The Scent of His Woman (8 page)

Lexie turned, sensing his presence, so he moved into the room, he had changed
she noticed, the work clothes were gone now and he was back in a crisp white shirt and
dark suit, the only accent of colour was the deep burgundy silk tie.

‘Not a bad view is it? Well a car is waiting to take you shopping while I get
organised. I just need to meet with a few people for an hour or so and then you will have
my undivided attention, I promise. But first let’s sort out that sparkler, shall we? I took the
liberty of assuming you would prefer diamonds, but if you would like another stone you
only need to say so.’

Lexie was still trying to assimilate that information when Geth moved to press a
button and the apartment door opened to admit a small bustling man dressed in a black
suit and carrying a small metal case. It took a moment for the fact that he was cuffed to the
case to sink into her brain and it dawned on her that they would be selecting her supposed
engagement ring right here and now. The man busied himself unlocking himself from the
case and opening it, all the while chatting to Geth as if he knew him well. Then finally
turning to Lexie he asked her name.

‘Lexie,’ she answered in a daze, ‘my name is Lexie.’
The little man looked to Geth with a smile.
‘Congratulations Sir, Madam we are honoured to be of such special service.’
Then with a flourish the little man opened the box and removed the deep blue velvet

covering beneath.
‘If madam would like to sit here, I think the light will be best here.’
He indicated she take a seat on the wide chestnut leather sofa. Lexie cold do no

more than obey, wondering as she did so how many other gifts, for other women had been
purchased in this ostentatious way. Then Geth took a seat close beside her and slipped
one hand around her waist in an intimate embrace.

‘Come Mr. Morley, show us what you have selected and I warn you we expect to be
impressed.’
The next half an hour were the most surreal Lexie had ever experienced, she was
made to try on ring after ring. Every type and design she had ever seen or dreamt of, were
tried and commented on until her head was spinning. She’d never seen, pink or yellow
diamonds, yet here they were, she had no idea there were so many ways to shape or cut
the stones, or how many colours of gold or platinum could be used to show them off. It
was frightening, but possibly the scariest thing was that there wasn’t a price tag on any of
them.
‘Geth please, please it’s too much, these, are too much.’
‘Sweetheart, we can always ask Mr. Morley to bring another collection if nothing
here pleases you.’
The blatant amusement in his voice told her he was quite aware that was not what
she’d meant, but was teasing her, not willing to let her put off deciding which ring to
choose. And she was aware that again her lack of sophistication was a source of
amusement to him.
‘No’ she interjected quickly, not wanting the little man to rush off and bring even
more dratted rings.
‘No, it’s just that they are all so lovely,’ she shot the little man a smile and then
turned to Geth, ’why don’t you chose for me?
‘If I may suggest’ Mr. Morley said with an understanding smile.
‘Madam has such lovely small hands, the solitaires are a little heavy and high. I
think maybe something like this?’
He unwrapped a small box from the bottom of the selection and opened it, nestling
in the midnight velvet was a three stone diamond ring set in rich yellow gold. The three
large but not enormous diamonds sparkled up at her like bright stars and Geth could see
she really liked it.
‘Try is on Cariad.’
He encouraged and slipped the ring onto her finger as he spoke. Lexie gasped, it
was not only a perfect fit, but it was just the perfect ring, sitting delicately on her hand, not
too big, or flashy, she realised with a jolt that she really loved it, so much so that giving it
back at the end of this charade as she was determined she would, was not going to be as
painless as she’d hoped. Pushing that thought to the back of her head she just looked at
the two men watching her reaction and said quietly.
‘Thank you Mr. Morley this is perfect.’
Lexie sat, watching as Mr Morley packed up, re-shackled himself to the locked case
and left. Then they were alone again and she was at a loss, Geth however seemed in high
spirits.
‘Well, time for you to hit the shops I think,’ he said cheerily as he opened his wallet
and extricated a card. ‘Here’ he said handing it to a bemused Lexie, ‘do your worst’.
Then when she didn’t react, just sat there holding his plastic looking strained and
distinctly unhappy, he hunkered down in front of her, an expression somewhere between
incredulity and wry amusement on his face, saying nothing, waiting for her to respond.
‘I, I can’t, I don’t know where to shop here, I have no idea what you want me to buy,
how you want me to look...’
She tailed off, her face a picture of misery. Geth was, for once, lost for words, he’d
never met a woman who was made unhappy by the thought of melting his plastic, it
usually sent any female of his acquaintance into fits of extreme ecstasy!
‘How do I want you to look? Now I’m the one who doesn’t understand. Just buy
what you like, isn’t that what women do? Maybe you could get a dress for this evening,
something nice for the cameras, a little black silk thing is usual, but you decide. As to
where, my driver will take you to a couple of places where they will be more than happy to
help you spend my money.’
Then she cranked his incredulity up a notch, by getting
quickly to her feet and handing him back the card as if it were red hot. ‘
No, I don’t want your money, I don’t want to shop here or anywhere else with that.
You may have the upper hand here but you don’t have the right to make me feel like this,
leave me alone!’
But before he could answer, the sound of the apartment door opening made them
both turn as a whirlwind in a red dress burst into the room. Lexie watched as a tall blonde,
with corn coloured hair swirling about her head and huge cornflower blue eyes sparkling in
a perfect oval face, made her way over to Geth, who having regained his feet strode to
meet her. Their voluble greetings were lost on her, as they were uttered in rapid Welsh.
What was not lost on her though was the warmth that was evident in their voices as they
kissed and hugged. Dear God, was this his latest A-list girlfriend? Though she didn’t
actually recognise her, what on earth was going on? It seemed like an eon, but it could
only have been a few seconds before the newcomer extricated herself from Geth’s
embrace and practically rushed over to Lexie and hugging her continued the voluble
chatter, pausing only to change languages.
‘Oh, hello, I’m so glad to meet you. I rushed over as soon as Mam rang, Geth is so
naughty keeping you a secret, how long have you been together? Where, how did you
meet? Come on you must tell me everything. We are going to be such friends. Oh is that
your ring? Do let me see.’
Lexie was bemused, head spinning, at a loss now what to think, when Geth
laughing came back to her side.
‘Mared, give her a chance to catch up will you? Lexie cariad meet my madcap
sister, Mared meet my fiancée, Alexandria Owen.’
‘Your sister?’
Lexie didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed, for one brief moment
she’d glimpsed freedom, but freedom tinged with an unfamiliar edge of envy as she’d
prepared herself to lose out when this gorgeous creature claimed Geth as her own. “Stash
that thought” her beleaguered brain commanded, analyse it later, envy, where did that
come from? In the meantime it was quite enough to cope with his supercharged sister,
who seemed to be completely thrilled at the thought of becoming her sister-in-law and who
also seemed to be able to keep up a constant stream of chatter by presumably breathing
through her ears!
‘Well your timing is spot on for once sis. Lexie needs to go shopping for a short trip
we’re planning, and you would be the perfect guide. If anyone knows the shops around
here it’s you.’
‘Shopping, well I can certainly help there, what fun,’
Mared laughed as she took the card Geth proffered.
‘Well I don’t really need this but thanks anyway, are you sure you trust me not to
melt it completely, big brother?’
‘Just do me a favour and teach Lexie how to spend my money will you, she has a
lot to learn in that department. Lexie needs everything for a few days in Montreal, we left in
too much of a hurry to pack. Make sure there is at least one little black number as we have
a table booked at Le Gavroche for eight. Oh and Mared, remember who has to wear the
stuff will you?’
Laughing his sister caught hold of Lexie by the arm and fairly dragged her to the
door, throwing a final remark over her shoulder at her brother.
‘Was that your car waiting downstairs too? Goody, I hate driving in London.
Now,’ she said turning to Lexie, where shall we start? Knightsbridge I think, oh this
is going to be such fun.’ I tell you what though if I take you to a little boutique I know
where you will get everything you need, that will leave us enough time to pop in at my
favourite stylist to tame that mop of curls too. Just let me make a quick phone call to make
sure they are expecting us and then we will be all set. Oh you do smell nice, what is that
perfume I don’t know that one?’
Mared kept up her steady stream of chatter as they were driven through the
crowded streets. Lexie couldn’t help but be charmed and soon the younger girl’s good
humour, proved to be highly infectious and she found herself relaxing and enjoying herself.
Who could not she began to realise, enjoy being driven in such luxury, a big limo with
every comfort laid on, even the almost cliché champagne!
As they swept into one of the most exclusive shops Lexie had ever seen she
became grateful for Mared and her seemingly bottomless font of knowledge where
anything to wear was concerned. Not to mention the fact that the rather intimidating shop
staff melted into almost embarrassing obeisance as she was instantly recognised. Lexie
doubted very much that she would have been met with such attention had she been alone.
The boutique was down a side street, tucked quietly away from the expensively
elegant hum of celebrated purveyors of couture, that characterized that part of London.
From the street outside you would have been forgiven for thinking it was a private building
and walking straight past. Once through the elegant glass doors though, one was
transported into an Aladdin's cave of designer wonders. Mared seemed to be on first name
terms with not only the sales staff but with the designers themselves too. Before Lexie
could protest she was whisked away to be measured, before a seemingly never-ending
stream of garments were produced for her to try on. None of which were anything like the
stuff she usually wore, and of course there was not a price tag in sight. The whole thing
made her feel surreal, as if she’d suddenly been transported into a parallel, dressing up
doll’s universe. In an effort to regain control she reminded herself that this was no jolly
outing, a shopping spree to be enjoyed. This was yet another example of his, of Gethyn
Mathias’ way of showing her who was boss. Sending her out to buy such personal things
with his money, buy a black dress, he’d dictated, well she thought as an idea dawned.
That’s just what she would do, buy black and only black. She would get the essentials,
undies etc and three or four little black dresses, so that she was equipped to play the part
he insisted on, but no more. Then when this farce was over she would leave them behind,
she would take nothing with her from this nothing that she had not bought and paid for
herself.
‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’
Holding out an outstretched arm up she stopped the shop assistant in mid stride.
The girl looked confused, her arms full of clothes she just stood there waiting for the next
order from this odd little customer. Mared, busy trying to decide between two big soft
leather bags, looked up at Lexie’s impassioned plea and rushed over. ‘
What’s wrong, don’t you like them?’ ‘
They are all fine, but I have decided that I want to see only black dresses, simple
black dresses, nothing else.’
Mared was incredulous, ‘are you mad, we have big bro’s plastic and permission to
melt it and you want black dresses?’
It took some doing to convince Mared and the shop assistant, but half an hour later
they emerged with one small tan leather case into which were packed half a dozen little
black dresses, simple clean lined, very expensive designer black dresses but black
dresses nevertheless, together with an array of plain silk underwear, black shoes in a
range of heel heights, a simple long black silk nightdress and one soft cashmere jacket.
Adding three pairs of casual grey trousers and some black shirts she felt equipped for
anything. Lexie only made one concession and that was for a simple little beaded silk
dress. Lexie had loved it on sight but had been reluctant to try on something that was so
obviously very expensive. Still black but much prettier than the others. A thirties style
empire line creation decorated with tiny glass beads, it was much more to her taste and
she gave in to temptation. When she left she could pay him for this one dress, even if it
would break the bank. Mared, though she had no choice about the restricted shopping
was unmovable about the hairdressers, or to be more accurate, about the the styling salon
and ignoring Lexie’s protest directed the driver to the exclusive outfit she herself used.
It seemed that hair was just one small part of what the modern woman was
expected to attend to, skin, eyes, hand and feet, were also on the list. Lexie bemusedly
submitted to all the buffing, polishing, creaming and painting without demur and Mared
kept up her good natured stream of advice as they sipped the complimentary champagne.
It was only when it came to her hair that Lexie rebelled.
‘No, absolutely not’ she protested, ‘I don’t want my hair straightened, or coloured, or
anything else. A bit of a trim is all it needs Mared, really it is.’
But her self appointed style guru would not be put off that easily, and by the time the
stylist had finished the ‘bit of a trim’ had morphed into an elegant cut that took off about a
third off the length of Lexie’s riotous curls and by some careful layering reduced its bulk by
an astonishing amount. The result was a sleeker look that framed Lexie’s face perfectly
and even she had to admit, it looked and felt amazing. She was so pleased with the result
that she relented and let Mared talk her into having just a few subtle blonde highlights
added that just gave a soft, sun-kissed finishing touch. Finally there appeared as if by
magic a small vanity case filled with a bewildering array of toiletries and make-up along
with all the accoutrements needed to both apply and remove them.
By early evening they were once again back at Geth’s apartment. Of the man
himself there was no sign and Mared wasted no time in her relentless quest to transform
her ‘new sister’ as she insisted on calling Lexie. Lexie had staunchly refused to wear any
of the clothes they had bought, saying that she would prefer to wait until later to change.
‘No, honestly, Mared I need to be comfortable to continue this marathon, I’ll change
when we get back and I can take my time to get used to all this.’
Now she found there was no way out of it.
‘Come on sis, Geth will be back soon and I want to surprise him, won’t he be
surprised when he sees your new look. You will have to watch him though, he can get
really possessive if he thinks anyone is admiring what belongs to him, and let’s face it you
are going to wow em all even if all you bought was black!’
Lexie just couldn’t let that pass, ‘really Mared you are too much, I don’t belong to
anyone but myself, and certainly not to any man, including Geth. I’m shocked at such a
feudal attitude from a modern woman like you, this is not the dark ages.’
Mared laughed, ‘just you wait, you will find out just how feudal Welsh males can be,
especially my darling brother. Modern women we may be, but I would put money on your
new look bringing out the caveman in Geth sooner or later.’