His Reluctant Bride. Sara Craven
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Название: His Reluctant Bride
Автор: Sara Craven
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon M&B
isbn: 9781474057660
isbn:
‘Is it really so hard to meet such goodwill halfway?’ he asked unsmilingly.
‘I think it exists for Charlie, not myself,’ she returned curtly. ‘I’m your wife by accident not design, and they must know that.’
He said drily, ‘In the eyes of most of my family, you are not yet my wife at all. I am being given embarrassingly broad hints that I should take you upstairs without further delay and rectify the matter.’
‘Oh, God.’ Polly pressed her hands to her burning cheeks.
‘I am truly sorry, cara mia.’ His voice was suddenly gentle. ‘I never meant you to be subjected to this. We had better face them.’
‘Very well.’ Ignoring his outstretched hand, she walked stiffly beside him towards the open windows of the salotto.
‘I can give you ten minutes’ privacy,’ he added quietly. ‘But no longer, or Zia Vittoria will be demanding to know why I am not with you, doing my duty by the next generation.’
Her throat muscles felt paralysed, but she managed a husky, ‘Thank you.’
In spite of her tacit resistance, Sandro slid an arm round her waist, holding her against his side, as they went into the brightness of the room and paused to meet the laughter and faint cheers that awaited them.
Then she felt his lips touch her hot cheek, as he whispered, ‘Go now, bella mia.’
The door seemed a million miles away, especially when she had to reach it through a sea of broad grins and openly voiced encouragement. She was aware that people were swarming after her into the hall, watching her walk up the stairs.
She glanced back once, and saw Sandro standing a little apart from them all. He was unsmiling, his eyes bleak, as he looked at her, raising the glass he was holding in a cynical toast. Then he drained the contents in one jerky movement, and went back into the salotto.
Leaving Polly to go on, feeling more alone than she had ever done in her life before.
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