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‘Choose your moment to speak to him about how unhappy you are over the treatment of your family My word, do I have to paint pictures for you? Have you any idea whatto be like when I don’t have a penny to call my own? When I’ gigolo?’ But Gwenna was both taken aback and diselo Riccardi to offer the older man a better price for his properties She was very pale ‘Look, I’ht that far ahead yet All I’ve been thinking about is keeping you out of prison’ Donald Haross lack of tact ‘I think that risk has been safely laid to rest now and life does go on,’ he declared ‘It is going to be very difficult for me to find another job’ ‘Yes, I suppose it will be But how are you expecting elo Riccardi?’ Gwenna asked apprehensively

Her father gri as you have Riccardi’s interest the world will be your oyster Ideally I would like ered by that announcement ‘Your old job?’ ‘Yes’ Impervious to her incredulity, Donald Haers And help ain’ Gwenna sed hard ‘I honestly don’t think that I could do anything to help you to get your old job back’ ‘Well, if not it, so of equivalent status elsewhere Why so shocked?’ he queried with dissatisfaction ‘It would be no big deal to Riccardi to do one little favour for you’ For once, Gwenna found it a relief to be joined by Eva and her stepsisters She did not kno to tell her father that she did not have the influence he iined, but she did feel that his expectations were unrealistic At the same time, she strove to make allowances for his state of mind He was under enormous pressure and the troubled state of his relationship with his as not helping

‘Nice to see that you’re still running round in your dreary old Barbour and jeans like Little Miss Ordinary’ Penelope treated Gwenna to a sour appraisal

‘When does Angelo Riccardi wave his ic wand and turn you into a sex kitten? Or does ht turn Angelo Riccardi on Ever since that startling kiss, she had blanked hie such a physical response from her had been deeply unwelcome Indeed she was mortified to her core to appreciate that she was not ie But, equally, forewarned was forearain

‘You lucky, lucky cow,’ Wanda groaned with unhidden envy ‘When I think of the effort I o out looking like a dog’s dinner and still pull a billionaire’ ‘It won’t last five minutes,’ her step distaste that raised goose burin beloenna’s skin

‘These things never do’ ‘I’d better go I’ve got orders to take to the post office,’ Gwenna muttered, keen to azes fixed to her Her stepmother’s contempt bit deepest of all

‘Don’t forget what I’ taken the unusual step of accohter to the door

‘Of course, I won’t’ Gwenna was touched by the affectionate hug he gave her

‘See if you can work out so on my behalf with Riccardi’ Gwenna drove slowly back to the nursery in the van There was nothing ht unhappily He was going to have to deal with the fact that his life was never going to be the sa out her tension Reasoning was a challenge when she felt as though the shock of recent events had set up a barrier between her and her wits She was still struggling to accept that, in the space of ten days, her whole life had fallen down round her like a house of cards and with it the future that she had taken for granted The village where she had lived froer be her horown up and happily worked whenever she had a moment free The business she had laboured so hard to build would pass on to a stranger and ins at the nursery were low and, with Joyce onalone