The Innocent's One-Night Confession: The Innocent's One-Night Confession / Hired to Wear the Sheikh's Ring

A challenge issued and accepted as Alanna felt rage and resentment take swift and uncontrollable possession of her.

How dared he look at her like that? she thought as she got to her feet. What damned right had he—or anyone else in that room—to judge her? Or ordain her future?

Well, to hell with the lot of them.

She walked, forcing herself to seem quietly, happily self-possessed, to where Gerard stood, and slipped her hand through his arm.

‘Darling,’ she said softly. ‘How naughty of you. I thought we were going wait—to keep it our little secret for a while.’ And lifted her smiling face for him to kiss her on the mouth.

In the next instant, the ongoing silence was broken by Maurice Dennison, rising from his chair.

‘Congratulations, my boy, and every good wish to you, my dear,’ he said heartily. ‘We couldn’t be more happy for you both—could we, everyone?’

And as he glanced round the table, the others stood in turn, murmuring ‘To Gerard and Alanna’ as they drank. With Zandor, the last one of all, merely raising his glass in a negligently token gesture.

Which Alanna knew was intended to fool no one—least of all herself.

‘I can’t believe you did that.’ An hour later, a stormy Alanna faced Gerard on the terrace under the guise of a romantic moonlight stroll. ‘I thought we had an agreement.’

‘We still do,’ he said urgently. ‘I swear that hasn’t changed.’ He spread his hands. ‘But you’ve no idea of the pressure I’ve been under.’

‘Actually,’ she said, ‘I think I have. But I’ve allowed my inbuilt aversion to being used to take precedence on this occasion.’

‘Well, thank you, anyway, for going along with it.’

‘As opposed to calling you a liar in front of your family?’ She sighed. ‘Oh, Gerard, what a mess.’

He said with faint stiffness, ‘It doesn’t have to be. My suggestion we should become engaged, even on a trial basis, was perfectly sincere. And that’s what’s going to happen. We have to give ourselves a chance.’

‘Not easy with half your relations asking if we’ve set the date yet, and the others behaving as if you’ve had a mental breakdown,’ she said bitterly.

Except I’m the crazy one for agreeing to this engagement fiasco when I know I haven’t the slightest intention of marrying you.

Aloud, she added, ‘And as I’d rather not face them again, will you take me round to the side door, please, so I can go straight up to my room.’

‘Yes, if that’s what you want.’ He paused. ‘But they may find it strange.’

‘In which case,’ Alanna said coolly, ‘it will fit in nicely with the rest of the evening’s events.’

Alone in her bedroom, with the door safely locked, she took off her dress and hung it carefully away, then put on her robe and lay down on top of the bed, staring into space as she recapped everything that had happened.

* * *

After Gerard’s announcement, the opening of Niamh’s presents, which followed, seemed a total anti-climax.

She certainly exclaimed and enthused, but it was clear her heart wasn’t in it. When she unwrapped Alanna’s photograph frame, she studied it in silence for a moment, then looked up, smiling.

‘How thoughtful,’ she said softly. ‘I shall keep it for a picture of your wedding, dear girl.’

If, of course, you can find one small enough, Alanna supplied silently as she smiled back.

When they returned to the drawing room for coffee, Joanne flew across the room and threw her arms round first Alanna then Gerard, hugging them both exuberantly.

‘Well, you kept that up your sleeves,’ she teased, adding more quietly, ‘By the way, Felicity and her father have made their excuses and gone home. Grandam won’t be too pleased about that, but Zandor’s leaving as well which should make up for it.’