It was Proserpina who remembered that Cole and Britney had not joined them. Scrambling off Lucien’s lap , evading his restraining arms, she turned to him and said softly, her expression grave,
‘No, Lucien. They… Cole and Britney…they need to join us too for dinner …’
Her face was serious, eyes pleading.
Lucien grunted and nodded to Philippe who was hovering near the door, watching, waiting for his Boss’ orders.
*
Proserpina seemed undecided but she turned to the door even as Tara let out a squeal of joy.
‘Look, Mumma, Lisa is here!’
Proserpina stopped, dimpling in happiness as Melissa Lord entered, wearing a denim green ruched high-low midi dress! The stretchy jersey knit fabric formed a crew neckline and short sleeves with rolled sewn cuffs added to the classy effect A blousy, wide-cut bodice atop an elasticized banded waist continued to a figure-hugging skirt with two drawstrings that created a flirty ruched effect before ending at a high-low hem. She looked as stylish as ever and her face split in a delighted grin as she rushed to Proserpina.
”All good?’ she asked in a low voice and Proserpina laughed.
‘I told…Lucien and the kids…’ she said softly, turning pink again.
Melissa laughed, cupping her hands to her face as her husband appeared behind them, with his sons running ahead of him. He was holding his toddler daughter, Lynne Ann in his arms. The little child was a special child and now, she looked around herself, slanting eyes wondering.
He nodded deferentially at Lucien Delano who was looking at his wife, narrow-eyed. The look of a man who wanted nothing more than to sweep the beautiful creature off to bed and do savage things to her, thought Tristan drily.
*
Ever since Melissa had stayed at the Delano mansion when her life was in danger, the two women had formed an unshakeable bond. Tristan watched his pretty, effusive wife who was totally at home here while the imposing Don sat at the head of the table, observing the people around the table.
Tristan knew about the present crisis in the Don’s life and he felt sorry for Proserpina.
When his wife was lying beside him in bed, she had said, softly,
‘Poor Proserpina. She has had to put up with so much…’ Tristan had hauled his wife over and made rough love to her to distract her but he reflected that what she had said was true. He was fond of gentle Proserpina and anyone who was loved by his wife, was automatically a friend of his too.
Now he looked around the table as his little daughter was swept up by the Don’s daughters who cooed and laughed with his little girl. Looking at the company, he mused, it was difficult to think of this as the home of a notorious Mafia Don, the most important man in the criminal world , this side of the Atlantic. But for the presence of Lucien Delano’s bodyguards and the stream of security men who silently prowled around the grounds, it would have been mistaken for the home of a wealthy businessman.
*
The Don gave a curt nod in greeting and indicated that the guests sit down.
“I brought dinner too, broccoli cauliflower casserole and a meat loaf,’ said Melissa, grinning and producing a bag with a flourish as she smiled slightly in the general direction of the Mafia Boss.
She beamed at her friend affectionately, ‘Though knowing you, Proserpina, I know you must have whipped up a feast!”
The two women disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, Melissa clasping Proserpina’s arm, their heads close together.
*
Tristan Lord took a seat beside Schwartz. The Boss with his wolf like, keen gaze still made him sweat and he had no intention of having his meal under the cool gaze that was directed at him . Dinner at the Delano’s place was a delightful experience and he wanted to relish Proserpina’s cooking although Melissa was not any less. His wife could conjure an exceptional meal from very little and a mouth-watering one at that too!
The men chatted generally as Schwartz took over the conversation, skilfully directing it to general topics as the young audience at the table chatted amongst themselves. Tristan’s sons had joined with Louis and Dom and it was a general ruckus, albeit muted every time the Don raised his leonine heard and glanced at them.
*
Which was how room looked like when the two unwanted guests entered the large dining room where the voices of the children, the staff and Lucien’s deep baritone were vying with each other.
All eyes turned to the door as Cole and Britney appeared, shepherded in by the large, muscular Philippe.
Cole made for the seat on the Mafia Don’s right but the man shot him a cold, unfriendly look from beneath his brows. ‘My Woman sits there,’ he growled. Proserpina moved forward her hips swinging, a placating smile on her face,
“Lucien…’ she began but he cut her off brusquely, gripping her small wrist in his large hand, silencing her while pulling her to himself possessively, his large hand cupping her a*s cheek briefly before moving to her waist.
“Cole can sit beside Piers,’ he said, jutting his chin to the middle of the table. Piers who was seated with Ria opposite him and Paddy on the other side, looked distinctly unhappy but he quickly obeyed his father .
Ignoring the awkward silence around the table, Lucien indicated Cole and said,
‘Lord, meet my son Cole. Cole, this is Tristan Lord, a good friend.’
Then he looked around, totally ignoring Britney who stood in the doorway, looking red-faced and awkward as Proserpina hurried over to seat her close to Ria and Tara.
Lucien St Claire had had enough of waiting.
‘I can smell beef soup!’ he bellowed, ‘What are you waiting for? Bring it in, woman.’
*
Britney regained her spice after a while and she kept shooting flirtatious glances at Tristan Lord and James Schwartz. Both the men were too polite to put her down rudely but after a while, Melissa sauntered in from the kitchen and deliberately took the chair beside her husband.
That left Schwartz and Proserpina hid a giggle as her friend looked across at her, despair in his green eyes.
*