by Sara Craven
Flora listened to it, open-mouthed at his sheer effrontery, then stabbed at the ‘Delete’ button, nearly breaking a nail in the process.
Somehow, she thought grimly, she was going to have to convince him not to contact her ever again.
She’d assumed her mention of Ottavia would be enough to keep him away, but clearly he was experiencing a sense of decency by-pass.
She was still seething when the doorbell rang, and had to hurriedly arrange her face into more tranquil and pleasant lines as she went to answer its summons. After all, she didn’t want to send the unknown Mrs Morgan fleeing in fright down the street, she thought, as she flung open the door.
And stopped, her smile freezing on her lips, her senses screaming into shock, as she saw who was waiting for her.
‘Buongiorno,’ said Marco.
The sound of his voice with its familiar husky note roused her from her sudden stupor. She grabbed at the door, intending to slam it in his face, but he was too fast for her, and too strong. She’d forgotten the deceptive muscularity of the lean body under those elegant suits.
He simply walked past her into the entrance hall. ‘Now you may close the door,’ he said softly.
‘Get out of here. Get out—now.’ Her voice cracked in the middle. ‘Or I’ll call the police—tell them you forced your way in…’
‘With no evidence?’ he asked crushingly. ‘I think not. And then I shall tell them it is just a lovers’ quarrel, and we will see which of us they believe.’
‘You can’t stay,’ Flora said rapidly. ‘I’m expecting a visitor…’ She paused, her eyes flying to his face with sudden suspicion. ‘Or am I?’ She drew a deep breath. ‘My God, I don’t believe this. You’ve caught me again in the same trap. The flat isn’t sold at all, is it? It’s just another trick, and the Morgans probably don’t even exist.’
‘They are quite real, and they are genuinely buying your flat,’ Marco returned. ‘But not, unfortunately, the furniture. We stretched the truth about that.’
“‘We”?’ Flora echoed derisively. ‘Surely a practised liar like you, signore, doesn’t need an accomplice.’
He said slowly, ‘If you are hoping you will goad me into losing my temper and walking out, you will be disappointed. I came here to talk to you, Flora mia, and I shall not leave until I have done so.’ He paused. ‘But not in this hallway. Let us go into your sitting room.’
Flora did not budge. ‘You can talk,’ she said clearly. ‘But I don’t have to listen.’
The green eyes glinted at her. ‘Do not put me to the trouble of fetching you, mia cara.’
Her hesitation was only momentary. Fetching meant touching, and an instinct older than the world told her that, as long as she lived, she would never be ready to feel his hands on her again.
Skirting round him with minute care, she walked into the living room and went to stand by the window, her arms folded defensively across her body.
Marco propped himself in the doorway, his expression unreadable as he looked her over.
He said, ‘You are thinner.’
Flora bit her lip, staring down at the gleaming boards. ‘Please don’t concern yourself,’ she said. ‘Because the situation is purely temporary, I assure you.’ And could have wept with the terrible irony of it all.
‘Have you been ill?’
‘No, I’ve just had a check-up and I’m in excellent health.’ She lifted her chin and faced him defiantly. ‘I’m sorry if you thought I’d be wasting away—or suicidal. What a blow to your male pride to find me simply—getting on with my life.’
‘Why did you decide to sell the flat?’
She shrugged. ‘The blank canvas didn’t seem appropriate any more.’ She paused. ‘Is this all you want to ask? Why didn’t you get your private detective to submit a questionnaire, and I could have ticked the right boxes?’
‘A box would not have told me how angry you are with me.’
‘No, but it would have spared me this meeting.’ She shook her head. ‘Why have you come here? You must have known I would never want to see you again.’
‘Yes,’ he acknowledged quietly. ‘I was afraid it would be so. Which was why I delayed my journey. I hoped, if I gave you time, you might, in turn, allow me the opportunity to explain.’
‘That’s unnecessary. Your godmother supplied all the explanation I could ever need. I know everything, signore, so you may as well go back where you came from.’
‘You are determined not to listen to me,’ he said slowly. ‘Even after all we have been to each other.’
‘I know what you once were to me,’ Flora said bitingly. ‘Thanks to the Contessa, I’m now aware of all I was to you. There’s nothing more to be said.’
‘There is a great deal more,’ he snapped. ‘And I was coming back from Milan to say it to you—to tell you everything. To confess and ask your forgiveness. Only to find you had gone and all hell had broken loose.’
‘Oh, please.’ To her fury, she realised she was trembling. ‘Am I really supposed to believe that?’ She shook her head. ‘Don’t tell me any more of your lies, Marco. I won’t be made a fool of a second time.’
‘No,’ he said bitterly. ‘I am the one who has been a fool—and worse than a fool. What point is there in pretending otherwise?’
‘None at all,’ she said. ‘But pretending is what you do best, signore, and old habits die hard.’
He said slowly, ‘While we are on the subject of pretence, signorina, do you intend to maintain that you did not expect me to come after you? And that there is nothing left in your heart of that passion—the need that we shared?’
‘Your conceit, Signor Valante, is only matched by your arrogance.’ Flora’s voice sparked with anger.
‘That is no answer.’
‘It’s the only one you’re going to get,’ she flashed.
His laugh was husky, almost painful. ‘Then I will ask another question. Flora—will you be my wife?’
The world suddenly seemed to lurch sideways. There was a strange roaring in her ears and she saw the floor rising to meet her.
When awareness slowly returned, she found she was lying on the sofa and Marco was kneeling beside her, holding a glass of water.
‘Drink this,’ he directed shortly, and she complied unwillingly. He watched her, his mouth drawn into a grim, straight line.
He said, ‘And you say you are not sick.’
‘I’m not.’ Flora handed back the glass and sat up gingerly. ‘I had a shock, that’s all.’
‘Is it really so shocking to receive a proposal of marriage?’
‘From you—yes.’ She could taste the sourness of tears in her throat. ‘But then why should I really be surprised? It’s time you were married, isn’t it? And one woman is as good as any other. I’m told that’s your philosophy. Be honest, signore.’
He was silent for a long moment. ‘It may have been—once. God forgive me. But not now.’
‘So, what is it this time?’ Flora stared at him, her eyes hard. ‘A belated attempt to salve your guilty conscience? To offer some recompense for the way you treated me?’
‘I want you,’ he said quietly. ‘And I swore I would move heaven and earth to get you back.’
‘Except you don’t really believe you’ll have to go to those lengths,’ she threw at him. ‘Not when I was such a push-over the first time around.’ She gestured wildly. ‘You think you have only to smile, and take my hand—and I’ll follow you anywhere. But not this time, signore. Because I’m not playing your game any more. I’ve changed, and I tell you this—I’d rather die than have you touch me—you bastard.’
There was another tingling silence, then Marco said, ‘Ah,’ and got to his feet. The dark face was cool, composed, and the green eyes steady as they met hers.
He said, ‘Then I agree with you, Flora mia. There is no more to be said, and I will leave you in peace to enjoy your life.’
As he turned to walk to the door the telephone rang suddenly.
He ch
ecked. ‘Do you wish me to answer that for you?’
‘The machine will pick up the message.’ She hardly recognised her own voice. She felt as if she’d been left dying on some battlefield. As perhaps she had.
There was a click, and a woman’s voice, clear and pleasant, filled the room. ‘This is Barbara Wayne, Miss Graham, the midwife from the health centre. Dr Arthur asked me to contact you and arrange a preliminary appointment. Perhaps you’d call me back and suggest a convenient time—early next week, say? Thank you.’
Flora sat as if she’d been turned to stone, listening to the tape switch off and run back. Her mouth was bone-dry and her heart was beating an alarmed tattoo against her ribcage. She did not dare look at Marco, but the words of the message seemed to hang in the room.
Useless to hope that he had not picked up its exact implication.
If it had just been five minutes later, she thought, fighting back a sob of desperation. Just five minutes… He would have been gone. And she would have been safe. Whereas now…
When he eventually spoke, his tone was almost remote. The polite interest of a stranger. ‘Is it true? Are you carrying my child?’
She set her teeth to stop them chattering. ‘What—makes you think it’s yours?’
‘Now who is playing games?’ There was a note under the surface of his voice that made her shiver. ‘Do not prevaricate—or lie to me. Are you having our baby?’
She closed her eyes. ‘Yes.’
‘At last, some honesty.’ There was another terrible silence, then he sighed. ‘Well, even if I am a bastard, as you say, Flora mia, I will not allow my child to be born as one. You and I will be married as soon as it can be arranged.’
‘No.’ She was on her feet. ‘I won’t do it. You can’t make me.’
He smiled grimly. ‘I think I can, mia bella. You have made it clear you find me repulsive.’ He shrugged. ‘I can accept that. But our child will be born within the protection of marriage.’ His voice hardened. ‘What happens afterwards will be a matter for negotiation, but it will not include the usual demands a husband makes of his wife.’
‘To hell with your negotiations.’ Flora was shaking. ‘I still say no.’
‘You wish to give up the baby?’ Marco asked coldly. ‘Or do you want me to fight you for custody through the courts, with all the attendant lurid publicity that will entail? Because I guarantee you will lose.’
‘You can’t say that.’ The breath caught in her throat. ‘Judges favour mothers.’
‘Not always. And can you afford the risk—or the cost of a long legal war?’ His smile froze her. ‘I do not think so.’
He paused. ‘But, if you marry me, I promise complete financial support for you and the baby in return for proper visitation rights. I shall not even require you to live under my roof after the birth,’ he added drily. ‘And in time we can divorce discreetly.’
There was a terrible tightness in her chest, as if someone had grasped her heart and was squeezing out every last drop of blood.
She said thickly, ‘You’ve betrayed me once. Why should I trust you this time?’
His mouth curled. ‘Because I don’t bed unwilling women, cara. As my wife, and the mother of my child, you will receive my respect, but nothing more.’ He paused, his gaze faintly mocking. ‘Do you want my lawyers to draw up a written assurance?’
‘No.’ She bit her lip. ‘That—won’t be necessary.’
‘Do I take it, then, that you agree to my terms?’
She said, dully, ‘I don’t seem to have a great deal of choice.’
‘Then you may choose now. Do you wish a large wedding or a small one?’
‘A small one,’ she said. ‘And as quiet as possible.’ She lifted her chin. ‘I’m not proud of what I’m doing.’
‘It is not what I would wish either,’ Marco said quietly. ‘But we must consider what is best for the child we have made together.’
She walked over to the window and stood, staring unseeingly at the street. ‘Have you thought of what your godmother will say about this?’
He said curtly, ‘Her views are of no concern to me. In any case, she is giving up the villa and returning to Rome, so you will not be obliged to meet with her again.’
She said with difficulty, ‘But you—do expect me to live at the castello?’
‘It is a tradition for Valante children to be born there—as I am sure you already know.’ His tone was brusque.
Yes, she thought, with a stab of anguish. In that big canopied bed in the tower, where we were lovers…
Dear God, I can’t bear it—I can’t…
She didn’t look at him. ‘I presume you will be spending most of your time in Milan?’
‘Naturally,’ he said drily. ‘I would not be the first husband to use work as an excuse to keep his distance. Although not usually so early in the marriage.’
‘No,’ she said. ‘I—I suppose not.’
She kept her back turned because she dared not—dared not—face him. Because he might look into her eyes and see all the confusion of misery and yearning that was suddenly rising inside her in spite of herself.
And she knew if he came to her, and took her in his arms, she would be lost for ever. She could not take that risk.
He said suddenly, ‘Your friend Hester. How much have you told her?’
‘Just that I had a stupid, dangerous affair, and am now pregnant as a result.’ She spoke defiantly. How silly, she thought, to have imagined that there was anywhere she could go where he wouldn’t find her exactly when he wished. ‘I also said that I wanted nothing more to do with you, so I shall have some explaining to do.’
‘I am sure you will make your—change of heart convincing,’ he said softly. ‘Do you wish her to be a witness at our wedding?’
She forced a smile. ‘I don’t think I could keep her away if I tried.’
‘Perhaps you should let me talk to her, so that I can reassure her that this marriage is in everyone’s best interests.’ He hesitated. ‘Will you both have dinner with me at my hotel this evening?’
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘But that—won’t be necessary.’ She steadied her voice. ‘I’ve agreed to go through a wedding ceremony with you. Let that be enough.’
He said icily, ‘As you wish. I will contact you, then, only when the arrangements are made.’
‘I think it would be better,’ she said, then weakened her position by adding, ‘If you don’t mind.’
‘Why should I mind? As you reminded me, cara, I am a philosopher, and one woman is like any other. I will try not to forget again.’
His tone was sardonic. ‘However, I should warn you that my respect for you as my wife will not necessarily guarantee my fidelity. I do not intend to be lonely, although I shall be discreet. I trust you can accept that?’
‘Of course.’ Her voice was barely audible.
‘Good.’ He sounded almost brisk. ‘Then I will leave you in peace, as you desire. Arriverderci, Flora mia.’
She heard him leave the room, and, presently, the sound of the front door closing.
She made her way slowly to the sofa and sank down on its cushions. Well, she had managed to keep him at a serious distance, she thought, and, under the circumstances, that was a personal triumph. So why did she feel as if she’d suffered a crushing defeat instead?
I do not intend to be lonely. The words reverberated over and over in her mind, creating images she did not wish to contemplate.
Especially when it seemed she had condemned herself to an agony of loneliness for the rest of her life.
She drew a deep, shuddering breath. Well, she had done what she had to do—if she was to preserve her self-respect—and her sanity.
And now—somehow—she had to live with the consequences.
Hester was hovering, her eyes alive with curiosity, when Flora got home that evening.
‘So,’ she said. ‘Why are we too busy to have dinner with Marco Valante tonight?’
Flora gasped. ‘How do
you know about that?’
‘Because he phoned about half an hour ago to express his regrets and say that the invitation was still open.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘And, as he doesn’t sound like the kind of guy who takes rejection well, that gives us just over an hour to glam up and get there.’
Flora became a living statue. ‘No,’ she said baldly.
‘Is that a real no? Or an “I could be persuaded in the fullness of time” job?’
‘A real no,’ Flora said hotly. ‘Oh, how dare he?’
Hester shrugged. ‘Presumably because he wants company at dinner?’
Flora shook her head. ‘It’s really not as simple as that.’
‘Then tell me about it,’ said Hester. ‘You have my undivided attention. And I already know that he’s undoubtedly the baby’s father, so you can skip that bit.’
Flora took a deep breath. ‘We’re going to be married.’
‘Right,’ Hester said evenly, after a minute. ‘When was this decision made?’
‘Today. He—just turned up. Unexpectedly,’ she added with constraint.
‘Good choice of word,’ Hester approved affably. ‘Because I have the feeling I’ve just stepped into a parallel universe here. Or was it some other man you were swearing you never wanted to see again only twenty-four hours ago?’
‘I didn’t—and I don’t. But he’s found out about the baby and he refuses to allow it to be born illegitimate.’
She paused. ‘So we made a deal—marriage in return for financial support and reasonable access.’
Hester gave her a long look. ‘This sounds more like a business arrangement than a relationship.’
‘Yes,’ said Flora. ‘That’s exactly what it is—and nothing more.’
There was a loaded silence, then Hester said carefully, ‘May I just recap here? I’ve known you for years, Flo, and you’re not the promiscuous kind. You never have been. But this is the man for whom you suddenly and spectacularly dumped Chris, remember? Not only that but you allowed this Marco Valante to sweep you off and have unprotected sex with you. He’s made you act completely out of character ever since you met, so “business arrangement” hardly covers it.’
