THE beaming smile was perhaps a sign of relief as much as elation.

After a marathon conciliation session, the former David Jones publicist Kristy Fraser-Kirk is understood to have accepted less than $1 million to settle her sexual harassment case against David Jones and its former chief executive Mark McInnes.

The settlement is significantly less than the $37 million she had demanded and is believed to be close to the $850,000 offered by David Jones recently.

The 27-year-old wouldn't comment as she left the talks last night, but it was soon revealed that the main terms had been agreed.