LITMIR.BIZ

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      He could tell she was nervous—her hands were trembling slightly. Would she know he was nervous too?

      She lifted the lid and let out a little gasp. The diamonds were dazzling. The jewels on her dress paled in comparison to these. He knew instantly he’d done the right thing.

      ‘Alex...’ Her eyes were wide. ‘Where did these come from?’ She held up one of the earrings, its thirty hanging diamonds bright and clear.

      ‘They were my mother’s. I knew you were nervous about tonight. I thought it might be nice if you had something of hers to wear.’

      ‘You want me to wear these?’ She looked almost terrified. ‘But they must be worth a fortune.’ Her fingers went automatically to her earlobe. ‘What if I lose one?’

      He shook his head and smiled. ‘You won’t. Don’t worry.’

      ‘But—’

      ‘But nothing.’ He spun her around to face the full-length mirror in the room and held up one of the earrings next to her ear. ‘Can’t you see how perfect it looks?’

      She could hardly argue. Her face said exactly how she was feeling.

      She put her hand up over her heart. ‘They’re beautiful. They set off the dress perfectly.’ She turned around towards him. ‘How did you know?’

      ‘Because my mother had impeccable taste, Ruby. It wouldn’t have mattered what you wore tonight—these earrings were always going to be a perfect match.’ He bent a little lower and whispered in her ear. ‘You have a lot in common with her.’

      ‘What does that mean?’

      ‘It means that you look beautiful.’ He pressed the earrings into her hand. ‘Here—put them on and let’s go.’

      She stood in front of the mirror, putting the earrings in place, then stopped for a second to study her reflection. She was trying to calm herself. Trying to steady herself for the night ahead.

      He put his arms on her shoulders. ‘You’re going to be the most beautiful woman in the room, Ruby Wetherspoon.’

      He was standing by her shoulder, looking at their reflection in the glass. He knew she was nervous. He was nervous himself. Although this was meant to be a private function, nothing could ever really be private when a thousand people were involved.

      This would be the first time since Sophia had died that he’d officially invited someone to be his partner. He was well aware of how some of his guests might react. But the charity ball had always been an informal occasion. In a way, it might give Ruby a taste of what could lie ahead.

      He hadn’t even broached that question with her on the yacht. There had been too much more to deal with. But now the time was right.

      He slid his hand into hers. ‘Are you ready? Because you look beautiful.’

      She nodded slowly and touched the glittering diamonds in her ears. ‘I’m ready now.’ She sounded more confident. More sure.

      He didn’t have a shadow of a doubt. His mother would have loved Ruby Wetherspoon.

      * * *

      The first disaster was tripping over her dress. Even though it was gorgeous, and made-to-measure, she wasn’t standing quite as straight as she should be. As a result the bottom seam of the dress kept catching on her toes.

      A strong hand at her elbow stopped her face-planting on the floor. At first she thought it was Alex, but he was on her other side. A quick glance proved it to be one of the waiters, with a whole silver tray of canapés in his other hand.

      He gave her a little conspiratorial nod. ‘Mind your step, m’lady.’

      She gathered up part of the dress in her hand. Her stomach was turning over and over. Another waiter proffered a tray with champagne flutes but she shook her head—champagne was the last thing she needed right now.

      Alex turned and smiled at her. It was the first time she’d really seen him in formal dress. He’d been pressed up behind her next to the mirror, and she’d been so dazzled by the diamonds that she hadn’t noticed how handsome he looked. The black dress uniform suited him perfectly, with its sweeping red sash across his chest and adorned with several gold medals.

      It hadn’t even occurred to her that the sash was the exact same red as her dress. Had Alex done that deliberately?

      They walked through the ballroom doors side by side. It wasn’t so bad. There was no audible hush when they appeared, just a few quiet gestures and murmurs.

      Alex immediately went into charm mode—working the room and talking to lots of the guests, his arm behind her, gently guiding her from person to person. Sometimes he spoke in French, sometimes in German. After the first few words she was mainly lost, and just nodded and smiled along, shaking a proffered hand when appropriate.

      The diamonds had felt dazzling in her ears upstairs—if a little ostentatious—but in this room it was clear that Ruby was the least adorned woman there. Everywhere she turned there were rings the size of rocks and twinkling tiaras.

      She’d recognised a few faces from royal families across Europe, all in dazzling jewels. And even the movie stars and supermodels were adorned with diamond necklaces and bracelets.

      A blonde actress—one of her favourites—was right in front of her. She was immaculate, as usual, in a figure-hugging black dress high at the neck but with virtually no back. How she kept the dress in place was a mystery to Ruby.

      She spun on her heels and tilted her head, unashamedly studying Ruby. Waves of discomfort washed over her, along with a distinct flow of blood to the cheeks. She was determined not to be intimidated.

      She held out her hand. ‘Maria Cochette? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ruby Wetherspoon.’

      Her hand stayed in the air for the longest time.

      ‘I know who you are.’

      The Italian accent that sounded so cute on screen was harsh in real life. Maria’s eyes swept up and down Ruby with obvious distaste. The dress that had felt so perfect upstairs suddenly felt old-fashioned and overdone.

      This was a woman who had charmed in every interview Ruby had ever watched. She exuded elegance and grace. But the look she was giving Ruby now held none of those things.

      She moved closer, still ignoring Ruby’s outstretched hand. Her voice lowered. ‘So how did you do it? How did little Plain Jane manage to catch the Prince’s eye?’ She sneered. ‘Or was it just too easy for him to do the hired help?’ The vulgar words were spat out. ‘Lydia Merr told me about you. She said you weren’t even eye candy—and she was right.’

      Ruby had never been a girl for conflict. But if she’d been any other place, at any other time, she would have punched the perfect Maria clean in the face. Alex had warned her that Mrs Merr was a renowned gossip, and it seemed their kiss hadn’t gone unnoticed.

      For the first time that night she drew herself up to her full height. She almost felt her dress lift from the floor. Up close, Maria wasn’t so perfect. Botox had made her eyebrows arch unevenly. Her suntanned skin couldn’t hide the wrinkles around her eyes.

      Ruby lifted her hand up to her ears and smiled sweetly, though she knew her eyes would be shooting daggers. She’d dealt with too many difficult patients and members of staff over the years to simper around a woman like this.

      ‘I guess some of us have hidden talents, Maria. Or maybe our core values and ethics are just apparent.’ She let her fingers run over the sparkling drop diamonds. ‘Do you like the earrings Alex gave me to wear? They were his mother’s.’

      The diamonds were elegant, in contrast; the bling from Maria was almost blinding her.

      She met the cold grey eyes with another smile. ‘I always think that less is more, don’t you?’

      She

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