighting her classic English rose skin and fair hair. The other Prudence was visible only in her eyes, which were dark, apprehensive. Aroused by Laszlo’s imagined response to her transforma
tion.
She heard a knock at the door and felt a stab of excitement. Laszlo!
Heart pounding, she opened the door—and took a step backwards, her hand over her mouth. He looked impossibly handsome in a classic black dinner jacket, his snowy white shirt unbuttoned at the neck, bow tie hanging loose around the collar.
‘It—it’s a dinner jacket,’ she stammered.
He glanced down at himself nonchalantly. ‘This old thing? I found it at the back of my wardrobe,’ he murmured.
He smiled, his teeth gleaming in the darkness. She saw the flare of approval and desire in his face and felt her body respond.
‘You’re beautiful, Prudence,’ he said softly. Reaching out, he tugged gently at a tendril of honey-coloured hair, shaping the curl between his fingers. ‘I love your hair up like this. You’re like a goddess—an Aphrodite.’
Prudence stared at him breathlessly. He was more beautiful than any god she could name. And sexier too, with his shirt open and his eyes dark and teasing.
‘That would explain why I can’t ever seem to get warm. I should really be on some hot Greek mountain,’ she said lightly, her heart banging against her chest.
He studied her in silence. ‘Speaking of cold...are you going to invite me in or shall I just wait out here?’
She blushed. ‘Sorry. Of course—come in. I just need to get my bag.’
Shutting the door behind him, Laszlo pulled off his jacket and hung it carelessly over the back of the sofa. He sat down in one of the armchairs, picked up a magazine and began to flick through it.
After a moment he sighed and put his feet up onto the coffee table. ‘What do women put in their bags anyway?’ he said idly.
Prudence smiled. ‘All the things men keep in their jacket pockets. Money, keys, lipstick...’
‘I don’t have any lipstick,’ Laszlo said sadly.
She laughed softly. ‘You don’t have any money or keys either.’
Grinning up at her, he tugged her leg and she let herself fall into his lap.
‘Is that so? How would you know? Or have you been going through my clothes as well as breaking into my house?’
He shook his head and, laughing, she wriggled free of his hands. Standing up, she pulled down his jacket and began patting the pockets one by one.
‘See?’ she said triumphantly. ‘Empty. Oh—’ Her fingers touched something small and rectangular and then suddenly she was holding a small velvet-covered rectangular box.
‘What’s this?’
Frowning, Laszlo stood up. He paused and then swore softly under his breath. ‘Damn it!’ He shook his head and then smiled ruefully. ‘That was—is actually for you.’
She stared at him, too shocked to speak. ‘For me?’ she said finally. ‘What is it?’
His eyes met hers and he laughed quietly. ‘Open it and see!’
Heart pounding, she felt her mind dance forward as she lifted the lid—and then she gasped. ‘Oh, Laszlo. It’s beautiful.’
He nodded. ‘It’s to match your eyes.’
She stared at the luminous grey pearl necklace in silence, shivers running up and down her spine. ‘It’s truly lovely. But I didn’t get you anything,’ she said, looking up at him anxiously.
A dark flush coloured his cheeks. There was a pause, and then he shook his head slowly. ‘It’s not from me.’ He cleared his throat. ‘It’s from my grandfather. He would have given it to you himself, but he got tied up on the phone and he wanted you to have it before the party.’
Prudence blinked ‘Your grandfather?’ She swallowed. Her skin felt hot and raw; his gaze was blistering her skin. She felt stupid and naive. Keeping her gaze averted, she breathed in deeply. ‘That’s so sweet of him. But I can’t possibly accept it.’
