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I turn at Simone’s comment, expecting her to be cooing over Lukas but instead she’s looking from Dain to me and back again. Her smile is bigger than either of ours. She walks to Dain and he takes Lukas from her with the protective gentleness he has for his son.
Now Simone looks positively rapt. ‘I’m taking Talia out for a late lunch, Dain,’ she declares brightly. ‘We’ll be back in time for the theatre tonight.’
He stiffens. ‘But—’
‘Sounds lovely. Thank you, Simone,’ I interrupt, because I’ve something I really need to do and Simone has inadvertently provided the opportunity. ‘Lukas is due for a nap so—’
‘So that’s perfect.’ Simone sweeps me out of the door before he can object again.
‘Thank you for this,’ I say to her a little nervously as her driver pulls smoothly away. ‘I’ve not seen much of the city yet.’
‘You haven’t been out?’ Her eyes narrow.
‘We have, just privately.’ I don’t feel as if I’ve missed anything. I’ve enjoyed being wrapped up in our own perfect paradise. I don’t want outside interference. Or judgement. To be honest I didn’t think our seclusion was actually a deliberate strategy of Dain’s, but of course it must have been—because he needs me to feel ‘comfortable’.
That wedge of doubt within me widens.
I know he’s intense about privacy, but maybe he doesn’t really want to present me in public? Yet we’re doing this theatre thing tonight. And I need to rise to the occasion.
Simone instructs the driver to take us past the city’s highlights. She points out restaurants and cafés, informing me which are the best and most popular.
‘I’m not going to ask you about Dain.’ The older woman smiles coyly. ‘I don’t need to. It’s obvious.’
I don’t know how to interpret that and I haven’t any spare emotional energy to try. I’m just glad she’s not going to subject me to an interrogation. That doesn’t mean I can’t interrogate her though.
‘Would you mind if we skip lunch and go shopping instead?’ I ask. ‘I don’t have a suitable dress for the theatre tonight.’
Simone sparkles. ‘Of course.’
She takes me to a lane lined with gorgeous boutiques. I glance through the dresses. It’s a good thing I’ve spent so many hours serving at high-powered functions. I know the sort of style that I can get away with—even if it is only off the rack.
‘Can you tell me about the guests tonight?’ I ask casually.
Simone shoots me a sharp look but then smiles. As I try on a few clothes she talks me through Dain’s senior management team. They all sound like highly articulate, highly educated over-achievers. Great. Nothing to feel nervous about, then.
I stand in front of the mirror and look at my reflection. The black gown hugs my waist and floats to the floor, setting off the dainty silver sandals the saleswoman encouraged me to try with it. The look is perfectly appropriate for the night ahead, though part of me wants to see Dain’s reaction to the small cut-outs in the bodice.
‘I’ll take the dress,’ I say to the assistant with a smile. My budget won’t stretch to the shoes.
‘Let me get the sandals,’ Simone says.
I hesitate. Accepting gifts requires grace and I know from Dain that I’m not so great at that.
Simone nods. ‘You’ll almost be tall enough to look Dain right in the eyes.’
He’s the reason she wants to help me. She’s genuine and she cares for Dain and suddenly I don’t have the heart to deny her.
‘Thank you,’ I mutter awkwardly, fighting my instinctive reaction to reject her offer. ‘That’s very kind.’
‘I’m glad you’re here, Talia,’ she says as we drive back to Dain’s house. ‘It’s a good thing.’
I leave her downstairs and hurry up to the nursery to feed Lukas. Then I shower and prepare.
Dain walks into my room just as I’m fastening the straps on the silver sandals. I straighten and try not to fidget in front of him as he looks me up and down.
‘Will I do?’ I can’t help seeking his approval. ‘Simone gifted me the shoes.’
‘And you let her?’ His eyebrows lift. ‘Progress.’
