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She couldn’t look hi, so she went on Making herself continue Say the next thing she had to say

‘I’ve stopped the work on Greymont’

She said it in a rush, her eyes flying to hiave no indication that he had heard, only went on inspecting his cuff If she’d thought she saw a nerve work in his taut cheek she must have been mistaken

She took another breath

‘I’veI’ else has been halted As for what has already been done—the total suo on ‘I will do my best to repay you It will take time—a lot of time, because if I had been able to raise the capital myself I would have done so And if I realise all my capital, sell my stocks and shares, I’ll lose the income from them that I need forto find oing The h—fro over The place has to be heated in winter or daets in, and rot And I can’t throw the Hudsons out on to the street’

She was ra toat her

‘But I will repay you, Nikos However long it takes me’

He looked at her then Finally spoke ‘Yes, you will repay me, Diana, of that I am certain’

She paled There was so in his voice that felt like a blow Her lips were dry, but she made herself speak Tried to reach him

‘Nikos, I’ I blaht you wanted a e in name only—’

‘What I want, Diana—’ his voice cut across hers like a guillotine ‘—is for you to honour your agreement with me To make your repayment in the only way you can The only way I want you to’

The blood drained from her face and she see laugh E She was standing so close A single step would take him to her Crush her to him

But she was beyond him now Beyond him for ever

His expression changed Beca himself

‘It’s what you signed up for, Diana To be—what did you call yourself? Ah, yes My “society wife” At ant—the envy of other round, your absolute self-assurance in how to conduct yourself, whether in palaces or in stately ho a door for me into your upper-class world And that’s what you will do, Diana, my chaste and beautiful bride’