Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child
Page 19
‘Can you doubt it, Carys?’ He lifted his hand to stroke her brow, her cheek, her swollen lips. ‘I think I loved you even before I saw your picture in that brochure. Definitely from the moment I held you in my arms in my hotel suite, and almost died from the sheer ecstasy of you there, with me.’ He swallowed a rising lump in his throat.
‘And when I saw you holding our son…’ This time his kiss was tender, soft and fleeting. Reluctantly he pulled back, watching her eyes widen.
‘I didn’t know what love was till I met you, tesoro mio. But now I do. It’s the glorious warmth I feel just thinking about you. Just remembering your smile when you’re not there. It’s the desire to keep you safe, to protect you and care for you every day of the rest of our lives. To share my life with you. It would kill me if you left.’
His heartbeat slowed to a sombre, waiting pulse. ‘I was only half alive before I found you again. Please…’ He didn’t care that he laid his innermost self open and vulnerable before her. All that mattered was having Carys in his life.
‘Oh, Sandro!’ Her kiss was fervent but almost clumsy as she pressed her lips feverishly to his. He felt hot tears slide down his cheek and realised she was crying in earnest.
Guilt scorched him. Did he really want to trap her with sympathy?
‘Sandro.’ She pressed kisses to his chin, his lips, his face. ‘I love you so much. I’ve always loved you. I thought you’d never feel the same.’
He shuddered with the shock of it. But lifting his head, he saw the truth in her eyes. She glowed incandescently as if lit from within. Even then he couldn’t believe.
‘But you wanted to leave me. You said so.’
Her smile, through drenched eyes and a tear-stained face, was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
‘No. I couldn’t do that. Ever.’ The words sank into his soul and settled there. A tentative sense of peace washed through him. He lowered his head to kiss her again, but she stopped him.
‘I’m here for good, Sandro. I just meant I couldn’t put up with accepting less than a real marriage with real responsibilities. I couldn’t bear thinking you were ashamed of me, that I wasn’t good enough to be your contessa.’
‘Never say that, piccolina.’ He hitched her higher so they were at eye level. ‘You are the perfect wife for me. In every way.’ He let the words echo around the tiled walls, satisfaction filling him.
‘The luncheon arrangements were a mistake. I didn’t invite Livia to take your place. I—’
Her lips against his stopped his words. Stopped thought. She kissed him with all the sweet pleasure and tenderness love could bestow. Alessandro felt it seep into his very bones. He cradled her close and gave back what she offered so unstintingly.
He loved this woman. Would love her till his dying day. The knowledge was glorious, terrifying and wonderful.
When eventually they pulled apart a fraction, she whispered, ‘Tell me later. Much later.’
‘But it’s important for you to understand.’
She smiled and his heart stopped.
‘And I will, Sandro.’ Alessandro felt his pulse start again, rocketing into life. ‘But it can wait. Nothing is more important than this.’ She cupped his face in her hands and gazed into his eyes. ‘I love you Alessandro Leonardo Daniele Mattani. We’re going to be so happy together.’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
‘ONCE again, thank you all for your generosity.’ Carys looked across the crowded ballroom, acknowledging smiles from her audience. Relief sighed through her.
Far from being an unresponsive group, those attending the lunch had embraced her and her chosen charities with disarming enthusiasm.
‘And please, when you’ve finished your meal, feel free to come outside and enjoy the fair.’
At a nod from her, the light curtains covering the series of French doors were pushed aside and the doors flung open.
On the afternoon breeze, children’s laughter mingled with the sound of music. A fairground had been set up on the lawns and those who would be the recipients of today’s fundraising were enjoying themselves: children. Some from orphanages, some with disabilities and others recuperating from serious illnesses.
Carys stepped down from the small podium, acknowledging applause from all sides.
Her gaze kept straying to the tall figure at the back of the room. His nod and smile confirmed what she saw herself. That the lunch and the speech she’d sweated over so long had been successful.
She guessed he was proud of her. But it was the love in his eyes, clear even from here, that warmed her to the core.
Walking between the tables took for ever as she stopped to talk to those she knew and others eager to introduce themselves.
By the time she reached Sandro, Carys felt as if she’d shaken hundreds of hands, answered thousands of questions. And she revelled in it. The guests’ support of the charities she’d chosen touched her heart.
‘You’re a natural,’ said a warm voice as she left the final table.
She stopped, looking up into familiar hooded eyes alive with approval. Sandro took her hand and raised it to his lips. Inevitably she shivered in response and he smiled, recognising the effect he had on her.
‘You made them laugh and even made them cry,’ he added. ‘I’ve never seen such unabashed enthusiasm for our fundraising before.’
Carys looked at Leo, bright-eyed and excited, on his father’s hip. Her heart swelled seeing him so happy. Feeling the bond between the three of them.
She shrugged. ‘A lot of them are parents. Besides, who wouldn’t want to help those kids and make life a little easier for them?’
Alessandro gathered her close with his free arm and she went willingly, content to be in her husband’s strong embrace. Content, at last, to be home.
‘The hotel industry lost a treasure when you left,’ he murmured. ‘But I’m not giving you back. You make the perfect Contessa Mattani.’ His voice dropped to a low purr. ‘You’re perfect for me, piccolina.’ He lowered his head.
‘Sandro,’ she hissed. ‘We can’t! Not here.’
His response was to kiss her till her bones tingled and she clung to him.
Some time later she became aware of Leo leaning in for a hug, and sound swelling around them. The sound of laughter and more applause.
Alessandro looked over her head and waved to their guests, then led her out into the gardens.
‘We can’t just leave them,’ she protested.
‘Of course we can,’ he assured her. ‘Today is a treat for the local children.’ His gaze dropped to her still-flat stomach, and he smiled, a secret, possessive smile that turned her limbs to jelly.
‘Let’s give ours a treat too, before we sneak away for a weekend at our place in the mountains.’ He hitched Leo higher and drew Carys further into the balmy afternoon.
She went willingly, knowing there was nowhere else on earth she’d rather be.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5203-9
FORGOTTEN MISTRESS, SECRET LOVE-CHILD
First North American Publication 2010.
Copyright © 2009 by Annie West.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Copyright