His Revenge Seduction: The Mélendez Forgotten Marriage / The Konstantos Marriage Demand / For Revenge or Redemption?. Kate Walker

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       Chapter Six

      IZABELLA had arranged to join some friends in Valencia the following day before she flew back to Paris so Emelia was left to her own devices. After a shower and breakfast, she wandered out into the gardens, stopping every now and again to pick a rose until, after half an hour, her arms were nearly full. She went back to the villa and laid them down on one of the large kitchen benches, breathing in the delicate fragrance as she searched for some vases.

      Aldana appeared just as Emelia was carrying a vase full of blooms into la sala. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked, frowning formidably.

      ‘I picked some roses,’ Emelia said. ‘I thought they would look nice in some of the rooms to brighten them up a bit. I hope you don’t mind.’

      Aldana took the vase out of Emelia’s grasp. ‘Señor Mélendez does not like roses in the house,’ she said in a clipped tone.

      Emelia felt her shoulders slump. ‘Oh…sorry, I didn’t realise…’

      The housekeeper shot her another hateful glare as she carried the roses out of the room. The look seemed to suggest that, in Aldana’s opinion, Emelia had never known her husband’s likes and dislikes like a proper loving wife should do.

      Emelia let out a sigh once she was alone. There was a baby grand piano at one end of la sala, positioned out of the direct sunlight from the windows. She went over to it and sat down and after a moment she opened the lid and ran her fingers over the keys, trying to remember what song she had played the night she had met Javier, but it was like trying to play a new piece without the musical score. She played several pieces, hoping that one would unlock her mind, but none did. She closed the lid in frustration and left the room to make her way down to the stables.

      Pedro had Callida saddled for her when she arrived but he looked disgruntled. ‘Señor Mélendez will not be happy about this,’ he said. ‘He told all the staff to watch out for you, to make sure you do not come to any harm while he is away.’

      ‘Señor Mélendez is several thousand kilometres away,’ Emelia said as she swung up into the saddle. ‘While the cat’s away this little mouse is going to do what she wants.’

      Pedro stepped back from the horse with a disapproving frown. ‘He sometimes comes back early from his trips abroad,’ he said. ‘He expects his staff to act the same whether he is here or not. He trusts us.’

      But not me, Emelia thought resentfully as she rode off. No doubt he had only put his staff on watch over her to see that she didn’t stray too far from the boundaries of the villa. His solicitous care had nothing to do with any deep feelings on his part. He wanted to keep her a virtual prisoner until the press interest died down. After that, who knew what he planned to do? All she knew was his plans would probably not include her being in his life for the long term.

      As enjoyable as the ride was, it didn’t unearth any clues to her past. She came back to the stables an hour and a half later, fighting off a weighty despondency. The olive grove today had simply been an olive grove. No further memories surfaced. Nothing struck a chord of familiarity.

      Disappointment and frustration continued to sour her mood as she walked back to the villa through the gardens. She felt hot and sticky so when she came across a secluded section of the garden where an infinity pool was situated, she decided to take advantage of the sparkling blue water and the warmth of the afternoon.

      Rummaging through the walk-in wardrobe in search of swimwear was another revelation to her. Naturally modest, she found it hard to believe she wore any of the skimpy bikinis she found in one of the drawers. There were pink ones and red ones and yellow ones and ones with polka dots, a black one with silver diamantés and a white one with gold circles in between the triangles of fabric that would barely cover her breasts, let alone her lower body. In the end she chose the red one as it was the least revealing, although once she had it on and checked her appearance in the full length mirrors she was glad Javier was not expected home. She might as well have been naked.

      The water was warmed by the sun but still refreshing enough to make Emelia swim length after length without exhaustion. She wondered how many times she had done this, stroking her way through the water, perhaps with Javier swimming alongside her, or his long legs tangling with hers as he kissed or caressed her. In spite of the warmth of the pool and the sun, Emelia felt her skin lift in little goosebumps the more she let her mind wander about what had occurred in the past.

      As she surfaced at the end of the pool she saw a long pair of trouser-clad legs, the large male feet encased in expensive-looking leather shoes. Her heart gave a stopstart as her eyes moved upwards to meet the coal-black gaze of Javier.

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