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PROLOGUE

‘SO, LET ME get this straight’ Pietro stared across his desk at the man he’d idolised for the better part of two decades ‘You’re actually asking that I hter—a woman thirteen years my junior, a woman I barely know And why, exactly, do you suppose I’ll say yes?’

Across froaze direct ‘Eent woestion?’

Pietro’s scepticis he wished to communicate to his friend Nor the belief he held that Emmeline was either painfully shy or vapid

‘I have no intention ofthe question ‘Ever’

‘Even better Marrying E love affair for you’

Pietro’s lips were a gash, scored across his face He spoke emphatically and with the kind of iron-like co scared ‘There will be no e’

Col s tone that Pietro’s business adversaries feared was inconsequential to Col

‘I love you, Pietro Like a son You and Emmeline are the most important people in my life I need you to marry her’

‘Why? Where has this co every flicker of the older man’s face

‘I’ve been thinking about it for a feeeks’

‘Why?’ Pietro pushed, certain now that he wasn’t seeing the full picture

Col exhaled slowly and his eyes dropped away froo to university She’s found a place in Ro But only so long as she marries you’

‘And she has agreed?’ Pietro snapped scathingly, his ined her life away on a dotted line increasing

‘It took soreed’ His eyes held a defiant glint in their depths ‘Eood girl’

A good girl? Pietro had to concentrate hard to stop hi Predictable Dull The description served only to reinforce his dihter

‘So?’ Pietro laughed, the sound rich with disbelief ‘I can keep an eye on your daughter withouther!’

‘Dary curse on his lips ‘That’s not enough’