Page 44 of Marriage Bargain with His Innocent
‘We need to get one.’
‘Why?’
‘Come on, Georgie. An engaged woman always wears a rock on her finger.’
He moved to stand next to her and lifted her hand, inspected her finger.
She snatched her hand away. ‘Surely that’s taking the pretence too far? Has it occurred to you that when it comes to something as serious as an engagement I might actually want to wear a ring on my finger thatmeanssomething? That’s a declaration of intent from a guy who wants to go the whole hog and walk up the aisle with me?’
‘No,’ Matias said, dropping her hand and heading for the door, then spinning round on his heels to look at her before opening it. ‘My mother’s recommended some jewellers. I, personally, would rather get something in London, but perhaps a ring from somewhere local might carry more significance.’
‘Did you hear a word I just said?’
‘I heard every word. Are you telling me that you’re not willing to go along with this?’
‘No... I can see the upsides... I just thought you should know that—’
‘Okay. Got it. Then let’s go. We can wrap this up in a couple of hours. My mother’s appointment with the consultant is later this afternoon. I’ll want to accompany her. If she sees a ring on your finger her spirits will be good enough to deal with the details of the operation.’
He was back to being the Matias of old. Assured, in charge, emotions firmly under lock and key.
* * *
Despite spending most of his adult life anywhere other than Cornwall, he still knew the roads and streets like the back of his hand, and they were at the jeweller’s within forty-five minutes of leaving the house.
‘One of my mother’s daughters designs bespoke rings here.’ Matias killed the engine outside an exquisite chocolate box house on a side street, sandwiched between a bridal shop and a high-end shoe shop. He looked at her wryly. ‘In between her concerns over this upcoming operation, she managed to impartthatgem of information.’
Georgina was gazing at the shop front. ‘Emily Thornton?’ she said. ‘Have you any idea how expensive her stuff is?’
‘Have you any idea how little I care about that?’ He reached across her to push open the passenger door, then remained staring at her for a few seconds. ‘You look as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof. It’s just part of this charade we’ve signed up to.’
‘I realise that it doesn’t mean anything...’
‘So you shouldn’t feel anxious. Now, let’s go and see what the finest jeweller in the West Country has to offer, shall we?’
Squashing the temptation to attach any significance to the choosing of an engagement ring, and making sure to keep at the forefront of her mind Matias’s flat reminder that this was all just a continuation of the gameshehad initiated, Georgina eyed the array of glittering jewels brought out for their inspection.
There were no prices on any of them—which was alarming. The quality was stunning, and her mouth was dry when she casually pointed to the most gaudy of the rings on display.
‘Funny...’ Matias murmured under his breath. ‘That’s the last ring I would have pictured you choosing.’
Georgina shrugged, but got the feeling that he knew exactly what was going through her mind—she intended to save choosing a ring she truly loved for a guy she really cared about. It was a twisted version of the truth, but she was determined to play this game as coolly as he was.
When it was slipped onto her finger she stared at it, while the young sales assistant oohed and ahhed and told her that she couldn’t have chosen anything more beautiful.
‘Why don’t you try that one, my darling?’ Matias removed the ring and returned it to the girl, his dark, amused eyes firmly fixed on Georgina’s face. ‘Personally, I think an oversized diamond squatting on a band of gold isn’t right for your delicate finger.’
Their eyes tangled—and then he reached out and picked the very ring she would have chosen for herself.
‘There, now...’ He held her hand up and inspected it from all angles. ‘Much better. We’ll take it.’
He paid, and Georgina stared at the delicate strands of interwoven rose gold and the small perfect diamonds that followed the strands. When she twisted her hand ever so slightly the strands almost seemed to move, like a thread of liquid gold flowing over precious gems.
She shoved her hand down to her side, because when she looked at the ring the whole scenario felt way too real.
‘Now,’ Matias said, as they were leaving the shop, ‘we’ll collect my mother and take her to see the consultant.’
There was nothing romantic about this occasion. He had switched off the second they had left the jeweller’s, and once in the car had promptly engaged himself in a lengthy conference call conducted partly in English, partly in Italian.
