The Forced Bride (21 page)

Yet, with victory in sight, she’d engineered her own downfall by that crazy demand for an annulment.

My quite deliberate mistake, she thought.

Because instinct had told her that Raf would not allow such an insult to his virility simply to pass.

Which meant that everything that had happened between them since was entirely her own fault, she thought soberly. And

she had no one but herself to blame if she now had to endure the consequences.

Leaving her with no choice but to go on keeping her terrible secret, while her marriage to Raf ran its brief course, and the

inevitable moment arrived when he would send her away.

And there’s nothing I can do about it, she thought, with shuddering anguish. Nothing. Except prepare myself for the

heartbreak that I’ve always dreaded. And pretend all over again that it doesn’t matter.

And all this just because he took my hand—and held it…

The skies were grey over Rome and rain was falling in a steady downpour. Emily sat stiffly at Raf’s side, watching the

drops beat against the windows of the car which was taking them to the house they would share for—what

Weeks—months Certainly not years, she thought, sinking her teeth into her lower lip, tasting panic like acid in her throat

as she contemplated what lay ahead of her.

Oh God, she thought, how could I possibly have allowed this to happen

His voice reached her. ‘You are very quiet,mia bella . Are you tired’

‘A little—perhaps.’

It wasn’t true. She was just sick at heart and bewildered, totally unprepared for the unwelcome revelation of her true

feelings for him. And at a loss to know how to deal with them.

‘I have had some work done to the house,’ he said after a pause. ‘I hope it will meet with your approval. I have spent so

little time there myself over the past years, that I did not realise how dark it might seem, or how dismal.’

To a stranger…The words were unspoken, but they nevertheless seemed to hover in the air between them.

But she could hardly object. A stranger under his roof was all she was—or ever would be. And she must never forget

that.

Raf was speaking again. ‘If there are any further changes you wish to make, you must tell me,naturalmente .’

I don’t care about dark or dismal. I’d live in a hole in the ground if you only loved me…

Aloud, she said jerkily, ‘No, I’m sure it will be—beautiful.’ She forced a smile. ‘I can’t wait to see it.’

‘I regret that I cannot be there when you pass judgement,’ he said.

‘But, once I have seen you safely to the house, I must return to my office in the city.’

‘You’re leaving me on my own—on our first day back’ The query jerked from her before she could prevent it. Oh,

God, she thought in horror, how needy and pathetic did that sound

‘Unfortunately, it is unavoidable. I have an essential meeting, and other urgent matters to attend to.’

Valentina Colona among them

She dared not ask it aloud. Instead she lifted her chin and said, ‘Of course. I—understand perfectly.’

And waited for the knife to turn inside her as it inevitably did.

Raf’s mouth twisted. ‘I do not think that is altogether the truth,mia cara . Please believe that I do not wish to leave you.’

‘I’ve told you. It’s—absolutely fine.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘Plainly, it is not.’ His arm went round her, drawing her close, his fingers cupping her breast under her coat.

‘Now, what can I do to make amends,mi amore ’ His other hand captured her chin, turning her face up to his so that he

could kiss her mouth. As her lips parted beneath his, she became aware too of his thumb stroking her nipple to helpless

throbbing life even through the thickness of her sweater.

‘Raf!’ She pulled back her head, her whisper strained—breathless. ‘Stop this. Your driver—he’ll see.’

His own voice was low and husky. ‘The glass between us is a screen,carissima . I promise he will see nothing.’ His hand

slid under the hem of her skirt, caressing her knee, as he kissed her again, his tongue achingly, warmly sensuous against

hers.

She tried to think of some protest that would halt this scandalous—thisimpossible torment right here and now, but Raf’s

fingers were moving, edging slowly, enticingly upwards and Emily discovered, shocked, that her entire being was

suddenly focused with shivering, burning excitement on the totally inevitable. On where he was going to touch her

next—and precisely how…

She was already beyond speech, or even coherent thought.

His hand moulded her through her underclothing, claiming her, and she gasped soundlessly, arching towards him, as his

fingertips began to caress her, gently pushing aside the barriers of fabric to discover the moist white-heat of desire that

he’d created. Lingering there.

Then slowly allowing the expert glide of his touch to seek her tiny, sensitive bud and stroke it to a peak of aching, aroused

delight. Holding her with almost cruel precision, on the supreme, burning edge of release, until she whimpered into his

mouth, pleading wordlessly for the promised pleasure.

And, at last, when her fainting senses thought they could endure no more, he took her over the brink into the fierce,

shuddering contractions of satiation, stifling her breathless moans with his lips.

Only brief moments later, still speechless and trembling, Emily became dimly aware that the car was slowing to a halt,

turning through high wrought iron gates on to a broad drive. Signalling that they had arrived at the house and making her

realise at the same time that Raf had gauged her ascent to rapture with a deliberate and wicked accuracy that, in

retrospect, made her burn with shame and embarrassment.

As the car drew up outside the imposing main entrance, Emily saw Gaspare hovering with a large umbrella, his smile

warm if faintly anxious.

‘A hundred welcomes,Eccelenza , and to you,Vossignoria ,’ he greeted them, bowing. ‘We are so happy to see you

again.’

Emily’s legs were still shaking under her as she left the car, but she managed to smile and say, ‘Grazie.’

She was aware of Raf taking her arm and wanted to pull away, but it was impossible because Gaspare was holding the

umbrella protectively over them both as they went up the wide steps and into the house.

‘Shall I have coffee brought to thesalotto, Eccelenza ’

‘The Contessa is tired from the journey,’ Raf said smoothly. ‘I think we would both prefer to go to our rooms and rest

for a while. Come,cara .’

Face burning, she allowed herself to be conducted unwillingly up the imposing staircase and along the gallery to the

massive double doors at the end which led to the master suite.

In spite of her anger and humiliation, she recognised instantly that the main bedroom had been transformed. The walls

were freshly painted and sheer ivory drapes hung at the windows and curtained the enormous bed.

But this did nothing to appease her, especially when she turned on him and saw that he was locking the door.

‘What the hell are you doing’ she demanded furiously.

‘You seem upset,carissima ,’ Raf drawled. ‘If you have something to say to me, I would prefer it to be in total privacy.’

‘I have something to say all right.’ She drew a breath. ‘How dare you treat me like that’ Her voice was uneven.

‘Manipulate me. As if I was some—cheap plaything.’

He was walking to her, but he halted, the dark brows snapping together. ‘If that is how it seemed to you,’ he said, ‘then

you must forgive me. It was certainly not my intention.’

‘Then what did you mean by it’

His mouth twisted. ‘I thought—to give you some pleasure,mia bella .’

‘You imagined I wanted to be—used—humiliated’

‘No,’ he said. ‘That did not occur to me.’ He paused, then added drily, ‘But I see now I made a mistake. I was misled

by your response,carissima . You hid your reluctance well.’

His jibe was deserved and she knew it as her colour deepened and she looked away, mortified. ‘I hate you.’ Her voice

was husky, her body still throbbing from the exquisite anguish so recently inflicted on her.

‘Per me va benissimo, cara.’ His tone was mocking. ‘That is fine with me. But keep your hatred for the daylight hours,e

chiaro . I have other plans for your nights.’

‘But for how long’ She spread her hands in angry appeal. ‘How many nights will there be until I’m no longer a novelty’

Raf shrugged off his jacket and began to unfasten his tie. ‘Chissa! Who knows’ he countered. ‘For me, at this time,mi

amore , you are like an undiscovered country, possessing all the charm of the unknown.’ He gave her a sardonic look.

‘But you will be relieved to know I have no long term strategies that need concern you. Your torture will

end—eventually.’

‘Then make it now,’ she said passionately. ‘Let me go back to England, and you go on with your—your real life here.’

She flung her head back. ‘However much you once owed my father, it could never justify being forced to live like this.

You must see that. So don’t let’s have anything else to regret. Just consider the debt paid in full, and let me—go home.’

‘It is not a question of money,’ he said quietly, unbuttoning his shirt. ‘It never was. As for regrets—I have only one. That I

did not pay court to you as I should have done before our marriage. Taught you a little about your body and its needs, so

that you would have welcomed me into your bed on our wedding night, instead of treating me as if I was a monster.

‘But it is useless to wish the past away,’ he added. ‘And I have no intention of letting you go. You are my wife, Emilia,

and, while you remain so, this is now your home. And, to make quite certain you do not forget that, we shall consummate

our marriage all over again, here and now, in this room and this bed.’

‘But you can’t.’ Her voice sounded hoarse. ‘You have work—meetings to go to. You—you said so.’

He shrugged. ‘All that can wait. Because I have a far more pressing appointment with you,mia cara sposa .’ His tone was

faintly jeering. ‘However, I will make sure those involved are well compensated for any inconvenience.’ He sent her a

sardonic look. ‘And you also,mia bella , as it is daytime and I am intruding on your right to seclusion.’

‘I want nothing from you!’

‘No’ Raf shed the rest of his clothes with unhurried grace and stretched out on the bed, his naked skin golden in the

subdued light. He beckoned to her. ‘Then come here, my lovely one,’ he commanded softly. ‘And prove that to me.’ He

smiled at her. ‘If you can.’

When Emily eventually awoke it was late afternoon and Raf had been gone for hours. She had a vague memory, as she’d

lain half-dozing, spent and languid from the passion she’d been unable to resist, of his hand stroking her cheek, his lips

touching her hair as he’d left her.

Not that it excused, even for a moment, the way he’d treated her, she thought, turning over and burying her hot face in the

pillow, as she remembered the way she’d been reduced to frantic, sobbing abandonment in his arms in spite of her

protests.

And knowing that she loved him made it even more difficult and hurtful to acknowledge that her only attraction for him

was a physical one.

That there would never be more than sex on offer in this marriage, and any deeper fulfilment would always be denied her.

For Rafaele, she told herself painfully, love was not an option. And she had to accept that and hope for nothing more.

She was suddenly aware that there was movement in the room and sat up, startled. A plump girl whom she’d never seen

before was crossing towards the dressing room, carrying Emily’s discarded clothing over her arm.

‘Un momento.’ Emily hastily hitched up the fine linen sheet to cover her bare breasts. ‘Who are you, please And where

are you going with those’

The girl swung round defensively. She had a round, stolid face and eyes so dark they looked almost black. Unsmiling, she

bobbed a curtsy. ‘I am Apollonia. I am here to wait onvossignoria .’

Oh, God, thought Emily, her heart sinking. This must be the maid Raf threatened me with. I didn’t think he was serious.

But here she is and I really need her tiptoeing about, picking up the clothes he’s taken off me, like I want a hole in the

head.

She said quite gently, ‘But I haven’t asked for anyone, Apollonia. Perhaps you should have waited until you were sent

for.’

Apollonia’s mouth pursed into a button and she almost shrugged. ‘Lo stesso,eccomi, signora . So perhaps I may make

ready a bath for you’

Emily hesitated, tempted to tell the girl that she was perfectly capable of filling her own tub. Especially as it just involved

turning on a pair of taps rather than running about with great pans of hot water, she thought, with a pang of memory.

But the maid was only doing her job, she reminded herself. And, until she had a chance to speak to Rafaele that evening

and explain that she didn’t wish to be waited on, she supposed, in fairness, she should let her get on with it.

On the other hand, she had no wish to get out of bed, naked, in front of a po-faced stranger.

She said, ‘Very well, Apollonia. A bath would be good. And perhaps you could find me a robe.’

The girl did not return her smile. ‘You will wish to dress for dinner,signora . What may I bring you to wear’

‘I’m afraid there isn’t much choice. Most of my clothes are in England.’And probably on their way to the charity shop,

even as we speak. She added, ‘Just—do your best for this evening.’

Apollonia nodded in acquiescence, but there was no lightening in her expression. She went to the dressing room and

returned with a towelling robe that Emily guessed belonged to Raf.