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Laszlo frowned. ‘You must. Please. He chose them himself as a thank-you for all your hard work.’
She bit her lip. ‘He didn’t need to thank me. Not with something as beautiful as this. Shall I wear it tonight?’ she said shakily.
Nodding, he reached out and took the necklace gently from her hand. ‘It’s not as beautiful as you. Now, stand up and turn round!’
She turned away, feeling her skin tingle as his warm fingers slid over her.
‘There! Let me see...’
She turned back towards him slowly and lifted her head. Their eyes met and her pupils shrank beneath the intensity of his gaze.
‘You don’t need any jewellery. Your eyes and lips are your jewels,’ he said roughly.
Breathing deeply, he stepped away, his eyes narrowing.
‘And now I’d like to give you my gift. I’m sorry it doesn’t quite match up to my grandfather’s.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘If he’d been any other man I would have punched him on the nose. But what could I do? He’s my grandfather!’
‘Your gift?’
He reached down and pulled a small embellished leather bag from beneath his shirt. ‘It’s a putsi. It means “little pocket”. It’s traditional for Romany women to carry one.’ He looped the cord over his hand and held it out to her.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she croaked.
Her heart was racing, and she knew that her feelings were all over her face, but she was too happy to care. Her whole body felt as though it were filling with light.
With hands that shook slightly, she turned the bag over. It rattled softly. ‘Is there something inside it?’
He nodded. ‘Amulets. Magic charms.’ He shrugged. ‘They’re supposed to bring good luck. Ward off evil. If you believe in that sort of thing.’
She nodded, unable to speak.
‘Just don’t open the bag,’ he said, deepening his voice dramatically. ‘Or the magic will fail.’
Shivering, she looked up with wide, uncertain eyes.
He pulled her towards him, laughing softly. ‘I’m kidding. You can open it if you want.’
She began to pull clumsily at the drawstring and then, looking up, saw him watching her. Her fingers faltered.
‘I think I’ll wait,’ she said slowly. ‘Save my luck for later.’
Gently, he reached up and stroked her cheek. ‘You don’t need luck.’ He glanced at the soft curve of her waist beneath the clinging silk and frowned. ‘But if we don’t go right now there’s no amulet on earth that’s going to stop me ripping that dress off you!’
‘I’m ready!’ she said hastily.
Reaching down, she picked up her small beaded evening bag, opened it and put the putsi inside. Then, looking up, she smiled at him shyly.
‘Thank you, Laszlo. I’ll keep it close to me always. And I love it just as much as the pearls.’
He watched her coolly, back to his old inscrutable self.
‘It’s my pleasure. And I’m pleased.’ He grinned. ‘Utterly unconvinced, but pleased.’
He turned towards the door but she put her hand on his arm. ‘Wait!’ Their eyes met and then she blushed and pointed to his neck. ‘What about your bow tie?’
Glancing down, he frowned. ‘Oh... I gave up,’ he said simply. ‘Papi can do them in his sleep, but he was busy on the phone, and every time I tried to talk to him he shooed me away,’ he grumbled.
Their eyes met and she burst out laughing. ‘You are such a spoilt baby.’ She reached out and did up his top button. ‘Your grandfather was probably talking to the caterers. Now, lift your chin!’ Deftly, Prudence twisted the black silk between her fingers. ‘Turn around!’ Stepping backwards, she stared at him assessingly. ‘Perfect!’ she said softly.
