Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2. Kate Hardy

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      ‘George told them the next person to step inside was the one who’d help him sort out the next gelding, with no an-aesthetic—and he’d be standing between the stallion’s back legs, holding the relevant bits.’

      Despite his anger, Dragan couldn’t help smiling back at her. ‘George has quite a way with words.’ Not to mention that he was the same height as Dragan and much broader in the shoulders—if he drew himself up to his full height he could look very intimidating. ‘Maybe I should take a leaf out of his book. I could borrow an epidural kit from Kate and threaten them with the syringe.’

      ‘Ah, but then they’d have your picture all over the front page, captioned “Doctor Doom” or something like that,’ Rachel said.

      ‘Which might be marginally better than Dr Love-ak.’ He grimaced. ‘Thanks, Rachel.’

      He went through the back of the surgery to the lobby, which also contained the door to Melinda’s flat, and knocked on the door.

      When she answered, he could see how pale and unhappy she looked—and although his first instinct was to wrap her in his arms and hold her close and tell her everything would be all right, he held back.

      Because he was extremely angry with her. For keeping this from him. For letting him find out something important through the press yet again. What else had she kept from him? All the secrets and lies…He didn’t want a life based on that, and he was beginning to realise that that was exactly what he’d get with Melinda. A life of subterfuge. Of keeping the stiff upper lip she’d once teased him of developing. And he really, really didn’t want that. He didn’t want their love for each other chipped away until he began to resent her and she started to despise him.

      Without comment, Melinda stood aside and beckoned him in. She closed the door and followed him up the stairs.

      Ah, hell.

      Last time he’d been in this flat with her, he’d made love with her. Had that been the night they’d made the baby?

      He clenched his fists. Why had it all had to go so wrong? Why did life have to be so bloody complicated?

      ‘So when were you going to tell me?’ he asked.

      ‘I only found out myself on Saturday afternoon.’

      ‘You saw me last night. Why didn’t you tell me then?’

      ‘Because I don’t know how pregnant I am. I wanted to wait until I knew the due date.’

      He shook his head. ‘I don’t understand. No more secrets, you said. So how come the press knew?’

      ‘I have no ide—’ Her voice faded, and he could see the worry on her face.

      ‘What?’ he asked suspiciously.

      ‘Chloe wouldn’t have said a word. So they must have gone through my bin and found the test kit or the packaging. Dio. I can’t believe I was so stupid. What was I thinking?’

      It took a moment for her comment to penetrate his brain. ‘Hang on. Chloe knows? You told Chloe before you told me?’

      ‘I needed professional advice,’ Melinda defended herself. ‘And apart from being a midwife, she’s one of my best friends.’

      ‘Don’t you think that the baby’s father should have been the first to know?’

      ‘What was I supposed to tell you? I’m pregnant but I have no idea how pregnant?’

      ‘I’m a GP, for pity’s sake.’ He stared at her. ‘Don’t you think I could’ve helped you?’

      ‘I’m not your patient—and it’s not ethical for you to treat me.’

      ‘You’re pulling me up on ethics?’

      ‘I didn’t mean it like that! I’m sorry.’ She raked a hand through her hair. ‘Look, I needed time to get used to the idea before I told you.’

      Being pregnant was a huge life change, and of course she needed time to get used to the idea. And if she hadn’t been Princess Melinda, it wouldn’t have mattered. She would have had that time, and it wouldn’t have been spread all over the press before she was ready to talk to him.

      Though he was still hurt that she’d told Chloe first. And there was the issue with the scan: she was pregnant with their baby, and she hadn’t asked him to go to the dating scan with her, as any normal man would want to do. It felt as if she’d pushed him out—that they were making a new family between them and she’d cut him off before he had a chance to be part of it.

      ‘So what are you planning to do? About the baby, I mean?’ When she didn’t answer immediately, he continued, ‘That is, I assume there really is a baby? It’s not just a way of forcing your parents’ hand?’

      He regretted the question the second he’d asked it, because her face lost all colour.

      ‘I can’t believe you just said that.’ Her voice was a cracked whisper.

      ‘There have been so many secrets and lies flying about, I don’t know what’s true and what’s not any more.’

      She swallowed hard. ‘I’m pregnant, Dragan. I did the test twice. Just to be sure. But I don’t know when the baby’s due—Chloe thinks I might be as much as three months already.’ A muscle twitched in the side of her cheek. ‘She’s got me an ultrasound appointment for next week. She’s coming with me.’

      ‘It didn’t occur to you that I might want to go with you?’

      ‘For pity’s sake, Dragan. You’ve kept me practically at arm’s length since I came back from Contarini. I didn’t know what to think, how you’d react. We never talked about having kids—I don’t know whether being a dad is going to bring back all the memories of your family and make you unhappy, or whether you’re pleased, or what.’

      ‘So you’re blaming me?’

      ‘No, of course I’m not! I’m trying to work out what’s in your head, and failing miserably.’ She groaned. ‘This is all going hideously, hideously wrong.’

      ‘It’s not very nice from this side of the fence either.’

      ‘No? Well, you try being pregnant and completely on your own.’ She glared at him. ‘Not only does my baby’s father doubt every single word I say, my family have disowned me.’

      He remembered what she’d said about being an exprincess. ‘What do you mean, they’ve disowned you?’

      ‘My mother saw the papers this morning. So that’s how I found out the press knew. She rang me when I was in the shower. And as from this morning I’m no longer part of the Contarini royal family,’ she said dryly.

      ‘I suppose that solves one of your problems, then. If you’re no longer Princess Melinda, they can’t make you rule Contarini.’

      She stared at him. ‘Are you suggesting I did this deliberately?’

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