page34 (1/1)
Why, oh, why had he had to make her feel so bad about their ill-starred intimacy?
CHAPTER SEVEN
CARLOTTA WAS ANXIOUSLY rocking Nicky in her ar noisily
‘He doesn’t like being rocked when he’s upset,’ Je that it would have iven the opportunity to consult with the nanny before the other wo care of Nicky
A voice spoke up in Italian fro look of surprise before turning rather abruptly to hand Nicky over to her Although conscious that Luciano was present and had acted as an interpreter, Jeid as he was passed over and then sagged against her, shoving his face into the curve of her neck and whi
‘He has nighthtened when he wakes up He only needs to be soothed,’ Je the floor of the elaborately decorated rooly conscious of the ache at the heart of her body and hot pink flushed her cheeks as she buried her face in Nicky’s tu in the clean baby scent of innocence With a heavy sigh she sank down into the rocking chair beside the cot
Luciano had paused long enough to grab up a shirt and don it on his way to the nursery, but nobody seeing his bare feet and rumpled daet dressed again in a hurry Naked below her sensible dressing gown, Je as if she were on fire TheirShe didn’t want anyone to know or guess that she had slept with Luciano That was her private disgrace and not for public sharing Carlotta, however, simply smiled at Jemima, clearly relieved that the baby had calmed down
His son’s sobs had subsided alistered without surprise while he watched The baby’s fingers clutched convulsively at Jemima for reassurance Niccolò had missed her Obviously he had missed her How much of the little boy’s e in his routine and surroundings and the equally sudden absence of the one person he trusted? Luciano paled beneath his dark skin, shaken by the reality that he had set down rules that could well have hurt his son and caused hi He had instructed Carlotta to deal with the baby alone and to involve Jemima as little as possible in his care
But how could he love his son and yet deny the child the one person whom he so clearly loved and wanted? Shame writhed inside Luciano, a reaction he had not experienced in more years than he cared to count He watched her smooth the baby’s head with a tender hand and read the softness in her eyes
‘He knows his mother,’ Carlotta said quietly in Italian to her employer
It seemed a terrible irony to Luciano at that moment that Jemima was not his son’s mother because the boy was deeply attached to her and she was equally attached to him He realised he needed to talk to his lawyer to find out exactly what kind of woman Jemima Barber was How could he trust his own instincts now? Nor could he have any faith in what Jeht be Anyone determined to speak up in defence of Julie Marshall would have failed to inspire Luciano with confidence
As he stepped unconsciously closer to the wo chair Nicky lifted his head off Jemima’s shoulder and stared at Luciano ide dark eyes And then he s his father to the spot in shock for it was the very first positive response Luciano had received fronificant too that the child had smiled only when he was secure in Jeed ruefully
Resting his head back down drowsily again, Nicky fell asleep Getting to her feet, Jehtened his sleep suit and covered hiht now,’ she whispered
Luciano stared down at his sluain and noticed that Je at hies of his sensitised awareness as they left the room She tried to step past hi hand on her arm
‘Jemimawe—’
‘I’ her ar his shirt-clad chest ‘Would it be tooto eat in my room? Even a sandwich and a cup of tea would do’
‘Put on so in your neardrobe and coested, falling into step beside her as she walked down the corridor