Page 31 of The Duke's Virgin

Immediately, I clambered up from the floor where I’d been wrestling my suitcase closed.

Valentina gave me an amused look. “Aeric said you were having fun packing. It appears he wasn’t exaggerating.”

I’d always had a good relationship with my aunt. I got along better with her than I did with my own mother, but still, I was mildly embarrassed to be caught on the floor by the Princess of Monaco.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Valentina.”

She waved a hand at me, unconcerned. “Ana, you may put those down on the dresser. Thank you.”

Ana nodded and put the tray down, giving me a conspiratorial wink before leaving us alone.

Valentina walked over to the valet hook where the lace sheath dress hung waiting, the Manolo Blahniks waiting on the floor. “Is this the dress?” she asked.

“Yes.” Apprehensively, I tugged my shirt down. “I have a couple of other options. One was the rose cocktail dress I wore for the dinner with you and Uncle when I first arrived.”

“That was lovely. But so is this. Your mother doesn’t give you enough credit when it comes to style, darling.” She gave me a knowing look. “But I suspect perhaps you aren’t as confident with your choices at home. Regardless, this dress is lovely. Aeric described it well, and I have the perfect pieces to accessorize with.”

“Oh?”

She gestured for me to join her, and once we stood together by the dresser, she opened the smallest of the two wooden boxes. I gasped at the ring that lay inside, nestled on a protective bed of velvet.

“It’s from the art deco period. It belonged to my grandmother. Your great-grandmother. They were passed onto me.” She lifted her eyes to study me. “Do you like it?”

“Who wouldn’t?” I asked, slightly breathless.

She chuckled and pulled it out. “Let’s see if it fits.”

I was almost too nervous to even try, but at the same time, the lustrous pearl framed by a hexagon formed of diamonds, then bracketed by gleaming onyx was prettier than anything I’d ever owned, whether I’d bought it for myself or had it given to me by my parents.

“It fits perfectly,” Valentina said, sounding satisfied once she’d pushed it onto my right middle finger. “A wonderful statement ring, as they call them now.”

“It’s gorgeous, Aunt Valentina.”

“Yes. And it suits you.” She gave me a quick smile and waggled her fingers, her hand smaller than mine, daintier. “It never suited me, not with my stubby fingers.”

“Your fingers arenotstubby.”

She laughed. “They are. Rings such as this don’t flatter me. Here. The earrings work well with the piece.” She flipped open the other box, revealing drop earrings, not quite two inches long, each with a shimmering pearl displayed elegantly from the tip of diamond studded pendants, accented with glossy black onyx.

“Again, wow.” Knowing she’d want to see them on, I took one and turned to the mirror, slipping it into place before doing the same with the second. Looking back at her, I waited for her appraisal.

“Yes.” She nodded. “You should wear your hair up. Would you like me to send someone to help you?”

“No. I can do it but thank you.”

She leaned in and kissed me, once on each cheek. “It’s been lovely having you visit. You’ll keep those pieces, Stacia.”

She was almost to the door before I processed that last part.

“Aunt Valentina?” I squawked.

She turned, one brow arched. “Yes, my dear?”

“I…I can’t keep these.”

“You can.” She smiled. “They’re a gift from an aunt to her niece, and you shouldn’t argue over a gift, Stacia.”

She left then, and I turned to look at what was probably close to a hundred thousand dollars in diamonds and pearls now adorning my body.

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