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E else in her life could ever be as poignant as this Marco had never, ever asked her for anything, neverherself into his arms and cover his face with passionately joyful kisses as she told hi she wanted more than to be with him But how could she?

‘Marco I'uished whisper, but Marco heard it releasing her abruptly and turning away from her She kne much it must have cost hiance and his pride, along with his background and upbringing, she could only marvel that he had

She got to her feet and said his na back to the car

‘Marco!' she protested Please listen to me'

He stopped walking and turned around She saw his chest lift as he breathed in sharply and the sadness that filled her was not just for herself, but for both of them She knehat she had to do, where her responsibility now lay but how could she walk away letting him think that she hadn't wanted to stay with him? She couldn't, she decided frantically Yes she had her baby to think of and yes she was afraid of Marcos reaction to the news that she was pregnant But she loved Marco, too and the knowledge that he wanted her enough to actually ask her to stay was too sweetly precious that she couldn't deny its tremendous effect on her

She still had to leave, nothing could change that, but she knew she couldn't go away fro him why it was so important that she went

She took a deep breath; this was theshe had ever had to do I don't want to leave you Marco But I have to You see I'nant'

‘What?’ Marco could feel her words exploding inside his skull as he battled with his own disbelief

‘I know you toldof our relationship that thereinto the tension of his complete silence, andand of course I understand nohy you said that The future King of Niroli's bastard isn't the title I want for our baby'

She gave a s ‘The truth is I don't want hi in all of this that I arateful for it’s that our son wont ever have to live the kind of controlled and confined life you will have to live What I want for hi else is the kind of personal freedoitirow up in a home filled with love, where what matters most is that he finds his own sense of where his life lies and how his talents should be used I don't want his future to be corrupted by wealth and position I don't want hi Marco I can't give hiht to define his own life, and to itimate children will inherit'

For a few seconds Marco was too taken aback by what she had said to speak Froht up to be aware of the treht that so he found hard to take in But he could see that Emily meant what she'd said Senses of isolation and aloneness of having lost soain, an awareness that so precious stabbed through him

With it ca boy longing passionately for the freedoles and his er He could also hear the echo of his own childishly piping voice stating defiantly ‘When I arown up and I can do what I want I won’t be a prince!’ But with a kick like an iron-tipped boot, slowly but surely his position and its claims on him had reshaped him He pictured two srubby and laughing as he played happily with his friends The other was sad-eyed and alone, held at a respectful distance by his peers, protected by privilege, or was he imprisoned by it?

What folly was this? Marco forced back thehis pride take over instead ‘You are being naive No one else will share your views E King of Niroli is about s’ he retaliated sharply It’s aboutthem to a better future Do you really think our son, ht?’