Jane flew back into the bathroom and stood there pondering as she hastily dried herself. Should she change into her dress, or not? She decided against it. No. She would make the grand entrance later. Instead, she slipped into her cosy white dressing gown. She even put on the flimsy travel slippers she had brought but seldom wore. An idea was bubbling in her brain for later.
She had just sat down in one of the easy chairs in the sitting room when there was a tap at the door. She glanced at her watch. Bob’s timing was just a minute out.
She threw open the door. Bob stood there smiling, a suit in a plastic cover in his hand and a shoulder bag over his arm. He stepped into the room past her, dropped his bag and draped the suit over the back of a convenient chair. The next instant he had her in his arms.
‘Hello again, gorgeous.’ He kissed her several times.
‘You kept me waiting twenty-one minutes. You told me twenty.’ Jane pretended to scold him.
Bob grinned at her. ‘Sorry. I had to wait for the lift.’
‘OK. I forgive you.’
Jane put her arm around his waist and gently walked him towards the armchairs. Bob gratefully sank into the comfort of one of them.
‘How was work, darling?’ Jane asked, briefly kneeling in front of him.
Bob sighed. ‘The studio is actually quite busy, and there was a last-minute job to finish.’
‘You must be tired out. Have you had anything to eat or drink?’
Bob thought for a second. ‘Yes and no,’ he replied. He elaborated. ‘Yes to the first – but seeing you has revived me. No to the second. I’ve had nothing since a cup of coffee and a roll at lunchtime.’
‘Oh, poor you.’ Jane suddenly had an idea. She looked at him enquiringly. ‘Shall I make you a cup of coffee or tea?’ she asked.
Bob glanced across at the side table with the tea-making facilities on it.
‘That’s the best idea you’ve had so far,’ he replied, grinning.
Jane pretended to pout for an instant, but she was already at work on his shoes. She pulled them off, one after the other.
‘You sit here and relax. I’ll make us something. Tea or coffee?’ She had already jumped up.
‘Coffee, please,’ replied Bob. ‘It might keep me alert.’
‘I’ll do that without any coffee,’ Jane quipped cheerfully over her shoulder as she walked over to the side table.
She made two cups of coffee and brought them to the low table in front of the two armchairs. She sat down facing Bob, pulling the dressing gown tightly around her body. She looked around the room. Then she asked the question that had been on her mind ever since she had arrived. ‘Bob, this room must have cost the earth.’ She looked enquiringly at him.
Bob took a sip of his coffee. He gave a little smile. ‘Not really. There’s a story attached to it,’ he remarked casually.
‘But it’s a VIP suite,’ Jane protested.
Bob stretched out in his chair and glanced around him. He looked at Jane and smiled. ‘Actually, the explanation is that Jeff and I have been taking some photographs of the hotel for a publicity brochure they are going to produce. I’ve got to know the manager quite well and as I was looking for somewhere to stay tonight I mentioned it to him. This is the result.’
‘But it must he horrendously expensive,’ Jane butted in.
Bob shook his head and smiled again. ‘A VIP suite if it was not already booked, for the price of a standard double room – that was the deal.’
‘It’s fantastic! You haven’t seen the bathroom yet – or the bedroom,’ Jane added, raising her eyebrows.
He grinned. ‘Pleasures for later.’
Jane was thinking of a suitable reply when Bob changed the subject. As he took another sip of coffee he became more serious.
‘Any developments on the family history front? Any contact with Mrs Marshall?’ he asked, studying Jane’s face for her response.
Jane suddenly remembered that she had a lot of news. She started to tell Bob everything that had happened recently, ending up with the announcement that she had an appointment with Elizabeth Barton the following Tuesday.
Bob listened intently, waiting until she had finished before he responded, ‘That’s fantastic! Well done!’
‘I am worried about there being no birth record for Ruth Ashington, though,’ remarked Jane.
Bob thought for an instant. ‘I can think of one or two possible explanations,’ he replied.
Jane looked at him hopefully.
He continued. ‘Her mother might have been married before, or Ruth might have been an illegitimate child.’
They looked at each other for a second, Jane trying to take in Bob’s suggestions. Suddenly, the penny dropped.
‘Of course!’ she exclaimed excitedly. ‘That could well be the explanation.’ Her brain raced into action. ‘I must see what Gerald thinks of that idea.’
‘Perhaps Elizabeth Barton will be able to come up with something,’ suggested Bob.
‘I do hope so,’ replied Jane wistfully.
They chatted on for a while, covering a range of subjects while they finished their coffee. At last they had exhausted all their news.
Bob suddenly looked at his watch, then at Jane. ‘Time to get ready, Cinderella,’ he announced, grinning.
Jane already had another plan in mind. ‘No. I’m almost ready except for my ball gown. You go first,’ she said firmly.
Bob readily agreed. He could sense that something was in the air. He was up in an instant and collecting his bag from the floor where he had abandoned it earlier.
He fumbled in the bag for a second and then produced a small, gift-wrapped package. The next second he was presenting Jane with it.
‘A little something for this evening,’ he explained to a puzzled Jane.
His remark produced a squeal of pleasure from her as she caught sight of the package. ‘A present for me? Can I open it?’
‘Of course. That’s the idea.’ With that, he disappeared grinning into the bedroom.
Jane carefully unwrapped the small box, revealing a tiny bottle of scent. She could not resist trying out the contents on her wrist.
It was fifteen minutes before Bob appeared, dressed in an evening suit complete with a frilly shirt and cufflinks. Jane thought he looked extremely handsome. As soon as she saw him she leapt up and threw her arms around him.
She planted a kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you for my present, darling.’
‘Do you like it?’ asked Bob, bemused.
‘Mmm. It’s wonderful. Here.’ She held a wrist up to his nose.
Once he had approved, Jane stood back to admire him. ‘You look fabulous! And the shirt – is it new?’
Bob laughed. ‘Mrs McGinty’s handiwork. You should have seen it before she got to work on it. I haven’t worn it for years.’
‘She’s done a marvellous job,’ Jane agreed, laughing.
Bob prompted her to get ready.
‘Give me five minutes,’ she called as she disappeared into the bedroom, adding, ‘I’m going to wear your present.’
The five minutes became ten, before Jane reappeared fully dressed apart from her shoes, which she carried. She felt good in the dress, and her earlier fear that it exposed too much of her had disappeared completely. Her necklace with the deep blue stone really set everything off.
She went over to Bob and sat in a chair opposite him, dropping her shoes on the carpet. Stretching out her feet in front of her, she announced with a wicked grin, ‘Prince Charming, do your duty.’
Bob immediately fell into the part. He carefully took Jane’s foot and guided it into one of the shoes. When the second one was in place, Jane jumped up and looked down at them admiringly.
‘Don’t they look great?’ she asked. ‘They really are beautiful. Thank you, darling.’
Once again she kissed him. Bob held her in an embrace. Her perfume was tantalising. Jane looked at him enquiringly.
‘Do you like my new perfume?’ she asked.
> ‘It suits Cinderella perfectly,’ he replied.
*
Jane enjoyed every bit of the evening. It was close to eight when they took a taxi to the venue for the dinner dance. The distance from their hotel was walkable, but Bob pointed out that it was better to make the grand arrival by taxi, a decision Jane welcomed. For one thing it was not easy walking in a long evening gown, and for another she had no wish to walk in shoes not intended for dirty pavements.
Jane was surprised to see the attention the guests received on arrival. A small crowd was gathered around the entrance and press photographers’ cameras flashed.
‘I didn’t realise it was an event that attracted so much attention,’ she whispered to Bob as she took his arm and they entered.
Bob smiled at her. ‘It’s very popular with the entertainment world and celebrities,’ he replied quietly.
When the dancing started, Jane was pleased to discover that her old skill had not diminished from lack of use. She had learnt to dance while still at the orphanage and had become quite proficient. She and Graham had frequently attended events where there was dancing. However, she could now count the years since she had been on a dance floor, and she was afraid her skills might have grown rusty. She was surprised and intrigued to discover that Bob’s skill surpassed even her own; he whirled her around the dance floor like a professional.
‘Where did you learn to dance so beautifully?’ she whispered.
‘When we were teenagers my sister wanted to learn to dance and I was dragged along as well,’ Bob explained with a chuckle.
‘But you’re so good!’ Jane exclaimed in his ear.
‘We used to go in for medals. I got a silver. Cissy got a gold.’ He laughed.
‘I’d like to meet her.’
‘You will,’ replied Bob firmly.
Towards the end of dinner, during the serving of coffee, Bob suddenly took hold of Jane’s hand across the table. ‘How’s Cinderella?’ he asked, looking admiringly at her.
Jane leaned towards him. ‘Darling, I feel fantastic. It’s made me forget all about work and about my ancestry – who I am or who I might be. I really feel like Cinderella tonight.’
She stroked Bob’s hand. ‘How about you?’ she asked.
He smiled. ‘I was just thinking of another Cinderella.’
Jane waited. She knew there was more to come.
Bob continued, his eyes fixed on her. ‘I was thinking of the Cinderella I found stranded late at night. The one who walked barefoot in the snow.’
‘And the one who locked her bedroom door,’ said Jane with a wicked grin.
Bob was more serious. ‘I’m glad you did in a way. It showed me what you were made of.’ He still had hold of her hand.
Jane smiled at him. ‘I know what you mean,’ she replied softly.
‘We’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we?’ asked Bob, still studying her intently.
Jane nodded. She was beginning to guess where the conversation was heading.
‘And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve felt alive again.’ She smiled.
Bob hesitated for a few seconds. He seemed to be uncertain how to proceed.
Jane jumped in. ‘And you – have you enjoyed my company?’ she asked, her voice very soft.
Bob nodded. ‘Absolutely.’ He fumbled in his pocket with his free hand. ‘That’s why I would like to cement our friendship with this.’
In his hand he held a ring. ‘May I?’ he asked.
‘Yes, please,’ whispered Jane.
The next instant he had slipped the ring onto her engagement finger. ‘Is it a yes?’ he asked.
Jane nodded. She felt quite choked up. She strove to recover. ‘Of course it is,’ she replied. ‘Yes, a thousand times over.’ Her emotions were getting the better of her. ‘But I feel all soppy and tearful, just when I should be the opposite,’ she almost sobbed.
She could never remember clearly quite what happened in the next few minutes. There she was, boiling over with pleasure and happiness, yet with tears threatening to engulf her. Bob continued to hold her hand. It was only when their actions were beginning to attract the attention of nearby diners that they released hands.
Later that evening reality crept up on Jane again. She returned from the ladies’ room proudly displaying the ring with its blue stone, a good match for the necklace she was wearing. As she sat down opposite Bob again, he could see that there was something on her mind she wanted to say. It was not long in coming.
She looked at the ring on her finger, then at Bob. ‘Darling. I’ve been thinking. I’m going to wear the ring on my finger for the rest of this evening, but after that I’m going to wear it round my neck until I know who I really am. Then you can put it on my finger again for keeps.’
It was the early hours of the next day by the time they returned to their hotel. As they emerged from the lift, Jane put her arm around Bob.
‘The end of the ball for Cinderella,’ he said in a hushed voice.
Jane halted briefly and obediently slipped off both her shoes, abandoning them on the carpet.
‘I was supposed to do that at midnight,’ she whispered, giggling.
Bob chuckled as he opened the door and let a barefoot Jane walk past him into the room. He disappeared for a second and then reappeared a moment later with the shoes. Jane was sitting in an armchair, admiring the ring on her finger. She looked up as Bob walked towards her.
He placed the shoes at her feet. ‘No point in trying them on. We know they fit.’ He laughed.
Jane continued examining the ring and then looked up at Bob. She spoke softly. ‘Darling, you have made me very happy tonight.’ She was quite serious. And then, as if speaking her thoughts, she added, ‘Happiness I once thought I’d never experience again.’
Bob knelt beside her. He took hold of her left hand. ‘Then we are matched in our happiness,’ he whispered, as he leaned across to kiss her.
Chapter 23
It was the knocking at the door that jerked Jane out of sleep. For a moment she wondered where she was. Then, realising that she was in the hotel, she grabbed Bob’s arm to rouse him.
‘There’s somebody at the door!’ she almost shouted in his ear.
Bob was alert immediately. ‘It’s breakfast arriving,’ he announced as he swung out of bed and hurried into the sitting room, struggling to get into a dressing gown as he went. Jane heard him call out, ‘Coming!’
She lingered for a couple of seconds and then it occurred to her that she needed the bathroom urgently. She leapt out of bed and dashed to the desired comfort zone in a flash, in the process almost falling over her nightdress, which had been cast off a few hours previously. Five minutes later she reappeared, refreshed and wearing one of the fluffy white dressing gowns provided by the hotel. Bob had wheeled the breakfast trolley into the bedroom.
‘Mmm, breakfast in bed!’ she exclaimed excitedly, as she crept under the duvet once more.
Bob disappeared into the bathroom for a couple of minutes. When he came back he busied himself with the trolley.
‘Tea or coffee, madam?’ he asked, turning to Jane.
Jane stifled a yawn. ‘It had better be coffee. It might wake me up. I’m still half asleep.’
Bob handed her a cup of coffee and a plate with croissants, butter and jam. As soon as he had served himself, he returned to bed. Jane was admiring the ring that now graced her finger. She turned to Bob, her lips ready for a kiss.
‘Darling, it’s a beautiful ring and it was a marvellous night. It couldn’t have been better.’
‘Let there be many more like it,’ replied Bob as he moved towards her to meet her lips.
They kissed briefly and Jane looked at the ring again before turning her attention to breakfast. ‘You don’t mind if I do as I said I would, do you? About the ring, I mean,’ she asked anxiously.
Bob smiled at her. ‘Of course not,’ he said simply.
Jane tried to explain how she felt. ‘It’s just this not knowing w
ho I am. I want to be sure of my name before I make any commitment. I know it’s a bit silly, but that’s how I feel.’ She looked at Bob for reassurance.
He smiled at her again. ‘I know how you must feel. As soon as we find out your real name, we’ll do it all over again.’
Jane snuggled up to him. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
It was late in the morning when they returned to Jane’s apartment. Apart from a walk along the river and a refreshing drink at a local pub, they did little for the rest of the day except chat about their new status. They agreed that for the present they wanted to continue as they were without any definite plans for the future. As far as they both were concerned, getting engaged was merely a sign of their approval of an event in the distant future.
Jane kept to her vow. A little later, when she was in her bedroom unpacking her suitcase, she took the opportunity provided by being on her own. She gave one wistful look at the deep blue stone in its diamond setting as she slipped it slowly off her finger. As she did so she wondered vaguely how Bob had known which size to buy, for it fitted perfectly. It had been the same with the shoes. He seemed to have an uncanny knack of finding out these intimate details without actually asking her. Even Graham had not been too ingenious on such matters. She rediscovered the fine gold chain she knew lurked in her jewellery box and threaded the ring onto it. Next she hung the chain round her neck. When she was with Bob in the future, she vowed, that’s where the ring would be, close to her heart, until she really knew who she was.
When she went back into the lounge, she perched on the settee beside Bob, unfastened the top button on her blouse, and then slowly and silently drew out the chain with the captured ring to show a bemused and wondering Bob.
‘You see, darling, I kept my promise. The next time your beautiful ring is on my finger I’ll know who I really am.’
‘I’ll make sure it’s the first thing I do – return the ring to its rightful place.’ Bob placed his hand behind her neck and slowly drew her towards him.
‘I can’t wait for it to happen,’ murmured Jane.
They kissed briefly, and then Jane drew away from Bob. She looked at him, her expression serious and enquiring. ‘You do think we’ll find out, don’t you?’ She now had a concerned look. ‘I mean, find out what my proper name is.’ She searched his face for some reassurance.
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