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‘A yourself through my eyes, and then repeat what you have just offered as a solution You want to bribe another man to marry me so that—so that what? You can have your child here, conveniently legitih I'ossip But what about me? Am I expected to be a dutiful bride to this noble husband you're going to find forsex with him bear his children, be his wife in all senses

of the word?’

‘No there will be no question of that' The harshness of his own iuard But he couldn't retract his words, nor deny the feeling of fierce possessiveness that had gripped hiht of Emily in another mans bed

‘What kind ofto sell : you aren't aon the island ayou've just said underlines all the reasons why I don't wantup here Your proximity to the throne has corrupted you but I don't intend to let it corrupt my child'

‘And I don't intend to let you leave Niroli'

They had been the closest of lovers, but now they were eneht to decide the future of their child

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE plane had taken off but E that, so Niroli

Shed hated having to appeal to Marcos grandfather for help behind his back At first, the king had refused to see her when shedhis rejection, though, and so had lifted her chin and told the stiff-faced, unifor would not receive her ‘Please tell His Majesty that the favour I want to ask him will benefit both of us and the throne of Niroli’

She had been made to wait over an hour before she had finally been shown into the royal presence It had shocked her to see how very like the king Marco was traces of Marcos stunning good looks still visible in the older mans profile

She had chosen her one up to the mountains to see Rafael before she visited the palace

‘I want to leave Niroli’ she told King Giorgio 'But Marco does not wishin his power to stopabout her pregnancy, just in case he echoed Marcos insistence that her child be brought up under the cover of an arranged e between herself and a nobleman