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‘Did you truly not see it?’ he asked, looking down at her with disbelief in his eyes

‘How could I? How could I think such a miracle would happen to me?’ There onder in her voice

He sda You and Benji You crept into my heart, the pair of you, day by day, and now you are there for ever My love for you was in ed ‘Lucia saw it that day in Firenze—saw that ere in love with each other And she knew she had found a way of revenging herself for my rejection of her She determined to part us So she caot the truth out of her, spitting and snarling though she was by the tied it Lies, every word of it’

‘But…but the cheque? She gave me a cheque from you…’

A growl rasped frohyou out She kneould convince you that I indeed wanted you to leave Italy right away’ His face shadowed ‘How could you believe her lies, cara?’

‘She played on ly

His mouth thinned ‘Just as she played on randchild andto manipulate us all Well—’ his voice hardened ‘—that is over now I have warned her that if she ever tries to es for fraud But,’ he went on, his voice softening, ‘that cheque did giveyou at last’

Magda stared, not understanding He gave her a wry sery, cara My bank informed me the moment it was presented for payment, and at which bank That’s how I traced you’ His voice changed again ‘You do not knohat I have been through—every day has been an eternity without you’

He pressed her hands so tightly that the pressure should have hurt But she could feel no pain Only a happiness so deep, so absolute that it consu How could fairytales come true?

She looked at him, and all the love she had for him blazed from her eyes

He kissed her again, in sweet possession, and she folded against hi her so close she could feel his heart beating next to hers, one last doubt assailed her

‘Rafaello?’ She lifted her face, eyes troubled

He smoothed her hair ‘Si?’

‘Your father—?’