The Bed You Make
Chapter 40, concluded
The smug glance that the Countess de Mardors slanted her way made Dara finally take action. She reached out, picked up the cellphone she'd put on the table and brought it to her ear. Stefan's gaze was the first to swing Dara's way. The Countess' reaction was a fraction of a second slower.
“Yes, it's me…” Dara went on to explain the curious call she'd made. Her gaze pinned a wide-eyed Jacqueline de Mardors in place. “Were you able to hear any of her conversation?” As she listened intently, Dara sensed more than saw that nearby patrons of the restaurant had picked up on the change in the atmosphere surrounding their table. “Thank you. I will speak with you later. Goodbye.”
Dara slowly closed her cellphone and placed it back where it had been on the table. Not once did she look away from the Countess. “That was my new nephew, Prince Cassadine, on the phone,” Dara explained with exaggerated politeness. “Despite his embarrassment of the contents, he was kind enough to translate the conversation you've been having with my husband.” Dara allowed the statement to hang in the air between her and the Countess de Mardors.
“Do you see this ring that's on my finger?” Dara lifted her left hand and twisted it so that the other woman could see the wedding band Dara wore. “It matches the one Stefan has on his hand.” Dara leaned forward; her gaze narrowed with laser precision on the spot where Jacqueline's diamond laden fingers rested on Stefan's hand. Awkwardly the Countess ended the contact. “That ring means I belong to him. And he belongs to me. From the top of his exquisitely barbered head,” Dara continued, “to the soles of his custom-made Berluti-shod feet. Every single substantial inch in between is mine .”
“And I don't share .”
Dara sat back and gave the Countess an icy smile that did not reach her eyes. The gesture was frighteningly reminiscent of the matriarch of the Cassadine family, Helena. “Now, Countess , I suggest that you find whatever shred of self-respect, if any, that you possess and leave our table. Or I will have the guards help you.”
Something in Dara's gaze dared the Countess to appeal to Stefan for intervention. Wisely, the other woman realized that Stefan's silence throughout his wife's words told her all she needed to know about his position.
Jacqueline slowly retrieved her clutch from the tabletop and rose to her feet. “Oh, Jacqueline?” Dara halted the other woman's progress. “Feel free to pass word of this little encounter on to all your friends.” Dara's gaze remained on the Countess until she exited from the restaurant.
“That was fascinating,” Stefan observed.
“ You ,” Dara gave Stefan a tight smile, “should really concern yourself more with trying to salvage the evening.”