Page 6 of Midnight Secrets

Catarina smiled at him. “She’s coming back to us after her course. Her degree will hang in Papa’s library and we’ll return to being a trio.”

I didn’t comment because I knew Sofia would fight to keep her independence. She had managed to escape and carve a life for herself. One day, I hoped to do the same.

To avoid conversation, I lifted the menu and ran my eye over it, selecting a main course as I tended to avoid a starter in preference for a dessert. My stomach slowly began to tie itself in a knot, Ash’s presence boring into me from across the table. In my head, I had it all planned how he would see me after all this time. The past few summers, I had organised trips away for me and my sisters to avoid having to see the guys. If that didn’t work, I tended to stay in my room and work on my crafting skills.

Xavier waved his hand in front of me to get my attention. I blinked a few times and my professional smile appeared on my lips. “Sorry?”

“I asked what else you are planning while in London?” Xavier repeated.

“Catarina has our stay planned. I have a few personal appointments this afternoon.”

My sister’s attention snapped to me as I hadn’t included it on our itinerary on purpose because she would ask too many questions. My plan had been to leave her with Papa after lunch.

“Secret date?” Xavier winked at me. “I’ll not tell a soul.”

The waiter arrived with the bottle of wine and poured our drinks.

“A lady never tells, Xavier. You know that.” I took a sip and smiled at the waiter to tell him the wine was fine.

Jordan laughed. “A beau in every city? You’re just right, Lucy!”

Papa scowled and slammed his glass down, his glare burning into the side of my head as I continued to study the menu.

I turned wide eyes to Papa. “Are you having a starter?” Watching Sofia had taught me how to control Papa and his tantrums. There was little point defying him as Catarina tended to do. There was more than one way to get what you wanted in life, and playing dumb was one of them.

“Don’t you normally prefer dessert?” he grated out in reply.

“Yes, but I’ve already decided what I’m having.” I gave him my best innocent smile. “Are we ready to order?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Ash watching me. He was studying me with that intensity that made my panties a little too tight. I was the same plain girl I had always been that he’d ignored in the past.

Papa waved the waiter over and we gave our order. I reluctantly let him take the menu away as it had given me something to look at to avoid conversation around the table.

“Uncle Lucas says you’re interested in fashion,” Xavier said to Catarina.

Her laugh trickled over the group and a guy passing our table nearly fell over his feet because he was looking at her. “You know me, Zee. I had contemplated opening my own store in Milan, but Papa thinks I’m too fickle to be a businesswoman.” She pouted and took a sip of her wine.

Xavier’s eyebrow arched up at her comment. Catarina’s biggest commitment was to her shoe collection. He moved his attention to me. “And what about you? Any burning plans for the future?”

The store we had been in today had been pleading with me for a while to design a precious gems line which incorporated diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The outlay would be huge, but the potential results would create a name for me in the design world. I was going to view stones this afternoon.

“I’m considering my options.” It was true but also could mean a lot of different things.

“Didn’t you used to enjoy drawing?” Ash asked. “I remember you sketching tribal designs.”

My smile froze on my face. No one ever noticed what I’d been drawing, assuming it was the flowers in the garden in Tuscany. “I still sketch,” I replied in a low tone, my mouth drying out. “It helps me to relax.”

His head canted slightly to the side and I couldn’t look away for a moment. When the starters arrived for the guys, a tap drew my attention to the man beside me—Francis. He indicated I follow him.

“They’ve moved your meeting until tomorrow morning as they have another potential buyer,” Francis said. This wasn’t the first time this had happened. His gaze moved to the table. “I know you want to do this by yourself, but maybe you should consider asking one of those guys for help. You’re a woman who’s new in this world. Not many people refuse your cousin or his friends.”

“I can’t complete this collection without quality stones,” I whispered. “Right now, I’m running out of options unless I can find a reasonable supplier.”

The name Lucas Black opened doors, but no one knew who Lucrezia Black was.

“Think about it,” Francis coaxed. “Everyone needs help every so often. There’s no shame in asking family for help when you’ve already done so much on your own.”

“Thanks.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Friends were hard to find when you lived in a tower far from the reaches of the world.

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