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‘Is there anything we can help with?’ the guest services manager asked.
So daunted was Mia by the prospect of tonight she was brave enough to ask for some help. ‘Actually, I’ve probably left it far too late but I wasn’t able to book a hair appointment.’
‘I shall have the personal stylist come and speak with you now.’ He smiled. ‘No problem at all.’
It was indeed no problem, for after alongconversation with the personal stylist, it was agreed that while Mia took high tea on the balcony, her bath would be drawn and then the hair and make-up experts would come in.
The suite was stunning and looked out at Piazza Navona, a gorgeous public space with grand statues and fountains, and Mia sat sipping tea and trying to quell her nerves while telling herself it would all be okay though she felt terribly rude to have not RSVP’d. Her gown had been taken to be skilfully pressed and she had a host of fairy godmothers on hand to get her ready for the ball.
A little later she lay in a deep bath, terrified about all the night held, still not knowing what would happen between her and Dante.
Would they get a chance to speak?
And, if they did, would she tell him about the baby?
But there was more on her mind than the baby. Just the thought of seeing him was enough to mean the pink hue to her skin could not all be blamed on the fragrant warm water out of which she now stepped.
She was to be given the full treatment, although Mia had declined a massage, unsure if she could while pregnant, and most unwilling to tell the staff her secret. Instead, she applied gorgeous body oil and then put on a fluffy white gown and stepped out to begin her transformation.
‘Subtle make-up,’ Mia said, her eyes drifting to the very red gown.
‘Of course, Signora Romano.’
Her rather short nails were buffed to perfection; even her toenails were treated to the same.
In her time with Rafael she had steered clear of all this, preferring to retreat to the Tuscan hills, but now she was getting a real insight into the lavish lifestyle the Romanos led in Rome and she was finding it unnerving.
There was a knock on the door, just as her hair had been done and her make-up was being applied. There was a slight flutter of panic from all the staff present when it was established that the owner, Gian, was personally delivering a package to the room.
‘Un regalo per Mia,’she heard.A gift for Mia.
It was a black velvet box, the colour Mia now wished her dress was!
As the staff stepped back to focus on her shoes and dress, Mia opened the card.
It was cream with embossed gold edging but the note was handwritten.
Thank you for attending
Dante Romano
Mia opened the box slowly and was startled at what she saw: a pair of the most exquisite rose-gold drop earrings and on the end of each, twinkling and shining, were briolette-cut diamonds.
No wonder Gian had hand-delivered them for they were surely worth a fortune. They must be on loan for the night, Mia decided, because they were simply divine. Perhaps Dante did not want her looking like the poor relation tonight.
But it turned out that she looked nothing like the poor relation!
Even Mia gasped at her own reflection as she stood before a long mirror, for she barely recognised herself.
The dress was as exquisite as she remembered from last year’s fittings, but her bust had filled out a touch, and there was rather more curve to her hips, which made her overall figure seem more voluptuous. Her make-up was not quite as subtle as she’d hoped—though her lips were neutral, her lashes had been darkened and black and winged eyeliner had been applied—but she’d been told the gown required it. And the gown absolutely required the earrings she now put on, because they pulled the whole look together completely.
And soon she would face Dante.
The elevator took her down to the first floor. From there she took the grand stairs down to the reception where the family were gathered before entering the ballroom.
Mia drew on every bit of reserve she possessed in order to at least appear calm while knowing she had completely underestimated the magnitude of this night.
And there Dante was, standing with Ariana and Stefano.
