Page 15 of Robert

Deidre glared at her as she picked up her dainty cup filled with her special blend of herbal tea.

“He was not in your league. As I recalled, he was some poor scholarship child.”

“He was, and he is now one of the wealthiest men in the world. That should sit well with you.” Sonya’s mouth twisted slightly, and she felt the shame coursing through her body.

Who was she to judge, she thought wretchedly. Once upon a time, she was that person. Money and status meant a lot to her, and she would never have been caught dead interacting with a poor person. “And Kevin has been divorced twice. Milo is an entitled ass who does nothing but party and live off his parents money. David is gay.”

She almost smiled at the rounded look in her mother’s eyes.

“He is most certainly not.”

“He is gay, mother. It is well-known that his parents are looking for some idiot woman to lend him some sort of ‘respectability’ to cover the fact that he prefers men. I have chosen Robert and next week Saturday, we are getting married.”

Deidre pouted as she stirred her tea. Her daughter was right of course. The man might not be her first choice or any kind of choice, but he had to be admired. He was made of money and everything he touched turned to pure gold, according to several business magazines. And he was not unattractive, if one was into that smoldering, cynical look.

“I suppose he’ll have to do,” she eyed her daughter speculatively. “How did you get him to propose? Rumor has it that he has been very elusive when it comes to matrimony. That women have been chasing him over the years and he has not shown the slightest bit of interest.”

Sonya felt a tug of her heart at the question. Her mother did not know it would not be a marriage at all. Just the illusion of one or that Robert had his reason for agreeing to the farce.

“He thinks it’s time he settled down,” she murmured vaguely.

Deidre nodded. “And it is time you did too. Well, darling, I am looking forward to seeing you tie the knot.” She glanced around her patio where the summer flowers were still in full bloom.

“We could have it right here.”

“That’s actually a very good idea.” Tamping down the guilt she was feeling, she forced a smile. “I will run it by Robert.”

“And when do I get to meet him?”

“Mother, you have known him for years.”

“We have brushed by each other at a few functions, but I have never spoken to him. If he’s going to be part of my family, I would very much like to make his acquaintance.”

Sonya did not tell her about the dinner on Sunday for the very reason that she did not want her mother ruining things.

“I will arrange a luncheon,” she promised.

“All right.” In a change of mood, Deidre clapped her hands in delight, “Well darling, this calls for champagne.”

*****

She dressed carefully, bearing in mind that she would be meeting his sister. She had heard from him yesterday when he was on his way back from New York to say that everything was arranged.

“Is there anything I should bring?”

“Just yourself. I have a very competent housekeeper who is very territorial when it comes to the kitchen.”

Now she was standing in front of the mirror, eyeing her outfit critically. The dress was not very formal, nor was it casual, but somewhere between. The floral colors were displayed on a cream background and flared from the waist to just below her knees. The top was closefitting, with tiny flower shaped sleeves and a scooped neckline.

She stared at the style and wondered fleetingly if it was showing too much cleavage. Her hair was loose, and she had gone to the salon to have it shampooed and treated.

Her make-up was flawless. Even when she was a girl, she had stayed away from cosmetics, because with her skin tone, she did not really need it. The lipstick was a soft-shell pink that outlined her lips and left them shimmering.

Moving away from the mirror, she went to collect her wrap and purse and headed downstairs. Taking a deep breath, she went towards her front door. He had offered to send a car for her, but she had refused. “I will find my own way,” she assured him.

She knew where he lived of course, because he had agreed to have his place photographed for ‘Housekeeping of the rich and famous’. She had found herself admiring the slightly sterile if very luxurious rooms and the fact that he was several miles away from his neighbors, giving him complete privacy.

*****

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