Digging wealth

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Once more Edward gently pushed her back and then Ariah was standing beside her. Elianna took her hand. There's nothing to worry about, Ariah, I'm fine. It was just a bit too hot.'

Ariah suddenly burst into tears and clasped her arms around her neck. 'Oh, Ma! I'm frightened! I don't want you to get ill! I don't want you to die, too!'

Edward gently prized her away from Elianna. 'Ariah, she's not going to die, get that right out of your head! She just fainted. It's probably all the travelling, the excitement, the Champagne and the heat in here. Now be a good girl and stop crying, you're upsetting your Ma. I'm going to take you both back to the hotel, so she can rest, and this gentleman is a doctor and he's kindly agreed to come with us.'

Gina was far from pleased with a situation that was fast developing into something of a fiasco. Elianna was absolutely ruining her evening and it just wasn't fair! 'Oh, I feel such a fool! Everyone is looking at us!' she hissed crossly.

'I thought that was what you wanted?' Edward snapped. 'Don't be facetious!' she snapped back.

The doctor was quietly talking to Elianna in the background. Gina glared at Edward. It was probably all his fault anyway. Elianna wasn't used to drink and he'd probably been plying her with it half the evening!

Are you feeling better now?' she asked her sister a little more graciously, stung by Edward's remark. Elianna nodded.

Gina turned to Edward. And just what am I supposed to do while you take them back?' 'I would have thought you'd have wanted to come with us? Of course you could join your friends, I'm sure they're far better company.' His tone was biting with sarcasm.

She glowered back. Indirectly he was calling her selfish. "There won't be room for everyone in the car!' Couldn't he see what he was doing? This was her night and he knew how hard she'd worked for it! She deserved her night of glory.

Elianna was getting up, assisted by the doctor. "Gina, you stay, and so must you Edward. You've both worked so hard and Gina's done so well that she deserves to enjoy herself tonight, and I'm just spoiling it for her.'

'Elianna, you can't go back to the hotel by yourself!"

Edward insisted.

'I'll look after Ma! I'll take care of her!'

He smiled. 'You're a brave girl, Ariah, but I'm sure the doctor will agree with me that we can't let you take on such a responsibility.'

The colour was slowly coming back to Elianna's

cheeks.

'She's looking a lot better,' Gina pointed out. She'd only fainted, she wasn't on her death-bed, she thought. Although by the fuss they were all making you'd think she was! She couldn't see any reason why this doctor and Ariah couldn't take Elianna back to the hotel and she said so.

Edward caught her arm and pulled her a few paces away. 'You selfish b***h!' he hissed. 'She's your sister who you've not seen for ages, and you didn't even go to her wedding! But she came to see you and now, just because it's ruined your plans, you want her to go back to an hotel with just a stranger and a child! My God, Gina! If I wasn't a gentleman I swear I'd hit you. You don't deserve a sister like that.'

She jerked her arm free and her eyes narrowed with rage. 'Go to hell!' she spat back, before turning and smiling at her sister.

'Gina, I'm so sorry,' Elianna said uncomfortably.

'Don't be silly!' Gina leaned forward and kissed Mary Kate on the cheek. "The good doctor and I will follow in a cab and once we've seen you safely back, then Edward and I will come back here, won't we Edward?' It was a statement, not a question.

He nodded. 'I'll get them to call a cab.'

Now that's settled, we'd better get you back, Mrs Vannin. Ladies in your condition should take life a little slower, you know,' the doctor advised, in a gently admonishing voice.

The smile was wiped from Gina's face to be replaced with a look of dazed disbelief. Elianna was pregnant! So that was the reason for all the fuss! Why hadn't she said so? She looked at Edward and to her rising chagrin, he was smiling in that sardonic way she hated.

He took her arm as the doctor and Ariah, who clung like a limpet to her step-mother, assisted by the maitre d', helped Elianna towards the door.

That's quite a surprise, isn't it? She's certainly "upstaged"

you, hasn't she, my dear Gina?'

'One of these days you're going to regret every insult, Edward Vinetti! Just you mark my words!' she said furi ously through gritted teeth. Oh, how she hated him. Right now she could have cheerfully scratched out those dark mocking eyes!