“I haven’t touched your watch, Claire,” I said, keeping my voice quiet and even.

“You lie!” Claire screamed, stepping closer until I could smell the expensive champagne on her breath.

“It was a limited-edition Piaget, worth eighty thousand dollars.”

“You’ve been eyeing it since we sat down.”

Vivian rose slowly from her seat, smoothing the front of her designer linen trousers.

She looked at me with cold, aristocratic disgust.

“This is utterly disgraceful, Daniel,” Vivian said, not looking at him, but keeping her eyes locked on me.

“I told you bringing this girl to Lotus Bay would end in disaster.”

“She has no concept of how to behave in polite society.”

A low murmur rippled through the surrounding tables.

I saw Mrs. Sterling lean over to whisper something to the gentleman sitting next to her.

“I did not take the watch,” I repeated, looking directly into Vivian’s cold eyes.

“Then let us search you,” Claire demanded, her voice rising an octave.

“Empty your pockets.”

“Open that cheap little canvas bag you’re carrying.”

Before I could answer, a firm, calm voice cut through the rising tension.