Free Just for a Night by Miranda Lee Page B

the girl was even more lovely. She was wearing cream cotton trousers with a cream and fawn striped vest-style top; the simple outfit screamed the sort of style money could not necessarily buy. The girl had class and elegance which had been bred into her. It was inherent, as was the way she held herself, so upright, and with a proud little tilt of her perfect little nose.
    She was, for want of a better word, a lady.
    â€˜I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet you,’ the lady herself said, after James had introduced them. ‘I think it’s marvellous what you’re doing. Rebecca is such a darling. I only wish I could be here for her tomorrow, but I have to fly to Italy this afternoon. In fact, I must be going shortly, James.
    â€˜Now don’t go saying you’ll come with me to the airport. That’s silly. You stay here and visit with Rebecca. I’ve ordered a taxi. I only dropped in for a while on my way. I have to go to Rome to be in the wedding party of one of my cousins,’ she explained to Marina with the sweetest of smiles.
    Marina’s own smile felt plastic. Why couldn’t she have been a bitch? An upper-class snob with a snooty attitude instead of this softly spoken and obviously very nice girl.
    â€˜I don’t really want to go, but I’m obliged. Worse, I’m having to go several days before the actual wedding to have my bridesmaid dress properly fitted. It’snot even a nice dress,’ she added laughingly. ‘And it’s purple! Can you imagine me in purple?’
    â€˜You’d look lovely in anything, Tiffany,’ James complimented her.
    Tiffany gave him such an adoring look Marina wanted to cry. This girl not only loved him, she was besotted by him. A quick glance at James’s face showed more than mere affection for the girl in return. His gaze was meltingly indulgent and definitely loving.
    They looked splendid standing there as a couple, she as fair and delicate as he was dark and strong. Marina could see why Henry was so protective of the relationship. Lady Tiffany would make a perfect Countess, the perfect partner for the best Earl of Winterborne in a hundred years.
    â€˜I agree,’ Marina said quickly, to cover her dismay. ‘With your hair and complexion, any colour would suit you. I would be a disaster in purple. Scarlet doesn’t do much for me, either.’
    Lady Tiffany laughed softly, and Marina tried not to pull a face. But there was just so much perfection she could take. Why couldn’t the infernal girl have had yellow incisors, or molars full of metal, or an overbite? Why did her laugh have to show two flawless rows of immaculate pearly whites?
    Marina herself had had to suffer years of braces to correct her own dental shortcomings.
    Physical perfection in James she could admire and lust after. But not in this exquisite creature who was going to become his wife, but whom Prince Charminghad not yet acquainted with his undoubtedly virile flesh.
    Why was that? Marina puzzled all of a sudden, and with a vehemence alien to her normally pragmatic personality.
    Surely she couldn’t still be a virgin ? Not in this day and age, not at nearly twenty-one and certainly not looking like that !
    But the more Marina stared into those big hazel eyes the more she became convinced that Lady Tiffany was totally untouched by male hands.
    Totally!
    There was an unknowing innocence in her face, and in those eyes. The glances she sent James contained nothing of naked desire and everything of a blind and almost adolescent hero-worship. That peck she’d given him on the cheek bespoke the affection more of a sister than a lover.
    What in God’s name was James waiting for? For them to be officially engaged? Surely he didn’t expect to hold out till his wedding night! That was archaic, and totally unnatural when two healthy young people were in love. He should be making love to her all the time. Good grief, if she were