page32 (1/2)

'But e met you had achieved that success Marco’ Emily forced herself to remind him

‘Yes but I had also grown used to the freedo myself as plain Marco Fierezza It seemed to me then that there was no need for me to live any other way—at least not for many years My father was still alive and he would have succeeded‘I had no expectation of beco until I was much older’

‘Maybe not But you would surely have to marry appropriately and produce a son to who out quietly

Marco inclined his head ‘Yes at soe One of the archaic rules that surround the Royal House of Niroli is that the king cannot e of finding such a paragon in today's world is such that I was more than happy to remain unmarried until necessity directed otherwise’

E tears Marco obviously had no idea just how hurtful his casual words were It could never have occurred to hiht love and want to co her how indifferent he was to her Emily told herself, but somehow she felt too sick at heart to do it

‘Look’ Marco told her crisply ‘I don't have much time, and since you obviously need to eat Why don't we discuss this over an early dinner?'

Emily shuddered and shook her head in instant denial, her reactionnever needed to worry about what she ate But now the fact that she had not been eating properly was plain to see in the sharp angles of her cheek-bones and her jaw

‘Je after yourself properly' Marco announced firue with you I'veback to Niroli with me'

Was this giddy, soaring feeling inside her really because she was so weak that she was glad that Marco had made up her mind for her? She was an independent wo Victorian heroine She tried to wrench back so

‘I can’t do that Marco For one thing, there's the business—‘

‘Of course you can Es here’ Jemma piped up from the threshold of the storeroom With Niroli's back to her she mouthed to E to both of the on and she had to catch the post with some invoices

Emily and Marco were alone in the shop now and she wished violently that she were not so all-consuly aware of him

‘You can’t take me back with you Marco It wouldn't work We were lovers—‘