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The only way he could keep E her to the position of Royal Mistress, and to do that he would have to procure a suitably noble husband for her one who understood the way in which these things were done Whilst he kneould be able to find such a husband, he also knew that Ee and besidesBesides what? He didn't want her to have a husband

He had no tis of his o back to the villa—and Eo up to Rafael's village and deal with the situation there before it got any worse And what about his growing dependence on Eot worse?

‘Emily’

She tensed as she heard Marco call out her name as he came out into the sheltered inner courtyard, where she was seated in the shade, one hand lying protectively against her sto

It was early evening and she could hear the sharp edge of so unfamiliar in his voice What was it? Not tiredness or irritation, and certainly not anxiety, but so that made her heart ache for him above and beyond her own pain and fear for herself and their child Was it always going to be like this? Was she always going to have this instinctive need to give him the best of her love? How could she do so now?

‘I would have been back earlier’ Marco told her ‘but I had to go up to Rafael's village to put an end to soreat delight earlier'

‘What kind of trouble?' Emily asked anxiously

Marco sat down next to her She could smell the dusty heat of the day on him but under it she was as always, acutely conscious of the scent that was so sensually hi her with desire, it filled her with a coed her throat with tears—tears for their baby, ould never know and recognise his fathers scent, tears for herself because she would have to live without Marco But most of all tears for Marco himself, because he could never share with her the unique feeling that caether

Her child, their child, his first-born child The huge tremor of e her with a flood of love and pain in equal proportions She wanted this baby—his child—so very ht have been wholly unplanned, but if she could go back and change things she knew that she would not do so She was a modern woman, financially independent, with her own hoive to her baby A baby that would never know its fathers love, she re her to focus on what he was saying and to put her own thoughts to one side

‘Rafael had tried to stop the villagers using the generator’ he explained So Tomasso and some of his friends rebelled and hijacked it Then Rafael—withfools punished They were already antagonistic towards a way of life that traps them in the past and my

grandfather's old-fashioned determination to enforce a way of life on them to their detriment'

‘It can't be good that they feel so disenfranchised' Emily felt bound to comment

‘I know' Marco acknowledged If randfather was more reasonable I could discuss with hi way become so disaffected that ultimately it could result in civil unrest and even violence But the minute I tell him that, his reaction will be to have them imprisoned'

‘You need to find a way of getting theue with the addressed' Emily offered

‘My views exactly' Marco agreed I've told them that it's an issue I intend to take on board once I take over frorandfather and I've asked them to be patient until then But I also know that theto react against therandfather has drip-fed thee means that they will lose out in some way'

Emily listened sympathetically She could see how passionately Marco felt about the situation But she also sensed that the randfather Marco beca a mutually acceptable solution

‘I don't have to tell you that your grandfather is an old man' she replied It ot things wrong and they've gone too far or that the way the island is ruled needs to change You ht have to backtrack a little Marco, and find a way to offer hies Maybe you could handle them in such a way that he could feel they were his ideas—in public at least' She could see fro to take on board what she was saying It seerandfather were two very proud and stubborn ive in to the other