Page 129 of European Escapes

And they chatted.

‘What should I wear?’

‘In the boutique next door,’ Luigi told her, ‘there is a grey chiffon dress… Oh, my, Aurora, it is so elegant.’

‘Grey?’

‘I shall call them now and have them bring it round for you to view it.’

It was very lovely—but very grey.

‘Do you have it in red?’

‘Aurora…’ Luigi warned her.

Oh, that was right—she was to stand in the corner, fade into the background and pour his martini.

She would wear the grey.

And pearl drops for earrings, but please not these rather demure mid-height heels.

‘They are very…’ Aurora sat in the beauty chair as the boutique owner touted his wares and she slipped the shoes on her feet. ‘Plain.’

‘They are perfect, Aurora,’ Luigi assured her as he finally got to work on her hair.

And Gabe was not left out.

He was a rich baby now, and he had a pretty powder-blue suit to look the part. And little powder-blue booties and a white silk bib.

She was getting good at this, Aurora thought as she arrived home at four, with her new eyelashes and nails, and lashings of make-up, and her hair in a gorgeous chignon.

‘Oh, bella!’ the nanny said. ‘Look at you!’

‘Thank you.’ Aurora took the compliment with a smile. ‘I’m going to get my new dress on soon and…’ She looked around. ‘Where is the housekeeper?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘But what about dinner?’ Aurora asked, and went down the hall and looked at the gleaming table, still littered with last night’s plates. ‘And the table needs to be dressed. I didn’t even make the bed.’

She looked urgently to the nanny, who gave her the nicest smile.

‘I don’t do housework,’ she said.

‘Of course not.’ Aurora said. ‘But—’

‘In any way shape or form.’

‘Good…good…’ Aurora said.

It was no problem.

And, despite having to get through a lot of domestic duties, she would not be ringing the hotel for their dinner. That would be ridiculous when Aurora loved to cook.

And so she made the bed, and tidied the room, and life felt much as it had when she had been a cleaner in Silibri.

Except now she wore a gorgeous dress and had pretty eyes and nails. She cleared the plates and set the table, and went down to his cellar and chose some wine—which was easy for a girl who had grown up surrounded by vines.

But time was creeping on.

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