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she could not—would not break down in front of Raf Di Salis, of all people.
    I hate him, she thought childishly. I hate him for being here. For—knowing how I must feel, because he might just pity me,
    and that would be unbearable.
    But when Simon eventually did return, he had no wife with him, tycoon’s daughter or not. It was Emily herself who had
    been married for over two years. And she was hesitant at first when Simon rang and asked if he could see her.
    ‘Nothing heavy, Em,’ he persuaded. ‘Just a chat about old times over a drink.’ He paused. ‘Unless your husband would
    object.’
    She said curtly, ‘He’s not here to express an opinion,’ and the die was cast.
    Simon had been frank about his engagement, which had been broken after only a few months.
    ‘It was never right with Rebecca,’ he said. ‘And I always knew it. Her father encouraged me because her previous fiance
    had a cocaine habit, and I seemed marginally more acceptable.
    ‘Plus it had also been made clear to me that your father had very different plans for you. That, all along, he intended you
    for his aristocratic Italian financier and I had no chance. By asking Rebecca to marry me, I was trying to prove to myself
    that I didn’t care. That I’d moved on. And when I heard you’d actually married Rafaele Di Salis, I felt almost justified.’
    He shook his head. ‘But it was hopeless, because I knew in my heart that nothing would ever change the way I felt about
    you.’
    He shot her a keen glance. ‘People in the village say that he’s hardly ever around. That you rarely see him.’
    ‘No,’ she said. ‘Apart from the gossip columns and the pictures in glossy magazines.’
    He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. ‘Doesn’t that hurt you’
    She shrugged. ‘No, why should it I didn’t marry for love and, as soon as I’m twenty one, the trust will end and I can get
    a divorce.’
    He was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. ‘My God, Em.’ His voice was barely a whisper as his hand closed
    round hers. ‘Are you saying you’re going to be free quite soon—and that you and I might get a second chance’
    She disengaged herself gently. ‘I can’t possibly say that. It’s far too soon and too much has happened.’
    He said quietly, ‘I want you back, darling. I should have stayed and fought for you, but I had so little to offer. But now I’ll
    move heaven and earth to get you back, so be warned.’
    And now he has me back, Emily told herself. And we can consign the last three years to well-deserved oblivion, and—be
    happy.
    Starting now, she thought, as she heard the chime of the front doorbell. She uncoiled herself from the chair, smiling in
    anticipation as she walked across the room and out into the hall, where Mrs Penistone was admitting the newcomer.
    ‘Simon, how nice.’ She offered her cheek for his kiss, aware of the housekeeper’s faint disapproval. In the older
    woman’s eyes, Emily was still a married woman even if her marriage had never been conducted on conventional lines.
    ‘Penny, we’ll have lunch in half an hour.’
    ‘Yes, madam,’ was the dour reply as Mrs Penistone retreated.
    Simon followed Emily into the drawing room and closed the door behind them.
    ‘Darling,’ he said fervently and took her in his arms, kissing her passionately. As he raised his head at last, he smiled
    down at her. ‘All intruders dealt with’ he asked breathlessly. ‘The divorce papers safely signed’
    Emily freed herself gently and moved to one of the sofas. ‘Not—exactly.’
    ‘But surely they brought them’ Simon seated himself beside her.
    ‘Probably. I didn’t ask.’ She hesitated. ‘You see, I’ve decided against a divorce.’
    ‘What’ The word seemed to explode into the air. ‘What the hell are you talking about Are you saying you’ve changed
    your mind about marrying me’
    There was a sharpness bordering on anger in his voice that she’d never heard before.
    ‘Of course