Page 49 of The Lost Heiress
As the shop attendant started taking Saoirse’s measurements for alterations, Ransom turned back to Ana.
“You’re not going to try anything on?” he asked.
Ana couldn’t imagine what one of these dresses would cost—probably her entire paycheck for the summer. Maybe more. What a waste to spend so much money on something you’d wear once and then hang in the back of your closet.
“I’m more of a JCPenney girl,” Ana said.
“I see,” Ransom said. He turned to one of the shop attendants. “Alexandra, see if you can’t find something for Miss Rojas here. And put it on my tab.”
“Oh no, you don’t have to—” Ana started, but Ransom ignored her.
“The blue-green Yves Saint Laurent dress in the window would suit her,” Ransom said.
“The strapless crepe gown?” Alexandra asked.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Excellent choice, sir,” Alexandra said. “I’ll be right back.”
In the dressing room, Ana stood still as Alexandra slipped the dress on over her head and then did the zipper and clasps at the back. She felt ridiculous having someone dress her, but the closures on the dress were too cumbersome and out of reach to manage by herself.
The dress was a deep ink blue, almost teal. It was simple, in a way: strapless, cut straight across the bodice, falling in a column to the floor. One side of the skirt was draped and pinned to the bottom of the bodice, which ended at the natural waist, and the other had a thigh-high slit that made the dress easy to walk in. Ana hated to admit it, but she had never felt anything so luxurious and smooth against her skin before, and when the clasps were done, it fit her body just so.
Once she was dressed, Alexandra ushered her out into the common area of the dressing room. Ana begrudgingly stepped up onto the pedestal, facing the three-paneled mirror, and took in her reflection.
She was still herself, but it was as though the dress heightened and underlined her best features. The color brought out the radiantblue-green of her eyes, the dark olive of her skin. The cut skimmed her slim figure and showed off the sharp blades of her collarbones, the soft slope of her shoulders.
“What do we think?” Alexandra asked, although Ana couldn’t help but feel the question was directed more at Ransom than herself. She glanced up at his reflection in the mirror. He was holding the magazine absently in his hands, as if he had forgotten it existed. His gaze swept her body, but she couldn’t read his expression. His mouth was drawn in a tight line, and for a moment, he didn’t speak.
“It’s impeccably cut,” he said, his voice a little hoarse. He cleared his throat. “Exquisite craftsmanship.”
“We’ll need to take it in at the waist, just a bit,” Alexandra said, surveying her. “And have it hemmed. But this dress was made for you. You’re a knockout in it.”
Ana caught sight of the price tag—the dress was over a thousand dollars. She felt sick to her stomach.
“I really don’t think I can accept this,” Ana said. “It’s too much.”
“I insist,” Ransom said.
She opened her mouth to object, but Ransom cut her off.
“In the interest of making our dinner reservation, Miss Rojas,” he said, leaning forward conspiratorially, “take the compromise.”
Ana locked eyes with him for a moment in the mirror. There was something heavy in her throat; she couldn’t swallow. Then, Ransom looked away.
Afterward, they went to their hotel—the Duchess in Beverly Hills. It was just as Ana had always imagined it would be from the way Rosie had described it: pearl white, five stories tall, with arches in the entryway and palm trees dotting the drive. The valet came running to take Ransom’s car as soon as they pulled up, and as they walked through the marble lobby, Ana couldn’t help but glance at the hostess desk, even though she knew that Rosie wouldn’t be there.
Through the lobby and to the left was the Sunset Lounge, with its white-clothed tables and forest green velvet booths. The busboy filledtheir water glasses from a pitcher as soon as they sat down, and another boy brought a basket of bread rolls warm from the oven.
“Do you always stay here?” Ana asked as she opened her menu. “At the Duchess?”
“It was Mother’s favorite,” Saoirse said. “We stayed here anytime we were in the city. So it sort of feels like a home away from home now, I guess.”
When the waiter returned, Ransom ordered bluefin tuna tartare for the table to start. Ana chose lobster risotto in parmesan and mascarpone cheese for her meal, because Rosie had told her that was the best thing on the menu. Rosie used to sneak bites of it from the half-eaten room service trays in the kitchen.
Ana heard her name, and she glanced up to see the whole table looking at her.
“Sorry?” she said.
