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She had done her best to freeze hi would not be accusto his oith women

Well, not withto do with him

She shook her head, as if to clear his so disturbing ie from her mind’s eye She had far nedly, that she could not faceToby—but what other solution could save her beloved home?

Anxiety pressed at her—and over the next two days in London it worsened Her bank declined to advance the level of loan required, the auction houses confir left to sell to raise such a sum So it ith little enthusiasm that she took a call from Toby

‘But it’s Covent Garden And I know you love opera’

The plaintive note in Toby’s voice entle let-down Reluctantly she acquiesced to his invitation—a corporate jolly for a performance of Verdi’s Don Carlo

But when she arrived at the Opera House she wished she had refused

‘You rereeted her ‘He’s our host tonight’

Diana forced aher dised to start forgetting hi impact he’d had on her, but now suddenly he was here, as powerfully, disturbingly attractive as before

Then she was being introduced to the other couple present Diana recognised the ht Nikos Tramontes over to their table With hie of the threeto talk business to draw Diana aside

‘My,look back at Nikos Tramontes, ‘he is most definitely a handsome brute No wonder he’s been able to hold on to Nadya Serensky for so long That and all his money, of course’

Diana looked blank, and Louise Melhtened her

‘Nadya Serensky You know—that stunning redheaded supermodel They’re quite an item’

It elco that Nikos Tramontes had eyed her up at the livery dinner

Maybe it’s just