applied a little bit of makeup, just like she had the night before. Her shoes were the same black heels as well.
Enough looking in the mirror. There was nothing left for her to do. She glanced at the time. Nerves had driven her to get ready too soon. Dinner wasn’t for another hour. She wrung her hands and searched the room for something to do. Maybe she’d try to read. That would be a good distraction. She’d brought a few books back from the library last night, too.
A knock on her door made her jump. “Yes?”
“Theo? It’s Robin.”
She exhaled in relief. He’d be an even better distraction. She opened the door. He was still in track pants and a T-shirt. “Hi.”
He looked her up and down, his brows rising and an appreciative smile bending his mouth. “You look beautiful. Very sharp. Green is your color.”
“Thank you.” She did a quick little curtsy. “You look…comfortable.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I’m going to get dressed in a minute. But, uh, can I come in?” He looked oddly sheepish. “I have something for you.”
“Of course.” She moved out of the way.
He dug into his pocket. “I need some help, too.”
“Oh? What with?”
“First…” He held out his hand. In it was a small black velvet box. “These were supposed to be a birthday gift for Vesta. Obviously, she never got them. Which I’m happy about. I know now she wouldn’t have liked them anyway. Not gaudy enough for her tastes. But I’m hoping you’ll feel differently.”
She stared at the box, not quite able to take it. The last gift she’d gotten had been for her birthday, and it had been the letter T carved from a piece of scrap wood her father had scavenged somewhere. He’d inlaid a few small river rocks into the surface. It was lovely. Her father’s carving skills were very good.
But this was jewelry. And whatever was in the box had most likely cost serious money.
More than all that, the gift was coming from Robin.
“Go on,” he said. “Take it.”
She inhaled, hoping fresh air in her lungs would bring her the fortitude she didn’t feel. She took the box. The velvet was so soft. The box felt almost weightless.
“If you don’t like the gift, that’s perfectly okay. I just thought maybe you’d want something to wear tonight. Or whenever.”
She hoped it wasn’t a necklace. She wasn’t going to replace her mother’s with anything else. Tentatively, she opened the box.
The tiniest gasp escaped her lips. “Oh,” she breathed out. Not a necklace. Earrings. Petite, dangling earrings. Each one was comprised of three starstones—a round one, a marquis and a pear shape—each set in gold. They were linked together like a chain so that the smallest movement set them dancing. “They’re the most gorgeous earrings I’ve ever seen.”
“I thought they would go with your necklace, too.”
“They will. Perfectly.” Suddenly, she realized her foolishness. He wasn’t actually giving these to her. They had to cost a fortune. This was a loan, plain and simple. “Thank you for letting me borrow these. They’re just the finishing touch my outfit needs.”
“I’m not letting you borrow them. They’re my gift to you. For you to keep.”
She stopped looking at the earrings to look at him. “I can’t accept these. They’re too much.”
“Now, Moody…” He grinned. “You saved my life. That makes them not enough, but they’re all I could come up with on short notice.”
“But you don’t need to—”
“Nope. Not going to listen to any of that. Besides, I want you to have them. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather they go to than you. And they complement your necklace so well. Please. Take them.”
She looked at the earrings again. They sparkled like diamonds, but starstones gave off a distinct silvery glitter that diamonds didn’t possess. He wanted her to have them. If she said no, she’d only upset him. She couldn’t do that, not right before dinner. “They’re magnificent. I can’t thank you enough. They’re honestly the nicest thing I’ve ever owned. Besides my mother’s necklace.”
He looked incredibly pleased. “Put them on.”
She took them out of the box and slipped them into her ears, then went to the small mirror by the wall that led into the bedroom. She turned her head side to side. “They’re stunning.”
“So are you.”
She smiled, heat rising in her cheeks. “You’re making me blush.”
He shrugged. “It’s the truth. You are.”
She had to change the subject, or she was going to pass out from embarrassment. “What, um, did you want help with?”
“Oh,