SILK WICKEDNESS 41

His face was a picture of almost comical despair. ‘It was the most monumental piece of arrogance - I don't know what the hell came over me. I fixed everything, even down to something blue. I did everything but ask you first.'

For the first time in her life, Claudia all but fainted.

A couple of minutes later, when it had sunk in and she was in his arms and they had kissed and she had confessed her ghastly fears and they'd both laughed and cried, Planet Earth called her back.

Oh, God. How can I bear to disappoint him now ?

‘Guy, I want to - more than anything,' she said unsteadily. ‘But I can't. Not like this. If I deprive my mother of the second biggest day of her life, she’ll never, ever forgive me.'

His eyes were glinting like the waters they’d sailed the morning before - fathoms-deep Caribbean blue, with the sun on it. ‘Is that your only objection?'

‘Yes, but - ’

‘Then forget it.' He brushed her forehead with his lips.

‘I have a magic wand in my back pocket.'

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