Cory got to her feet, her face very white. She said, ‘Just what are you implying? That Rome stole it?’
‘Or won it at cards, perhaps.’ There was an odd urgency in his tone.
‘Then you’re wrong. It’s a family ring,’ she said huskily. ‘Does that satisfy you?’
‘A family ring,’ he repeated slowly. ‘But from which member of the family, I wonder?’
‘Does it matter?’ Cory shook her head. ‘I can’t believe I’m taking part in this—interrogation. You’ve always claimed you wanted me to fall in love. I didn’t realise you intended to investigate my lover.’
‘You seem to think I’m doing him an injustice.’ Arnold seemed to rouse himself, looking at her with eyes that hardly seemed to see her. ‘And perhaps I am. But, until we meet, I’m having to rely on hearsay. Maybe you should allow him to speak for himself.’
There was a silence, then she said, ‘I love him, Grandfather. I can’t live without him.’
‘You think that now, child.’ There was a note of appeal in his voice. ‘But you’ll probably fall in and out of love several times before you meet the right man for you.’
She said, ‘Would you have got over Gran so easily—and gone on to someone else? I don’t think so. And with Rome and I there’s no one else involved either.’
There was a wild look in his eyes. ‘You don’t think so? How can you know?’
‘Because I trust him—just as Gran trusted you. You knew she was the only one, and so did she. And I’m your granddaughter, so maybe it’s in my genes.’
She went to the door. Turned. ‘And please don’t call me “child” again. I’m a woman now—Rome’s woman.’
His glance was heavy. ‘For good or ill?’
She said, ‘Yes,’ and went out, closing the door behind her.
Arnold Grant sat very still for a moment. Then, moving slowly and stiffly, he reached for the telephone.
‘THIS,’ Cory said passionately, ‘has to rank as one of the worst days of my life.’
‘Thanks,’ Rome said drily. ‘Shall I get dressed and leave?’
‘I’m sorry.’ She kissed him repentantly. ‘I mean apart from the last couple of hours—which is evening anyway, so it doesn’t count.’
I’m relieved to hear it. And I told you not to let your mother get to you, sweetheart. You should have listened.’
‘Oh, it wasn’t Ma,’ Cory said bitterly. ‘She cleared out to the beauty parlour and left me to the Spanish Inquisition.’ She moved restlessly. ‘It was awful. Gramps was like a stranger, staring me down, behaving as if I was on trial—or you were.’
‘What did he say?’ Rome asked curiously.
‘Oh, nothing much. Just that you were a liar, and a conman, and possibly a thief. Usual stuff.’ She shook her head. ‘In the end I slammed out of the house. I spent the afternoon in Hyde Park, just walking, trying to clear my head.’
Rome was silent for a moment. ‘Darling, I think it’s time your grandfather and I had a serious talk.’
‘It seems he does, too,’ Cory admitted reluctantly. ‘When I got home there was a message on the machine. Apparently, he wants us to go to dinner tomorrow night.’
‘Did you accept?’
‘I haven’t replied yet. He doesn’t deserve it. Besides, I don’t know if I can stand it. More questions over the soup. Final arguments with the main course. Sentence of death pronounced during dessert.’
‘I think we should go,’ Rome told her. ‘It could be an olive branch.’
Cory pulled a face. ‘All the better to beat us with.’
‘I really need to see him.’ His voice was gentle. ‘Get a few things straight.’
‘Then I’ll tell him yes.’ She sighed. ‘We didn’t have our secret very long, did we?’
‘It’s not always good,’ Rome said, his face suddenly brooding, ‘to keep things from people you love. The longer it goes on, the harder they are to explain.’
‘You sound very old and wise.’ There was sudden laughter in her voice.
‘I haven’t been very wise at all,’ he said. ‘Not from the start of all this. As for being old…’ The hand that had been curled round the curve of her hip moved without haste and to devastating effect. ‘Let’s see about that—shall we?’
‘Yes,’ she managed dry-mouthed. ‘Oh, yes, Rome. Rome…’
She didn’t go to work the following day, and Arnold did not ring to enquire where she was, so it seemed he was not expecting her.
In spite of the harsh words between them, Cory hated being on bad terms with him.
But after tonight, she told herself, everything will be fine.
She put on a new dress for the occasion, a silky jersey in a subtle aubergine shade. And she put her ring on her left hand.
Rome said, ‘You look beautiful.’
He was smiling as he looked at her in the mirror, but his face was strained.
‘And so do you.’ She had never seen him in a formal dark suit before. ‘Gramps will be swept off his feet.’
On their way out, she snapped off one of the crimson roses that was still in bud, and tucked it into his buttonhole.
He was on edge all the way to Chelsea, his hands gripping the wheel as if he was drowning.
Cory stole a troubled look at him. ‘Rome—are you sure you want to go through with this—seeking his blessing?’
‘I’ve never been so sure of anything.’ His voice was husky. ‘But, Cory—there’s something I should tell you.’
She said, ‘I hope this isn’t the moment you reveal you’re already married. Because Grandfather would not take that in good part. Other than that, we’re home and dry.’ She paused. ‘We’re also here.’
As she rang the bell, she said. ‘So, what was it you wanted to tell me?’
He shook his head. ‘I can’t talk to you about it now. I think I should see your grandfather first.’ He put his hands on her shoulders. His voice was serious. ‘The only thing that matters, Cory, is that I love you. Never lose sight of that—please.’
‘Well, it all seems relatively civilised,’ she murmured as the housekeeper conducted them to the drawing room. ‘No paid assassins lurking. After the way he was talking the other day, I did wonder.’
‘He’s quite right to be cautious,’ Rome said soberly. ‘But everything’s going to be fine. You’ll see.’
And it seemed they had indeed been worrying unnecessarily. When they entered the drawing room Arnold came to meet them, smiling affably as Cory performed the necessary introductions.
As they shook hands, the two men exchanged overtly measuring glances.
‘My daughter-in-law I believe you’ve met,’ Arnold said.
‘Oh, yes.’ Sonia was smiling from one of the sofas. She was elegant in black, with magnificent diamonds in her ears and on her wrists. ‘We’re quite old friends. I’m glad to see you dress for dinner if not for breakfast, Mr d’Angelo.’
‘I