‘Well, how about you start telling me these long stories, so I can better understand what part of him taking you to meet his mother was just business?’
Georgia knew Sam wasn’t going to stop asking questions, so she settled in with her coffee to tell her everything, ready toshare the events of the past two weeks with the person she loved more than anyone in the world.
27
LONDON
Georgia couldn’t help herself. It had been six weeks since she’d returned from Switzerland, and every few days since, she’d gone online and searched to see if there was a news report about the tiara, and every day the only hits were years old. But today, there was one that appeared at the top of the search engine results.
She clicked to translate it into English, and then clicked through to read more. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw a photo of Luca, her eyes stalling for at least a few seconds on his image as the nights they’d shared together came back to her, remembering what it had been like to be in his arms, to feel his breath against her skin, before moving down to read the rest of the article, which had only been posted a few hours earlier.
Generations of the Kaufmann family have searched for answers over the disappearance of the missing stone from the famous Italian sapphire tiara, and now they are pleased to confirm that it has been returned. It is understood that the existence of the sapphire has only recently been discovered, however, it was being held by the rightful owner throughout the past decades. ‘It is with great pleasure and excitement that I can confirm that the missing sapphire has beenauthenticated and returned to the tiara. This development solves one of the great mysteries that my family has been involved in for many, many years, and indeed one of the great mysteries of the Italian monarchy. I would like to thank our anonymous client, who contacted us with the purpose of returning the sapphire, and I would also like to confirm that the sapphire has been held legitimately since it was purchased from the royal family, following their departure from Italy.’
Although Luca Kaufmann has today confirmed he will not be giving any more information about this recent development, he has shared that the tiara has been loaned to the Museum of Art and History under a long-term agreement, to ensure that it can be shown in perpetuity. The donor received the blessing of the former Italian royal family to do so, and who agreed to the display that will be part of a wider commemoration to past and current European monarchs.
According to Kaufmann, the tiara has an estimated value of €4 million, which makes it one of the most expensive items of jewellery to be owned by a private individual.
Georgia read the article again. She knew all the details; she’d been the one to issue the instructions, after all, but something about reading Luca’s quote kept drawing her attention. She missed him. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. And she couldn’t stop wrestling with the thought that she should have stayed longer, that she should have asked him if he wanted her to stay instead of simply leaving.
As if he knew that she was thinking of him, an email popped up in her inbox.
From: Luca Kaufmann
To: Georgia Montano
Dear Georgia,
Just in case you haven’t seen this, there was a press release this morning. I hope you don’t mind that I gave them a brief interview. Perhaps you could come to see the display later this month? I would be more than happy to be your host if you do decide to come. The exhibition launch is on 10September, and you could attend anonymously as my guest, or officially as the donor. The choice would be yours.
With my love, Luca
Georgia groaned. What did that even mean,I would be more than happy to be your host?Was he extending a professional courtesy, or did hewanther to go? They hadn’t spoken since she’d left Switzerland, even though she’d picked up her phone so many times to call him, and she wondered if he felt the same, or if he’d simply forgotten about her. At the same time as she was telling herself not to overthink the invitation, she opened a new browser and searched for flights from London to Geneva. The event was in five days’ time, and there were flights every day between now and then on British Airways and Swiss.
She hesitated, her hands shaking as she tried to decide what to do.Just do it. If it’s purely business, then so be it. But if it’s more…
Georgia checked her calendar and booked the flight for Thursday, deciding to arrive in town the night before the event. She’d email Luca back and tell him when she’d be there and at which hotel, leaving the ball in his court. If she were braver, she would have called him, but she wasn’t.
She stood and went straight into her bedroom to search her wardrobe and see if she had something appropriate to wear. He’d already seen the little black dress, and she didn’t exactly have an endless supply of evening wear. Georgia got out herphone and searched her emails again, looking for the invitation she’d been sent weeks earlier from the museum to the exhibition opening. The dress code was black tie.
After riffling through everything for the better part of thirty minutes, she knew there was only one thing left to do.
Two rings later, she was on the phone with Sam.
‘I have a fashion emergency,’ she said. ‘I think we need to go shopping.’
‘Music to my ears,’ Sam said, her voice rising an octave. ‘Occasion?’
‘I’ve just booked a flight back to Switzerland. I’m going to the exhibition opening.’
‘I’ll call you when the car’s outside your place,’ Sam said. ‘And Georgia?’
‘I’m here.’
‘I’m so proud of you.’
Georgia flopped onto her bed, wondering if she’d just made the best decision of her life, or the worst.
28
