Page 2 (1/2)
Chapter One
He noticed the girl in the bar right away She was sitting on her oith her back to the entrance, so she wasn’t looking out for friends or for her husband or for her lover, and her elegant though tense back view didn’t give hih-end bars on their own
He strolled in to take a closer look They had a history of sorts, though he doubted she’d remember him She’d been too involved at the front desk when he’d arrived, trying to work out why the sumptuous Chatsfield Hotel, renowned as a haven of efficiency and discretion, had got her roo
She’d drawn his attention for a number of reasons She was quite unlike his usual type, in that she was naturally attractive, with mussed up hair, and an open, make-up-less face, but it was her manner that had really i journey when she discovered that she didn’t have a rooh level of diploued hione, and in their place was a simple outfit that screamed money She had transformed into a butterfly in less than an hour Who wouldn’t be curious about that?
Privilege Wealth Status And above all confidence That hat set the Chatsfield hotel guests apart, Libby concluded Catching sight of herself in the gilded hed out loud to see she fit in so well – but only because she earing her cousin’s clothes It was ae of look could do, and it ae fro ineered silk and a pair of stiletto heels
She curbed the desire to laugh, guessing a peel of unrestrained laughter o down too well in the studied opulence of the hotel bar She’d caused enough consternation in the Chatsfield for one day
There had been some confusion about her room More accurately, no hotel room had been reserved for Libby as she had been pro she was here to attend was off Around the tiht to London – right at the back of the plane between two very largeLibby one giant step behind everyone else in the bridal party
Libby had ht to pick up the alterations to her cousin Lucinda’s couture outfits, and then there’d been a one ahead with Lucinda and the rest of the oddly nah-profile of weddings thought it was hysterically funny to call theroom, was a sheikh
Lucinda was a close friend of the bride Tahara – also scandalously irly ti to Sheikh Sayed’s fabulous desert kingdoain, fro was to have been held, to Monte Carlo where, according to the latest text from Lucinda who needed her new couture outfits NOW, the bride’s friends were drowning their sorrows over the cancellation of the wedding in pink chane
The desk staff had been open-mouthed when Libby had politely explained who she was ‘But we thought we’d got rid of the hareirl behind the front desk had whispered, not so discreetly to her friend ‘What are we going to do with her?’
A muttered discussion had followed Apparently, only the hotel’s ‘eested the desk clerks thought that would soon put her off, but Libby had stood her ground She had to sleep soency room sounded fine to her It would be cheap, at least – cheaper, anyway – so she could afford it It soon became obvious that the staff at the Chatsfield had assumed that ‘the harem’ was part of the sheikh’s pick ‘n’ ot left behind
Nothing could be further fro, a little dated, and forced to scrimp and save best described Libby She worked for her cousin Lucinda who, the instant Libby had returned ho out her life In return for acco Lucinda around the world on as a ind social agenda, Libby received a sot to pay her, and as Libby had been orphaned as a child and brought up by Lucinda’s parents, she didn’t like to ask Lucinda for eacy Libby’s parents had left her, and she had no otherfor Lucinda was an opportunity to get soly into the role of Lucinda’s gofer
As soon as she had showered in her tiny bathroom at the Chatsfield, Libby had called Lucinda to check on her suitcase ‘As it’s in Monte Carlo, I ondering –’
She got no further Lucindaas Texas ‘Of course – wear anything of mine you like What about that navy silk shift? You’d look a in it, Lib – and we’re almost the same shoe size, aren’t we?’
‘You sure you don’t mind?’
‘Well, you can hardly go round in public in a towelling robe and hotel slippers And pro to spend the evening in your roo you to collect those alterations, and then you h? You did buy a First Class seat like I told you to?’
‘You know I’d never waste your money like that’
‘Then wear the dress – I command it!’ Lucinda had insisted ‘And then keep it And the shoes – there are so heels in there’