‘I’m not drinking.’
‘I know. But just hold it—otherwise somebody will wonder why.’
He smiled down at her and she nodded dumbly. He was so aware, so in control of everything. In that respect this evening was no different for him than any other.
If only she could let him know how different it was for her.
But, much as she longed to tell him that she loved him, she knew it wasn’t the right time. For there was a tension about him, a remoteness, as though he was holding himself apart. It was the same tension she’d felt at lunch that day with his parents. And of course it was understandable. This was a big moment for him too.
The party passed in a blur of lights and faces. She knew nobody, but it seemed that everybody knew Ram, and so wanted to know her too. Clutching her glass of champagne, she smiled and chatted with one glamorous couple after another as Ram stood by her side, looking cool and absurdly handsome in his tuxedo as he talked in French to a tall, elderly grey-haired man who turned out to be the Canadian Ambassador.
Later, ignoring her protests, he led her onto the dance floor and, holding her against his body, he circled her between the other couples.
‘Are you having fun?’ he said softly into her ear.
She nodded. ‘Yes. I thought people might be a bit stiff and starchy. But everyone’s been really friendly.’
His eyes glittered like molten silver beneath the soft lights. ‘They like you.’
She shook her head. ‘They’re curious about me. It’s you they like.
‘And what about you? Do you like me?’
Around them the music and the laughter seemed to fade, as though someone had turned down the volume, and the urge to tell him her true feelings welled up inside her again. But she bit it down.
She smiled. ‘Yes, I like you.’
‘And you still want to marry me?’ He met her gaze, his grey eyes oddly serious. ‘It’s not too late to change your mind...’
She shook her head. ‘I want to marry you.’
‘Then maybe now is a good time to tell everyone that.’ Glancing round, he frowned. ‘We need my parents here, though. Let’s go and look for them.’
His hand was warm and firm around hers as he pulled her through the dancing couples and onto the lawn, but after ten minutes of looking they still hadn’t found Guy and Pandora.
Nodding curtly at the security guards, he led her into the main house.
‘My mother probably wanted to change her shoes or something. I’ll go and find them.’
His eyes were fixed on her face and, seeing the hesitancy there, she felt her heart tumble inside her chest.
Taking his hands in hers, she gave them a squeeze. ‘Why don’t I come with you? We can tell them together.’
There was a brief silence as he stared away across the empty hallway. Then his mouth twisted, and he shook his head. ‘It’s probably better if I go on my own.’
She nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll wait here.’
He kissed her gently on the lips. ‘I won’t be long.’
* * *
Walking swiftly through the house, Ram felt his heart start to pound.
He could hardly believe he’d managed to get this far. Bringing Nola to the party had felt like a huge step but this—this was something almost beyond his comprehension, beyond any expectations he’d had up until now.
It hardly seemed possible, but by the end of the night he would be officially engaged to Nola. Finally, with her help, he had managed to bury his past, and now he had a future he’d never imagined, with a wife and a baby—
Abruptly, his feet stilled on the thick carpet and his thoughts skidded forward, slamming into the side of his head with a sickening thud.