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It was her belief that Leonidas had decided not to rock the boat until they were safely hts over the son he loved That was surely why he had ifts so lavish they took her breath away On the phone he talked about Elias and did not deviate, even if she tried to throw in a tripwire Anything ot him off the phone fast, which she found counter-productive because even when she was furious with hi to the sound of his voice

On the gift front, however, she was doing very nicely indeed, and had riches been her sole motivation she would have been ecstatic and ready to sprint down the aisle To date, she had acquired designer handbags, sunglasses, a watch, a fancy phone, fabulous luggage, a dias, two paintings, a sculpture, a jewelled collar for Mouse, a Mercedes car—with the promise of a personalised version to arrive in the near future—the latest books, sundry feht his eye No, Leonidas was not afraid to shop And so it went on: the gift-giving that she saw as a substitute for what he would not or could not say To be fair to hi loyalty, soothing wounded feelings and pleasing people with the spoils of his wealth Spendingand de responses

After all, Leonidas knehy she was angry with him, but he had yet to make the smallest atte she had known he would be with Josette Dawnay, Mirabel had lain awake all night in an absolute torer, jealousy and hatred She had tortured herself by surfing the net to scrutinise photos of the gorgeous ripped her when she had appreciated that if she married Leonidas and he insisted on his freedoo on and on and on with a series of different faces in the role of rival Only, how could any nor to compete with such fantastically beautiful women?

‘Dr Greenaway? You have a visitor’ A staff arden and Maribel stood up in haste, since any distraction frohts elco room’

For a moment, Maribel was confused by the ie sather up Elias and Mouse, she headed back into the mansion at speed Tilda Crawford! Tilda and her husband, Crown Prince Rashad of Bakhar, had been the only nauest lists Maribel had been relieved and delighted when she had received an acceptance Although Rashad remained one of Leonidas’ closest friends from his university days, Maribel are that Tilda and Leonidas had only ever mixed like oil and water

Maribel and Tilda had en’s parties and taken instant refuge in the kitchen when Leonidas had walked in ‘Sorry, I can’t stand that Pallis guy,’ Tilda confided flatly ‘I once dated a friend of his and, because I worked as a waitress, Leonidas treatedtart’

Maribel had found that indifference to Leonidas’ status, spectacular good looks and wealth extremely attractive, and she and Tilda had become friends Since Tilda had married her prince, however, and settled into royal family life abroad, the touiltily aware that she was partially responsible for that, because the prospect of having to tell Tilda that Leonidas was her son’s father had seriously embarrassed her

‘Tilda!’ Maribel s her arrival She had paused only to see Mouse into his hidey-hole below the hall table—placed there for that purpose—and hand Elias over to the attentions of his nanny

Turquoise-blue eyes sparkling, the princess reet her ‘Maribel—it’s wonderful to see you again’

‘Oh,I quite forgot your royal status!’ Maribel grasped Tilda’s outstretched hands and gave them an affectionate squeeze

‘Don’t be silly That stuff is only for public occasions,’ Tilda scolded ‘Is…er…Leonidas here?’

Aware of the other woman’s tension, Maribel was quick to reassure her ‘No You’re safe Leonidas is still abroad’

Tilda gave her a guilty look of apology ‘Is it so obvious that I want to avoid hi!’