The tension she had probably imagined dissolved as she laughed. ‘Oh, when I do, you will be the veryfirstperson I will consult on the decision.’ Behind her smile of mocking and fake sincerity, she was aware that her show of empowerment might have carried a bit more punch if she’d actuallyneededthe glasses.
Rowena was hovering when they walked out of the office.
‘We’re going out.’
Rowena nodded and glanced at the box of Tilda’s belongings on the desk.
‘Shall I...?’ she asked, her nervous glance flickering from one to the other.
‘Leave it there,’ Ezio responded at his most enigmatically distant as he started punching numbers into his phone.
Turning round as they approached the lift, Tilda gave a thumbs up to the younger girl and promptly backed into Ezio.
‘Sorry, I’m...’ He arched a brow and she stepped inside, taking a deep breath. She knew from experience that Ezio and enclosed spaces was not a combination that made for comfortable—more crawl out of your skin.
Ezio had very long legs, and she did not, but it didn’t occur to him to make any allowances for the difference in their inside leg measurements, and by the time they reached the underground parking area she was breathless and very glad she was wearing trainers.
‘Did you see Rowena’s face?’ she asked fretfully as she responded to his imperious nod and fastened the belt of the passenger seat in the limited-edition designer car he drove. It was not exactly inconspicuous but it was comfortable.
‘Rowena’s face?’
‘No, you wouldn’t.’ His radar was very specific and Rowena had not been on it. Whoever he’d been texting, he had been on his phone since they had left the office.
If they were together in the real sense of the word she would have dumped him before they reached the underground parking area.
‘I was setting things in motion. It’s looking like New York state is our best option...unless you fancy a Vegas wedding? I’ve got a really good wedding planner on it, and she’ll sort the options, but New York is sounding good to me. I have a few things that I could do with checking on at the office there.’
‘I think that’s what you call hitting the ground running but, before you go the extra mile, let me be clear—ifwe do this, it won’t be in New York while you multi-task,’ she responded, matching his cool with some of her own.
The car purred into almost silent life. ‘Why not? It’s a twenty-eight-day wait in the UK.’
‘It’s not the place, it’s the entire concept.’
‘Never mind. The next time you can do it right—white lace and orange blossom and a house in a district with the best schools—but just remember to keep the number of a very good divorce lawyer for when reality kicks in.’
‘You are such a cynic!’ His mockery was making her teeth ache.
‘Realist,’ he countered, sketching a grim smile as he pulled into the stream of traffic.
‘I feel sorry for you,’ she countered, almost meaning it. ‘It’s in this country or nowhere, and this time frame is all too...’ Her head lifted. ‘I need time to think.’
‘You could think about it for weeks, months, but it wouldn’t change the essentials. This will work for us both. Now, where am I going?’
She refused to be diverted; she’d given too much ground already. ‘The UK.’
He glanced at her profile and sighed. ‘I’ll invite Saul to the wedding. That should get around the problem of the unnecessary delay.’
His immediate response made it clear to Tilda that he had always had Plan B in place. ‘Oh no, I don’t want anyone there!’
‘Don’t worry, he’ll refuse. I’ll make sure the date coincides with his granddaughter’s wedding. The point is, he’ll know we are getting married.’
‘You are so Machiavellian!’
‘Thank you. So, which way?’
‘Nice house.’ It was a solid-looking Edwardian property in a quiet tree-lined road of other similar properties in North London. He probably didn’t mean it but Mrs Lowther, who got flustered and giggly when she was introduced to the visitor, didn’t know that. Once in the door, he charmed the old lady into her coat and escorted her home.
It was quite a master class in charm.