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‘All these years I’ve worked for Olivia, and I never knew her son was so gorgeous. I saw pictures, but …’ Amy gave a shrug, motioning to Liam with a dumbfounded look on her face. ‘You can’t capture what he has on film. It has to be experienced firsthand.’
    â€˜Much like his mother,’ Asta added.
    â€˜He’s not married, is he?’ Amy couldn’t resist having a snoop, and Asta was sure to know.
    A sympathetic frown wrinkled Asta’s brow. ‘Sadly, no.’ She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I think he’s gay. Don’t quote me on that,’ Asta spoke openly once more, ‘but it’s more than likely.’
    Amy wasn’t about to take that observation as gospel. ‘Is that what Olivia told you? Or do you say that because he’s a ballet dancer?’
    â€˜No.’ Asta dropped her voice to a whisper again as she spied Liam heading their way. ‘It’sjust that I’ve only ever seen him accompanied by men.’ Asta gave a firm nod, before turning to address Olivia’s son.
    â€˜Liam, my sweet.’ Asta took hold of both his hands, then kissed his cheek. ‘You’re putting on such a brave front.’
    â€˜It’s not a front,’ he informed her honestly, the large smile never leaving his face. Liam’s piercing ice-blue eyes turned Amy’s way. ‘Here’s the woman I’ve been looking for.’
    Amy was pleasantly surprised to hear this.
    â€˜I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to steal you away for a moment,’ he announced, taking hold of Amy’s hand.
    Amy was wondering at this point if she’d fallen asleep in the corner and was dreaming up this marvellous little development in an otherwise miserable day.
    â€˜Excuse us.’ Begging their leave with a slight bow for Asta’s benefit, Liam guided Amy out from behind the plant, and the way he did this made it seem as if they were going to tango, rather than walk from a room full of mourners. ‘After you.’ He motioned for Amy to take the lead.
    Stage Two: Denial
    In the huge library of Olivia’s mansion, Amy was greeted by afternoon tea for two.
    â€˜I could get you a stiff drink, if you’d prefer.’ Liam had noted Amy’s bemused expression as he closed the door behind them.
    â€˜No.’ She was quick to correct his misconception. ‘A cup of tea is exactly what I need.’ Amy, feeling herself going weak in the knees, took a seat on the lounge beside the box that contained Olivia’s manuscript. Not that Amy noticed the box. She was far more interested in this mysterious gypsy in flowing robes come to save her from this nightmare.
    Everything about Liam was so completely unexpected, even the fact that Amy found him attractive. He was, you might say, too good-looking, too confident, too fit, too open — everything Amy usually found suspect in a man — but he also radiated a kind of presence that eliminated any doubt one might have about him. Amy felt Liam was quite genuinely too good to be true.
    He must be gay, she decided, or some lucky woman would have snatched him up by now.
    Liam took a seat on the lounge opposite her and poured the tea. ‘I have something that belongs to you,’ he said, gesturing toward the box.
    â€˜What?’ Amy was horrified, knowing how much the manuscript was bound to fetch. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
    â€˜Did you happen to look at the box on the morning you found my mother?’ Liam inquiredcasually, as he placed Amy’s tea in front of her on the table.
    â€˜Well …’ Amy considered the question rather odd. ‘No … I was not quite myself that day, I —’
    â€˜Look at it now,’ Liam urged. ‘There, on the lid.’
    In the place he indicated, Amy found her name scribbled, or at least part thereof. AMY FIN it said.
    â€˜That is what Mother was writing when she died,’