staff who held up a long bronze dress, adorned with sequins. The assistant held it across her arms as she stood in the dressing room. Piper had never seen such a dress before, let alone worn one. How could Elizabeth think it was perfect for her?
‘Bronze will look amazing with your hair, and the dress will accentuate your gorgeous figure.’
Elizabeth’s flurry of words held a hint of excitement which transferred itself to Piper. None of this was for real, but it was happening, and she did have the role of fiancée to play. Would it be so wrong to get carried away with the fun of all the glamour?
‘It’s beautiful.’ Piper touched the delicate fabric as the assistant held it for her, wondering how it would feel to wear such a dress. Should she tell Elizabeth that her so-called gorgeous figure would be short-lived? ‘It’s very beautiful. But I’m not sure it will be suitable.’
‘Just try it,’ encouraged Elizabeth as she ushered Piper behind a changing screen.
Piper looked at her reflection in the large gilded mirror moments later, not even sure if the woman who gazed back at her was real. How could one dress make her look and feel so different?
‘It’s perfect.’ Elizabeth’s no-nonsense tone halted any further objections and Piper had to admit it fitted beautifully, as if it had been made for her.
‘Then I will be guided by you.’ She had no idea what else this evening’s dinner party would require, but Elizabeth’s air of confidence was reassuring.
‘I wish all my clients were so easy to please.’ Elizabeth smiled as she signalled to a member of staff that the bronze dress was to be packed. ‘Next I have a black gown by the same designer. Perfect for a night at the theatre.’
For a second time Piper looked at her reflection, saw her body encased in the most gorgeous black silk. Was this really happening? The elation of the moment quickly faded as reality crept in. She was paying a high price for this Cinderella moment. She might be about to go to the ball, dinner parties or the theatre, but she certainly wouldn’t find her Prince Charming.
From what she’d seen of Dante Mancini, Prince Charming didn’t exist in the man she was now engaged to. For two months she’d lived with the hope that after that wonderful night together he might be her very own knight in shining armour. Now she had to accept that such fairytale ideas were impossible. Dante Mancini was ruthless in business and, it seemed, in love. Did he even know what love was?
‘No time for daydreaming.’ Elizabeth smiled at her in the mirror and Piper couldn’t help but smile back, despite the unusual situation and her downward spiralling emotions. ‘We have lots more to choose.’
‘We do?’
‘But of course. You’ve a weekend in Tuscany, and many events to attend in the coming weeks, and then there are outfits to select for when your pregnancy shows—ones that will accentuate your happy news, as Signor Mancini requested.’
She knew about the pregnancy? Dante certainly hadn’t spared her blushes or embarrassment. Hearing it said plainly and so practically that he wanted people knowing that particular detail hurt more than she cared to admit.
‘I wasn’t aware you knew...’ Piper began to stumble over her words, as she always did when she was anxious. ‘It’s still new to us at the moment.’
Elizabeth stopped and looked at Piper, her friendly smile defusing the agitation brewing in Piper. ‘I’m in full possession of the facts regarding the arrangement between you and Signor Mancini—of his need to appear to settle down in order to salvage the damage done by salacious gossip to their charity.’
‘Their charity?’
Piper was confused. Wasn’t all this in aid of Dante’s business deal? She thought back to the day in his office, when he’d talked of the deal he was on the brink of losing. He hadn’t mentioned a charity.
‘Of course their charity. That article in Celebrity Spy! nearly destroyed the good work all four of them have done.’
‘All four of them?’
‘Yes—Dante, Zayn, Benjamin and Xander. It’s almost as if Celebrity Spy! deliberately set out to destroy them and The Hope Foundation.’
Confusion made thinking difficult as Piper digested this new information. Why would Dante want her to believe this was all for his business deal? Why hadn’t he told her about the charity, that it was the real reason, instead of letting her believe it was completely mercenary?
‘And are all four to be married in order to give the appearance of having settled down in life and abandoned their bachelor existence?’
‘Benjamin, Dante and Zayn will be, yes.’
Elizabeth couldn’t quite meet Piper’s gaze as she straightened a pale pink coat over a dusky pink wrap dress. She wondered where she would wear such an outfit.
‘This will be perfect to travel to Tuscany and meet with Dante’s clients. Take a look.’ Elizabeth’s voice held a hint of forced enthusiasm, and she still couldn’t meet Piper’s eye as she turned to look at her.
Piper walked from the dressing room back to the mirror she’d stood in front of so many times that morning already. The outfit looked and felt expensive, as had each and every one she’d tried on, but it was the turn of the conversation which had unsettled her.
‘Are you sure? You seem worried.’ Piper’s precarious confidence was rocked at the sudden change in Elizabeth’s demeanour. She seemed unsettled by the conversation.
‘Of course. It’s exactly what Dante requested.’
‘Dante has mentioned that you arrange marriages. Are you finding brides or inventing fiancées for Benjamin, Zayn and Xander too?’
Piper looked at Elizabeth in the mirror and for a moment thought she saw a look of panic cross her face, but she continued to talk, unable to stop prying into things. This might be her only chance to find out what was really going on, so she continued quickly before Elizabeth changed the subject.
‘Each one of them, along with Dante, was named and shamed in that article as the world’s most debauched bachelors. Are they all your clients?’
‘This bag finishes it off perfectly.’ Elizabeth handed her a small bag the same colour as the dress and stood and looked at her, a light crease of worry showing on her forehead. ‘Benjamin and Zayn are my clients, yes.’
‘And is Xander going to follow their lead?’ Piper continued to press, aware that maybe Elizabeth shouldn’t be divulging such information but, she was part of this charade and had a right to know exactly what was going on. To her, this was for her child, but for Dante their marriage seemed to be about many things—except the duty of fatherhood.
‘So I believe.’
‘It does make it better, knowing it is also for a charity.’ Piper recalled the call she’d interrupted that morning, with Dante unusually speaking English. ‘I think Dante did tell you Xander would call you too.’
‘Then I shall await his call.’ Elizabeth ticked the last item off her list with great flourish. ‘We are finished here—but hair, make-up, manicure and pedicure are next.’
‘All
