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‘Well, there’s no need to worry. Not only is the security watertight but everyone here lives by a rule of absolute discretion. Anyone found to be telling tales out of school will automatically face a lifelong ban from future glittering events like this one. You have no idea how much that would hurt.’

They began walking slowly towards the brightly lit entrance.

The rooms were dazzling.

The Christmas tree that towered proudly in the vast hallway was as big as the one in the town they had visited earlier and even more ornate.

The branches were weighed down with blown glass baubles, all ivory. Every pillar in the mansion was garlanded with frosted, twirling eucalyptus and flowers. She spotted a couple of ice sculptures in one of the rooms adorned with cold, blue decorations around it. A winter scene amid the flock of colourful guests.

Waiters were everywhere. The noise was overwhelming. Despite that, Hope could still hear the husky voice of the singer who had lured her into accepting the invitation.

She linked arms with Javier and felt a wave of confidence at his silent, steady support.

Suddenly there was no room left for nerves because people were greeting him from everywhere. Introductions were being made, women were looking at her with surreptitious interest, which she returned after being awed by their plumage and the flash of priceless jewellery.

There were groups of young and old, all dazzling and bewitching in their finery.

The masks on sticks were ornate. Some had feathers, others had sequins and tiny gleaming crystals.

Her own mask was black and ivory. In her understated, but eye-wateringly expensive ivory dress, she stuck out amid the riot of colour. She saw a couple of young men dressed to kill also look at her with interest and her confidence was strengthened.

‘You’re not feeling out of your depth, are you?’ Javier murmured, drawing her away from the clutch of people who seemed desperate to prolong the conversation.

As a waiter walked by with a huge tray of drinks, Javier swiped two flutes of champagne and handed her one. He simultaneously ushered her to the sidelines, where they became spectators for a few minutes instead of participants.

‘Not out of my depth,’ Hope said, gulping down the champagne and then slowing up as she felt the fizz rush to her head. ‘But maybe a bit like a sparrow caught up in a gathering of peacocks and swans.’

‘You’re streets ahead of every woman here.’

‘Really? Is that some empty flattery because you think I need a bit of a boost?’ But she was smiling seductively as their eyes met and her heart skipped a beat at the message she read in his dark, bottomless gaze.

No empty flattery. Not a bit of it. He really did think she outshone all the women around her. She suddenly felt ten feet tall and worth a million dollars.

‘I’m very happy to make our excuses and leave,’ he said in a driven, husky undertone.

‘How would that look?’ Hope teased innocently.

‘You should know by now that I don’t care what people think of me.’ He smiled slowly. ‘Alternative suggestion… We could find a nice, empty room somewhere in this vulgar mansion and do what we’re both desperate to do…’

Hope laughed and went bright red. She was pretty sure that whoever happened to be glancing in their direction would be able to take a good guess as to the topic of their conversation.

Even as she shook her head, she felt herself begin to dampen in response to the rampant desire in his eyes. He grinned.

‘No? Although I can see you’re tempted. My bet is if I whisked you away to the nearest bathroom with gold plated taps, I’ll find that you’re already…’

‘Stop!’

Javier burst out laughing.

‘Come on. I’ll introduce you to a few more people. The younger variety. Aspen, who owns this mansion, likes to surround himself with the gentrified but they can be dull in large doses.’

He slung his arm round her shoulders and Hope was only aware of him as he led her through the crowds of beautiful people.

The singer she loved was working her way through a catalogue of Christmas favourites. Just for a second, Hope was shaken by a feeling that this would be a night she would always remember.

A night with this man.

A man she was beginning to have feelings for. Feelings that went beyond lust, beyond desire and beyond any need to climb out of her comfort zone.