“I’m sorry. I tear up sometimes with eye make-up, so I don’t use it too often.” Sabrina apologized as she dabbed at her eyes after Antonia had applied some eyeshadow.
“I won’t apply eyeliner on your lower lid then. Just the upper for definition.”
In twenty minutes, the make-up was done. But Antonia wasn’t finished yet. She produced a red box. Sabrina recognized the jeweller’s insignia.
“I don’t think I can wear any diamonds. It will compete with the outfit.” She gestured to her crystal-studded chest.
“It’s Luca’s wish. And it’s not for your body.” Antonia moved to stand behind her and lifted the necklace he had given her. The chain was made of fine white gold, and in the center, a cluster of deep blue stones formed a crescent shape. She recognized it as one of his gifts.
Sabrina looked at her questioningly.
Antonia laid the necklace gently at the back of her head and after several deft manueuvers and hairpins, she allowed Sabrina to gaze at her workmanship with a handheld mirror.
Antonia had wrapped the necklace around her bun, the blue crescent of stones laying flat underneath it. It was an expensive and stylish ornament, and it played off her blonde hair wonderfully.
“It’s Luca’s idea,” Antonio remarked, very pleased with her handiwork.
Sabrina went up to the skylight room, looked for the matching handbag, and inserted the piece of paper she would show Markos Konstantinos later. On the coffee table, there was a note in Luca’s hand saying he would be waiting for her at the salon. With one last glance at the bathroom mirror, she went to look for him.
In the salon, he had taken one look at her and murmured, “Stunning.” Then nothing else. Sabrina felt keenly disappointed at his lack of admiration.
He, however, looked smashing in a white shirt and tie. The black coat tail and black trousers made him look leaner and elegant. She remembered the first time she saw him at the lobby of The Medeia. He had appeared as if he had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Debonair, that was the old-fashioned word Sabrina was searching for. The way he looked tonight, it was as if he was out for a night in Monte Carlo, shaking martinis and stirring hearts aflutter.
He had taken her arm on the way to the car then inside, he kept his distance. They were inches apart, but there was an invisible gulf that stretched between them. Sabrina wanted to break the divide but didn’t know how without revealing her purpose. She didn’t want to test his loyalty to his friend. She was afraid he’d choose him.
She didn’t want to be that girl who had been passed over too many times. Made to left waiting, expecting, only to be disappointed time and again. She had learned the lesson long and hard. Those recurring, unmet promises had crusted around her heart. Because if he didn’t choose her, the crust would fragment into a hundred pieces and her heart would be just soft tissue once more, a vulnerable, breakable organ.
The car entered a tunnel the same time he spoke.
“I’m sorry I won’t be good company tonight.” His voice was gravelly.
She longed to take his hand in hers, but she didn’t. Tell him.
“Whatever happens tonight, strega, you have a place at the yacht.”
She wished that were so. She turned blindly to the window, desperately trying to stop the tears from falling. Must not ruin make-up.
The car emerged from the tunnel and she lost her chance to speak.
On top of a huge hill, the Royal Palace glowed like a jewel against the dark, velvet skies. Traffic had slowed to a crawl as a huge number of cars were making their way up an inclined road lit by beautiful ornate lamps. Winds were buffeting the royal pennants strung around lampposts.
It was a fairy tale evening for a fairy tale wedding. Sabrina fervently hoped her evening would have a happy ending as well.
Chapter 18
The royal couple were standing by the entrance of the grand ballroom greeting their guests.
Luca discreetly tried to check if Markos had arrived. The sea of men in black coat tails made it hard to single out an individual. Mercifully, his mother had begged off the evening affair, saying she had been tired out from the luncheon. He hoped Mrs. Konstantinos was also resting in the hotel. He wanted to get the whole damned thing over with, to march Sabrina over to Markos so he could get a measure of peace.
Only he wasn’t sure he would want peace if she decided she wanted nothing to do with him after. He had a very bad feeling he’d go berserk, smash things, and drown himself in liquor. He just didn’t know in what order.
Luca’s gut felt like he had swallowed hot coals. He had known she was very beautiful, there was no denying it, but at his first glimpse of her in her dress, he had almost backed out of bringing her to the reception. He had seen the gown at the fashion show in Milan, but Sabrina fitted the gown like no reed-slim runway model.