‘We’re not going home today. My helicopter pilot will be collecting us in the morning to take us to the airport. Then we’re boarding a plane to fly to Italy.’
‘Italy?’
‘Yes. I’m taking you to La Scala in Milan, to see an opera. Before we see the show we’ll shop for a suitable outfit for you to wear, and then, when it’s over, we’ll enjoy some of the very best Italian food in one of my favourite restaurants. After that we’ll have three more days in which to please ourselves and enjoy the sights.’
‘And then...when we get home...?’
‘We’ll talk about where we’re going to live.’
The expression on his riveting handsome features suddenly became serious. There was still an unspoken uncertainty about where they would reside, and sooner or later they were going to have to address that.
Her teeth anxiously chewed down on her lip. So much had changed for her in a frighteningly short time, and she was having a little trouble acclimatising herself. Her good fortune seemed to be unrelenting. She could hardly believe that Seth was taking her to Italy—and to the opera to boot! How had she got to be so lucky?
And the most exciting thing of all was that they would soon be living together as man and wife. What could it matter where they lived? She would willingly go wherever he did, confident that she would be able to adapt to a new place or even country if she had to. The main thing was that they loved each other. That was what would sustain them. Imogen had once agreed to become just his companion and helpmate, but now she was his friend and lover, too...
‘It all sounds wonderful. And I’m very much looking forward to discussing where we’re going to live when we get home. You can even move in with me and give up your hotel suite until we find somewhere more permanent, if you’d like? I promise my bed is a lot more comfortable than the couch.’
‘I don’t doubt that it is—especially if you were in it with me sweetheart... But there’s no need for that. We’ll come up with a solution, I promise.’ The glance he gave her was both steady and reassuring. ‘In the meantime, let’s drink a toast to our future.’
Raising her glass, Imogen smiled confidently. ‘To our future... May it be a fruitful and happy one.’
* * *
Their first outing in Milan was to the glamorous array of shops in the Galleria, known to be one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. And it was there that Seth insisted Imogen shopped to buy a dress to wear to the opera.
The incredible four-storey arcade that was topped with a distinctive glass dome housed the fashions of the most elite haute couture designers, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada to name just a few, and it wasn’t easy to take it all in. For Imogen, the sight of so much glitz and glamour under one roof was nothing less than intimidating. It was so far away from the world she was used to that it might as well have been on another planet.
Even more intimidating was the prevalence of so many beautiful and attractive people. Everyone looked like a model or a movie star. Observing both the men and the women, she saw they looked to be gliding from store to store as if born to the task. And every now and then somebody would stop to take a call on the latest designer phone, or to take a ‘selfie’ with a friend and smile and gesticulate as if it were their divine right to have such good fortune and not be concerned with very much else.
And of all the scents that pervaded the area the scent of money was the strongest perfume of all, she noted.
Realising that this was the world she’d married into, that like it or not, she was going to have to quickly get used to it. As astute as ever, her husband straight away sensed her disquiet.
Guiding her towards the store of one of most famous designers in the world, he examined her searchingly with his glittering blue eyes. ‘You’re far too quiet for my liking. That tells me you’re not enjoying yourself. Why?’
Glancing uncomfortably at the beautifully dressed window in front of her, Imogen flushed and uneasily brushed her hand down the faux leather jacket she wore with jeans. ‘I don’t want to sound like a broken record, Seth, but I’m just not used to this kind of thing. It’s going to take me a while to adjust.’
‘Why? If it’s because you don’t feel “good enough” to go into such an elite store, let me reassure you. Whether you’re married to me or not, you have as much right as the next person to go into this store and have an assistant serve you. And if I detect for even a second that anyone is making you feel uncomfortable, either by a look or a condescending attitude, I’ll make sure that I never buy from that designer again. In my world, Imogen, money and status is power. Never forget that. So work on losing that demoralising feeling and enjoy yourself. Now let’s go in and find you a beautiful dress to wear to the opera.’