Florian nodded, his hands guiding her closer until she was curled on his knee, her arms around his neck, tucked tightly to his chest. The tiara would be nothing without one of its sapphires, its value hugely diminished if it were ever to be offered for sale with a missing stone, but she knew that was what he was trying to tell her: that he would break up the most valuable piece in his collection, the piece that meant the most to him, for her. It was abundantly obvious that he had the funds to buy her the most expensive diamond from Tiffany’s, and yet he was willing to sacrifice one of the precious sapphires as a gesture of his love.
‘I am nothing without you,’ Florian murmured into her hair. ‘Please, say yes. Let me find a way for us to marry.’
Neither am I, Florian. Without you, I too am nothing.
Delphine looked up at him, her fingers grazing his cheek as she pressed her mouth to his in a long, slow, warm kiss.
‘Yes,’ she eventually whispered against his lips. ‘I will marry you, Florian. If you can find a way, then I promise you. I will marry you.’
His dark eyes shone as he stood and held out his hand to her, leaving the tiara on the chair as he looked down at her.
‘May I have this dance?’
Delphine laughed, but slipped her palm against his anyway. ‘We have no music.’
‘We don’t need music,’ he murmured, as he placed his other hand to the small of her back and nudged her towards him.
They began to sway together, just the slightest of movements side to side, and Delphine tucked her cheek to his chest. Sheloved the way she felt against him, how safe and loved; warm in a way she’d never experienced before.
‘I have never loved anyone the way I love you, Delphine,’ Florian whispered against her hair.
She lifted her head, their eyes meeting for the briefest of seconds before she stood on tiptoe and kissed him, a single tear sliding down her cheek as their lips met.
I love you, too, Florian. More than I could ever love another human being.
When their lips parted, his thumb gently erased another tear as it escaped from the corner of her eye.
‘You are my heart, Florian,’ she murmured.
‘And you, my darling, are mine.’
16
PRESENT DAY
It had been a very long time since Georgia’s stomach had danced with butterflies because of a man. She’d been so focused on work during her twenties, that other than the odd date, she’d barely had time for a relationship. She smiled to herself as she checked her appearance and reached for her necklace, admiring the diamond G as she clasped it.It’s also been a very long time since I smiled at myself in the mirror.
She sprayed some perfume to her wrists, as well as a little spritz over her hair, and then looked at her phone. Luca would be there to pick her up in fifteen minutes, so she decided to head down to the lobby in case he was early. She was wearing a simple sleeveless dress and white sneakers, and she grabbed her blazer on her way out in case it was cool, and put the strap of her bag over her head so she could wear it cross-body.
Just as she was stepping out of her room her phone rang, and she grinned when she saw it was Sam. She swiped and pressed the phone to her ear as she checked the door had locked behind her.
‘Please tell me your Sunday is shaping up to be better than mine?’
Sam laughed. ‘Well, from the sound of your voice, I’m fairly certain mine isdefinitelybetter than yours. I’ve had room service for breakfast and I’m just heading out.’ She omitted the part aboutwhereandwith whomshe was heading out.
‘Harry’s family thought I loved yesterday so much, they’ve arranged another day out for us.’ Sam groaned. ‘It’s a disaster, and the worst part of it all is that Harrylovesit! I’ve never seen him happier than when he’s trudging around in the mud.’
Georgia grimaced. It wassono surprise to her that Sam was hating it—they were both city girls through and through. ‘You could either feign a headache or just tell them the truth.’
‘And how exactly would I do that?’
‘Look, if you love this guy, then you need to be honest with them about who you are. Otherwise? You’ll dread every time you have to see them.’
‘So, you’re suggesting I tell them that I hated yesterday?’
‘I’m suggesting you tell them that you’re more city than country, and that you’d like to sit this one out. Tell his mother you’ll have dinner ready for them when they come home, and wow them with your culinary skills.’ Georgia smiled as she pressed the button for the elevator. ‘All you need to do is show them the real you, Sam. If you do, I promise they’ll love you. And I have a feeling you might love them if you’re not pretending to be someone you’re not.’
Sam groaned again. ‘Fine. You’re right. But why is it so hard to be truthful?’
