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When she’d stepped into his embrace, every head had turned to look at them. Emma didn’t care. And when she looped her arm in his it felt right. As if this was where she belonged. Even the warning she usually kept close, telling herself she shouldn’t entertain these thoughts, was cast aside. None of it mattered. Not right now.
She was dressed in a long-sleeved blood-red velvet dress that hugged her body and flared out below her hips, falling like a curtain to the floor. The deep V neck exposed her long neck and fair chest, but still remained entirely demure. Her hair was swept back and straight, and silver and diamond drops hung from her ears. She knew she stood out from the crowd.
‘Ravishing,’ Alex said looking down at her.
But to Emma he looked just as good. In a black tux, he made all the words she wanted to say die on her tongue. Instead, she ran her fingers over the stubble on his cheek and pressed a kiss to his jaw.
Wanting her closer, Alex moved to wrap his arm around her waist. He was afraid she might disappear, as if this was all a trick of his overstressed mind, and he wasn’t going to let her go. Even when Matt and his sister approached them and made the necessary introductions.
Emma thanked Sarah, who had lent her the dress, and then the four of them seated themselves at one of the many round tables spaced out around the floor. A section had been cleared as a dance floor, before a small stage with musicians playing various string instruments sitting upon it.
An auction was held, during which Alex paid an exorbitant amount of money for a piece of art that would likely be left behind in his flat in London when they went back to Melbourne. He didn’t mind. As much as he hated these events, he always approved of the fundraising.
During dinner he paid little attention to everyone around them. Emma was with him, and he hadn’t realised until now how much he needed her. Scarcely believing that he hadn’t once thought to call her, Alex held her hand tightly now, not wanting to let go for even a second.
‘What is it?’ Emma asked as she caught him staring at her for what must have been the hundredth time that evening.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said, but it wasn’t what he wanted to say.
He wanted to say how grateful he was that she was here. How hollow he had been feeling. How she made him not care even a little about who else was in this room tonight. He just couldn’t get the words out.
Once all the plates had been cleared, and the mingling had begun in earnest, Sarah insisted on introducing Emma to some of the other ladies.
A group of the most elegant women Emma had ever seen stood near a window, each with a flute of champagne in her hand. Sarah was busy giving Emma a crash course on who each woman was, and any titbit of information that would help her fit in. Emma was grateful. Sarah made her feel welcome in this world, and it was nice to have found someone so friendly.
The two of them approached the group, who welcomed them with smiles. That was until Emma saw a beautiful tall blonde woman, who reminded her very much of Lauren in the way she held herself.
‘Catherine,’ Sarah said.
Catherine?Emma thought to herself.Could it be?
When she saw the smile on Sarah’s face falter, she knew it was Alex’s mother. Emma was suddenly consumed with a red-hot rage that she tried to bottle up. Alex was just a few meters away, and yet here was his mother who didn’t even care.
‘I heard you weren’t coming tonight,’ Sarah said sweetly, quickly recovering.
‘Where else would I be, dear?’
Sarah didn’t answer. Instead, she looped her arm through Emma’s. ‘This is Emma. She’s visiting from Melbourne.’
Everyone welcomed her. Each had a different question to ask, and she happily answered all of them without missing a beat. Remembering her fine manners, it was easy to slip into conversation with them, but once the dance floor opened up one by one they left to join their partners, until it was just Catherine, Sarah and Emma.
‘We should get back too, Emma.’
Sarah tried to turn them around, but Catherine had different ideas.
‘So you’re Alexander’s date,’ Catherine said, in a haughty way.
‘Yes, I am,’ Emma replied.
Sarah exchanged a look with her, telling her that unfortunately they couldn’t just walk away. Making a scene was out of the question.
‘Just his latest conquest then,’ she said snidely. ‘Someone should warn you: the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree, I’m afraid.’
‘It would seem that you aren’t very familiar with Alexander at all,’ Emma said pleasantly. She looked over her shoulder and saw him staring at them. His eyes were like ice. ‘I have to get back to my date. Have a good evening.’
The two of them walked away, with Sarah grumbling under her breath, ‘I hate that woman.’
‘Matt told me a little about her. She didn’t want to be a mother.’
