The Helen Bianchin And The Regency Scoundrels And Scandals Collections. Louise Allen
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of him.
‘I’ll go make coffee.’ It would give him something to do with his hands, otherwise he would use them to haul her close, and while his libido was high, he was determined the next time they made love it would be without redress.
He slid from the bed, pulled on trousers and a shirt, then he entered the en suite, only to re-emerge minutes later, wryly aware a woman’s razor was no substitute for a man’s electric shaver.
In the kitchen he ground fresh coffee beans, replaced a filter, and switched on the coffee maker.
It was after eight, and breakfast was a viable option. Eggs, ham, cheese…ingredients he used to make two fluffy omelettes, then he slid bread into the toaster.
Cassandra dressed in jeans, added a blouse, then tended to her hair. She felt better after cleansing her face, and following her usual morning routine.
Not great, she assured her mirrored image, but OK. Sufficient to face the day and all it would involve.
The smell of fresh coffee, toast and something cooking teased her nostrils, and she entered the kitchen to find Diego dishing food onto two plates.
Her appetite didn’t amount to much, but she ate half the omelette, some toast, and sipped her way through two cups of coffee.
‘Shouldn’t you be wherever it is you need to be at this hour of the morning?’
‘Later,’ Diego drawled, leaning back in his chair, satisfied she looked less fragile. ‘When Cameron arrives, I’ll leave.’
Her eyes clouded a little. ‘I’m OK.’
One eyebrow slanted. ‘I wasn’t aware I implied you weren’t.’
The cat hopped up onto her lap, padded a little, then settled.
She owed him thanks. ‘It was thoughtful of you to stay.’
‘I had Cameron’s word he’d contact me if you insisted on returning home.’
Diego had done that out of concern? For her?
At that moment the phone rang, and she answered it. Cameron was on his way over.
Cassandra began clearing the table, and they dealt with the dishes together. There was an exigent awareness she was loath to explore, and she concentrated on the job in hand.
When it was done, she used the pretext of tidying the bedroom to escape, and the intercom buzzed as she finished up.
Cameron didn’t look as if he’d slept well, and she made fresh coffee, served it, and was unsure whether to be relieved or regretful when Diego indicated he would leave.
The days leading up to Alexander’s funeral were almost as bleak as the funeral itself, and Cassandra took an extra day before returning to the jewellery workshop.
Sylvie stayed on at Alexander’s home, Cameron flew to Melbourne on business, and Cassandra directed all her energy into work.
Diego rang, but she kept the conversations short for one reason or another and declined any invitation he chose to extend.
A pendant commissioned by Alicia would normally have had all the fine hairs on Cassandra’s nape standing on end. As it was, she took extra care with the design, ensuring its perfection.
The ensuing days ran into a week, and Cameron returned to Sydney briefly before taking a flight interstate within days.
‘Cassandra, you’re wanted at the shop.’
She disengaged from the binocular microscope, ran a hand over the knot atop her head, then made her way towards the retail shop.
A client wanting advice on a design? Soliciting suggestions for a particular gem? Or someone who had admired one of her personal designs and wanted something similar?
Security was tight, and she went through the entry procedure, passed through the ante-room and entered the shop, where gems sparkled against dark velvet in various glass cabinets.
Two perfectly groomed assistants stood positioned behind glass counters, their facial expressions a polite mask as they regarded a tall young woman whose back and stance seemed vaguely familiar.
Then the woman swung round, and Cassandra saw why.
Alicia. Beautifully dressed, exquisitely made-up, and looking very much the international model.
Trouble was the word that immediately came to mind.
‘Miss Vandernoot would like to discuss the pendant she commissioned.’
‘Yes, of course,’ Cassandra said politely and crossed to where Alicia stood. ‘Perhaps you’d care to show it to me.’ She reached for a length of jeweller’s velvet and laid it on the glass counter top.
’This,’ Alicia hissed as she all but tossed the pendant down.
It was a beautiful piece, rectangular in shape with five graduated diamonds set in gold. The attached chain, exquisite.
‘There are scratches. And the diamonds are not the size and quality I originally settled on.’
It was exactly as Alicia had commissioned. The diamonds perfectly cut and set.
Cassandra extracted her loupe, and saw the scratches at once. Several. None of which were there when Alicia inspected and took delivery of the pendant. Inflicted in a deliberate attempt to denigrate her expertise?
‘My notes are on file,’ she began politely, and she turned towards the senior assistant. ‘Beverly, would you mind retrieving them? I need to check the original details with Miss Vandernoot.’
It took a while. Cassandra went through the design notations and instructions with painstaking thoroughness, taking time to clarify each point in turn, witnessed and checked with Beverly. By the time she finished, Alicia had nowhere to go.
‘There’s still the matter of the scratching.’
Cassandra could have wept at the desecration to what had been perfection. ‘They can be removed,’ she advised quietly.
Alicia drew herself up to her full height, which, aided by five-inch stiletto-heeled sandals, was more than impressive.
‘I refuse to accept substandard workmanship.’ She swept Cassandra’s slender frame with a scathing look.
‘If you care to leave the item, we’ll assess the damage and repair it at no cost to you.’
‘Restitution is the only acceptable solution,’ Alicia demanded with haughty insolence. ‘I want a full credit, and I get to keep the item.’
Cassandra had had enough. This wasn’t about jewellery. ‘That’s outrageous and against company policy,’ she said quietly.
‘If you don’t comply, I’ll report this to the jewellers’ association and ensure it receives media attention.’
‘Do that. Meanwhile we’ll arrange an expert evaluation of the scratches by an independent jeweller, and his report will be run concurrently.’
She’d called Alicia’s bluff, and left the model with no recourse whatsoever. Alicia knew it, and her expression wasn’t pretty as she scooped up the pendant and chain and flung both into her bag.
With deceptive calm Cassandra turned towards Beverly. ‘I’ll see Miss Vandernoot out, shall I?’
It was a minor victory, but one that lasted only until they reached the street.
‘Don’t think you’ve won,’ Alicia vented viciously. ‘I want Diego, and I mean to have him.’
‘Really?’ Cassandra watched as the model’s gaze narrowed measurably. ‘Good luck.’
‘Keep your hands off him. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy cultivating the relationship.’
For one wild moment, Cassandra thought Alicia