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If anything, it made her feel worse. ‘Then it’s an heirloom.. ’
‘Not really.’ He paused. ‘Anyway, a lot of heirlooms go out on temporary loan, so look at it in that light. Besides, beautiful jewellery needs to be worn, not kept locked in safe deposits.’ He took her hand, and gently but firmly slid the ring over her knuckle. There—it does fit, Cinderella.‘
It was about as different from the ring Nigel had given her as it was possible to get, she thought helplessly, and she guessed that was quite deliberate.
She said in a muffled voice, 'I'll take care of it.‘
‘Just enjoy wearing it.’ He was still holding her fingers lightly. ‘It suits the shape of your hand.’
She gave him an embarrassed smile, and deherself. ‘I really should go.’
Malory nodded and signalled to the waiter.
The homeward journey was a silent one. Amanda’s thoughts were confused, but the shape of the emerald under her questing fingers was only too real.
When the car stopped, she said stiltedly, ‘Thank you for a—nice evening.’
‘I’m glad it wasn’t the ordeal you anticipated.’
She couldn’t see if he was smiling or not. A previous omission had occurred to her. ‘And—thank you for the flowers.’
‘Did you like them?’
‘Well,’ Amanda hesitated. ‘Actually, I thought they were a bit over the top.‘
He was definitely amused now. ‘Oh, I think I’m permitted the odd romantic gesture—don’t you?’
Amanda didn’t know what to say. The interior of the car seemed suddenly altogether too dark, too confined—too intimate for this kind of conver-sation. It occurred to her, tremulously, that Malory might have a different kind of romantic gesture in mind altogether—and that, if he did try and take her in his arms, she wouldn’t know quite how to react.
He’d bought her dinner, her mind ran feverishly, and given—lent her this exquisite ring. She could hardly haul off and slap his face if he kissed her.
The silence between them seemed endless. Amanda was tense, waiting for him to reach for her…
But he didn’t. When he spoke, his tone was matter of fact. 'I'll ring you in a few days about the company party. Now, I’d better get you safely indoors.‘
Outside the flat, Amanda found her hand shaking as she fitted her key into the lock.
‘Thank you again.’ Her voice sounded higher-pitched than usual—taut. And it was ridiculous to be so nervous. Malory was doing nothing more threatening than watching her struggles with the key.
‘Let me.’ He took the key from her and unlocked the door. ‘I won’t come in,’ he went on. ‘I can’t face another harangue on behalf of Animal Lib.’
Amanda forced a small smile. ‘Maggie’s current boyfriend is some kind of activist and it always affects her. The last one was heavily into CND,’ she added, stumbling a little over the words.
He said lazily, ‘What a hectic existence she must lead’ He put a finger under Amanda’s chin, tilting her face to meet his gaze. His voice gentled. ‘Calm down, darling. There’s nothing to be afraid of.’ He released her and gently turned away. 'I'll be in touch,‘ he added almost casually.
The hall was in darkness. Amanda leaned against the closed door, her breathing as rapid as if she’d been taking part in some kind of race. He was perfectly correct, she thought. There had been nothing to fear, after all. It had all been in her own mind.
And that should have been the most tremendous relief.
So why, therefore, did she feel as if it had been a total anticlimax?
CHAPTER FIVE
‘That,’ Jane said, ‘is the most fantastic dress.’
‘Do you think it’s all right?’ Amanda surveyed herself in the mirror. ‘It’s not too…’
‘Far from it,’ Jane assured her. ‘It’s obvious you’re not wearing a bra, of course, because the thing has hardly any back, but that’s the only way you can tell. That high halter front is very discreet. And I love all those masses of tiny pleats in the skirt.’
‘Culottes, actually.’ Amanda demonstrated. She frowned a little. ‘It isn’t at all the kind of thing I intended to buy. It’s far too extravagant. I meant to get something that would do later on, when…’ She stopped hastily, aware she’d been about to venture into indiscretion. But Jane was clearly too fascinated by the golden shimmer of the new dress to have noticed.
‘Live a little,’ she advised airily. ‘After all, you’re marrying a very wealthy man.’
Amanda bit her lip. ‘I suppose so.’ She hesitated. ‘I ought to explain, but I can’t…’
