Chapter Forty
Jaime had finally had enough of the waiting. The quietness of the entire situation unnerved her. She was getting out tonight.
Grant it, it would be hard to escape. Jaime no longer had the same luxuries or freedoms she had at first. It had been days since Rosco's last appearance.
Since the kiss, Jaime hadn't heard from Rosco. She'd seen him talking with the men when she'd look outside. Other than that, and as she passed by the study on the occasional walk to the garden the guards would allow, Jaime hadn't seen hide nor hair of Rosco.
Jaime didn't really miss the complications Rosco brought into her life. Her main focus of getting out, had been sidetracked by the intrigue roused by Rosco's behavior. Not anymore. She was getting out and Rosco be damned.
***
"Gia are you ready?" Nik called as he adjusted his bow tie.
"Hold your horses Princie!" Gia retorted.
"We've got to be there in 20," Nik reminded.
"Well looking this good takes time," Gia said coyly as she slinked out of the bathroom.
Nikolas's breath caught in his throat. His eyes studied his stunning fiancé as she leaned against the doorframe, the light giving her an amazing glow. Her hair was braided and twisted with small jewels strategically placed within the dark crown that graced her head.
Her face was painted minimally, with her pink glossy lips smiling at him. Then Nik's gaze fell upon the fitted halter-top dress. It was a dark forest green with a low empire waist design, a cream velvet ribbon showing where the top ended and the skirt began. The top was satin, with the skirt flowing out in the same forest green satin. Her back was bare, with the waist scooping down low.
"Wow!" Nikolas exclaimed, as he scratched his head.
"You like?" Gia asked, turning around for another inspection.
"Do I?" he replied huskily.
Nikolas stood unmoved. Gia walked over to him and smiled. "Shouldn't we get going?" Gia reminded him.
"I don't know if the hosts are expecting to have someone as beautiful in their house," Nik teased as he twirled her around until she was wrapped in his arms.
***
Jason tugged at his white collar. He hated suits. And he hated wearing them in a room full of unknown guests.
Jason had been unable to run a check on the guest list, since apparently no one knew the guests, except Isabella and Andre. He had been able to though, get his hands on a set of blueprints. Jason had gone over them after he and Elizabeth had bought him a tux. She'd been exhausted from the supper and his lack of interest in the dark suits.
The house had three floors. There was a cellar, a main floor and upper floor. Andre and Isabella's rooms and guest rooms were situated on the second floor. The main floor housed a large kitchen, a study, a library, a dining room and a small ballroom; apparently the Perelli's liked to dance.
Now the second floor was accessed through three stairwells. One spiraled up in the main foyer, a second, from the kitchen, and a third, from the ballroom. Jason stood in the dining room sipping a glass of champagne, which was served as they arrived. Isabella had rushed Elizabeth off to put on her dress and get her primped and ready for the evening.
Jason thought it odd that she took such an interest in Elizabeth. He didn't quite understand it, and was quite suspicious about it.
"Oh, Mr. Morgan. Do not worry!" Isabella laughed gleefully, as she led Elizabeth away from him. "She will be the belle of the ball! You won't even recognize her!"
Jason disliked Isabella for making Elizabeth leave his side. He took another sip of champagne and decided now was as good a time as any to take a look around. Jason studied the jovial guests that mingled amongst themselves. Andre wasn't among the guests who lounged in the dining room, awaiting the royal couple, as Jason had heard mention of.
Sonny's men were keeping watch around the grounds. Jason had made it known to them that he wanted to be contacted as soon as the suspicious black car arrived. He took one more look to make sure no one noticed his absence and slipped out of one of the double doors leading to the foyer.
As Jason opened the door and looked down the corridor that led to the kitchen, for a split second, his mind turned towards the staircase. Jason hoped that Elizabeth was all right. He just had a funny feeling about Mrs. Perelli.
***
Elizabeth continued to study the large bedroom, which was adorned by many paintings and a large king-sized bed. She was waiting nervously for Isabella to bring in the dress.
After Isabella stole her away from Jason, she had brought Elizabeth to this room. Isabella informed her that it was a guest room and that she hoped she was comfortable changing in here. "My room is such a mess, from getting ready for the dinner and dance," she explained apologetically.
"This is fine," Elizabeth replied timidly. "I could have changed at the apartment. You didn't need to go to all this trouble of helping me get ready when you already provided this wonderful dress. I mean I didn't even know there was a dance."
She nodded her head. "Yes, I love dances!"
Then Isabella laughed and shook her head. "No! It wouldn't be right. A woman must make an entrance for her beau, no?" she teased.
Elizabeth felt her face flush under the mention of Jason as her beau. "Oh, Jason isn't into these kinds of things," Elizabeth explained.
Elizabeth tried to remember the last time she'd seen him dance. It had been at Kelly's.
"Well, of course not. Not until tonight, Bella!"
Isabella sat Elizabeth down at the antique vanity table. "Now, how would you like to do your hair?" Isabella asked as she ran her slender fingers through her curls.
"Oh," Elizabeth said uncertainly. "I was just going to leave it down."
The elderly woman clucked her tongue as
she looked at Elizabeth in the mirror.
"My girl, you must put it up. It
will show off your beautiful face."
Isabella had informed her of all of her beauty tips and also gave Elizabeth some advice on love. "You must keep him on his toes. He musn't take you for granted," she lectured. "That is how you make him treat you like a queen."
Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't want to be treated like a queen. I just want him to be able to trust me again," she commented.
Elizabeth quickly closed her mouth. She'd made a mistake.
"Trust you again?" she asked, with her thick accent. "Why would he not trust you?"
Elizabeth looked for a way out of her slip of the tongue. "Uh, I…I," she stuttered.
"You must tell me the truth if I am to help you with your love, si?" she asked sincerely.
Elizabeth thought the truth would be the best course of action, of course, not the entire truth.
"Well, I hurt him, a long time ago. We're still together, even best friends," she explained. "But it's just awkward between us."
Elizabeth grabbed a powder puff and dabbed her face, peering over it to see if Isabella bought it.
"Well, I suggest you make it up to him," Isabella seemed to think out loud. "Yes. You must make it up to him. Tonight!" she exclaimed.
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief when Isabella believed her story. Isabella also had her intrigued. "What do you suppose I should do to make it up to him?" Elizabeth asked.
"You shall take his breath away," Isabella said excitedly. "And you will make this a night to remember for him. Si?"
Elizabeth watched as Isabella paced the room. Suddenly the older woman stopped and grabbed Elizabeth's hands. "Are you ready to make this man fall in love with you all over again?" she asked.
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat. Make Jason fall in love with me? All over again?
What had she gotten herself into?
Slowly Elizabeth nodded to the animated matchmaker.
"Then I should better get your gown!" Isabella exclaimed, leaving the room.
Elizabeth sat in the guest room. Peering at the detailed paintings. Waiting anxiously for Isabella's return.
************************
So this is the second book….in the whole epic novel which is Love is… I hope you enjoy!