The Carlotta Diamond. Lee Wilkinson

bag, Charlotte fled.

      The September evening was cool and grey and slightly foggy. Street lamps cast an amber glow onto the damp pavements, and, surrounded by a halo of mist, shone like luminous ghosts.

      Rudy was waiting for her on the pavement. Taking her hand, he drew her close and kissed her with a barely restrained passion.

      After a moment, well aware that Sojo was almost certainly watching, Charlotte drew away.

      Damn it, Rudy thought as he jumped into the car and started the engine. He was practically desperate. He needed to make some headway before Simon returned, and time was getting short.

      But with a certain cool reserve, Charlotte was unlike any other girl he’d ever met, and so far, afraid of scaring her off, he’d forced himself to be relatively patient.

      Now, however, restless and frustrated, he found the strain was beginning to tell, and he frowned as he joined the sluggish stream of evening traffic, and headed north for St John’s Wood.

      His experience had told him that she was on the verge of falling in love with him, and it was time to make his move. With the Mayfair flat still at his disposal he had entertained high hopes that tonight they might become lovers.

      It would make a difficult situation a great deal easier and immeasurably increase his chances of keeping her—so long as he could come up with the right kind of story to gain her sympathy.

      She was, he felt certain, the kind of woman who would stick by him once she had committed herself.

      And he badly wanted her to.

      This wasn’t just the start of another affair, nor was it because she would shortly be rich, though that was a definite bonus. For the first time in his life he was mad about a woman, unable to concentrate on anything, hardly able to eat or sleep for thinking about her, and her cool reception of his kiss had shaken him badly.

      Still, there was the whole evening ahead. Unless he’d lost his touch he’d be able to get her in the right mood before it ended. With a mouth like hers, and that underlying hint of sensuousness, she couldn’t really be cold…

      As they drew into the drive of their host’s big house, Rudy’s heart sank to see the parking apron was crowded with prestigious cars.

      It sank even further when the handsome front door was opened by a liveried manservant, and it became abundantly clear that the party, which was well under way, was a glittering affair.

      Beyond the chandelier-hung hall, a large candlelit room was packed with people, and well-dressed celebrities appeared to be ten-a-penny.

      When Charlotte had first, hesitantly, mentioned the party, it had sounded innocuous enough. Expecting the whole thing to be obscure, quiet, dull and literary, he had promised to do his best to be free. But this affair was much bigger and a great deal less private than he’d bargained for.

      He’d made a bad mistake in coming here, and the sooner he could get away, the better. If anyone recognised him and told Simon…

      As their coats were whisked away, their handsome, silver-haired host appeared to greet them—Rudy with civility, Charlotte with enthusiasm.

      ‘My dear, you look stunning. I’m so pleased you could come. The last time I invited you to one of these dos you cried off, you naughty girl.’

      ‘I couldn’t find an escort.’

      ‘Now, that I don’t believe. But should it ever happen in the future, come anyway, and I promise I’ll never leave your side,’ Anthony winked at her.

      ‘Your wife might have something to say about that,’ Charlotte teased.

      Sighing, Anthony said, ‘There are times I wish I’d stayed a bachelor gay.’

      ‘Now, that I don’t believe.’

      He grinned. ‘Touché.’

      ‘You must know that in the literary world yours and Renee’s marriage is held up as a shining example of how good it can be.’

      ‘It doesn’t come much better,’ he admitted. ‘I think every man should have a wife, don’t you agree?’ He glanced at Charlotte’s companion as if expecting some male support.

      When Rudy said nothing, Anthony turned his attention back to Charlotte. ‘What do you think of the theme?’

      ‘Love it. Candles create such a wonderfully intimate atmosphere.’

      ‘A romantic at heart! I always suspected it, in spite of that cool businesswoman air you cultivate. Now there are lots of people here you’ll know, so do you want to just circulate? Or would you like me to introduce you to a couple of our new authors?’

      ‘Just circulate, I think,’ Charlotte said.

      He kissed her hand. ‘In that case, help yourselves to some champagne and go mingle.’

      As they obeyed, and were greeted by people Charlotte knew, she introduced her handsome escort with a feeling of pride. But though Rudy smiled and acknowledged each new acquaintance politely, it soon became obvious that he was ill at ease and hating every minute of it.

      She was wondering why, as most of the conversation, far from being confined to books, was general and lively, when a sudden stir indicated the arrival of the Press.

      ‘Hell!’ Rudy muttered. It was a possibility he should have foreseen, but hadn’t.

      ‘What’s wrong?’ she breathed, seeing the hint of panic in his brown eyes.

      ‘Blasted photographers.’

      ‘I can’t imagine they’ll be long. It’s just a necessary spot of publicity.’

      Turning his head, he whispered in her ear, ‘Mind if I vanish for a time? If my picture should happen to get into the papers the powers that be will discover I’m not where I’m supposed to be, and that could mean big trouble.’

      Feeling guilty that he’d neglected his job to come with her, she whispered back, ‘Go by all means.’

      He excused himself, and, putting his empty glass on the nearest table, disappeared into the crowd.

      As though his exit had sparked it off, the little group they had been standing with began to break up. Some, hoping for their share of publicity, gravitated towards the photographers. Others drifted towards the adjoining room, where a buffet supper had been set out, and a piano was being played softly.

      Deciding to wait where she was until Rudy came back, Charlotte accepted another glass of champagne and, setting her back against the wall, sipped it idly while she indulged in a spot of people-watching.

      She was smiling, amused by the antics of the ones still trying to get their picture in the papers, when a frisson of awareness told her that she herself was being watched.

      Standing in the shadows, Simon Farringdon thought that she was the loveliest thing he’d ever seen. No wonder Rudy appeared to be completely besotted.

      Even his host, whom he knew to be happily married, clearly wasn’t unaffected. Greeting him warmly, Anthony had said, ‘Great to see you. I thought you were still in New York.’

      ‘Just got back.’

      ‘Well, I’m delighted you could drop in. Help yourself to some champagne, and if you’re still looking for a perfect woman I’ll introduce you to Charlotte Christie. As well as being really nice, she’s a true beauty, with character. Unfortunately she already has a somewhat surly escort.’

      ‘I think in that case I’ll skip it,’ Simon had refused lightly. ‘You won’t want any unseemly brawls at your party.’

      ‘Charlotte is certainly the kind of woman men would fight over,’ Anthony had said.

      And he hadn’t been far wrong, Simon realised now. That mouth and those wonderful eyes, upward-tilted at