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not.’ She stroked his cheek with a placatory hand. ‘It’s nothing like that. It just occurred to me that it would
    be much quicker and simpler if I got an annulment. So I opted for that instead.’
    Simon drew a deep, unsteady breath. ‘And you told them this You—actually said it to your husband’s lawyers’
    ‘Naturally.’ Emily paused. ‘I can’t say they were best pleased, but I convinced them I was in earnest and they’ve now
    gone off to break the news to their lord and master.’
    There was a silence, then Simon said hoarsely, ‘Have you gone mad Are you completely off your bloody head You’ve
    sent a message to a man like Raf Di Salis that you want rid of him on the grounds of non-consummation’ His voice rose.
    ‘Tell me this is a joke—please.’
    Emily’s brows snapped together. ‘I couldn’t be more serious. It’s a far more honest way of ending this travesty than a
    divorce—especially the no-fault variety Raf is pushing for.’ She lifted her chin. ‘He should think himself lucky. After all, I
    could be citing all the women that hehas slept with since our marriage.’
    ‘Well, you certainly didn’t want him, so why the hell should you care how he spends his nights’ Simon got to his feet and
    began to pace the room restlessly, his face like thunder. ‘For God’s sake, Em, call the lawyers back. Tell them you’ve
    had second thoughts, before it’s too late, and that you’ll sign anything they want.’
    ‘Why should I’
    He said bluntly, ‘Because when Di Salis hears you’re asking for an annulment, it will be like a red rag to a bull. And you
    don’t want him angry, Em. Really you don’t.’
    For a moment Emily remembered Signor Mazzini’s warning about throwing down the gauntlet and felt chilled. But she
    rallied, saying with an assumption of lightness. ‘Poor Simon. What on earth did he do three years ago to scare you so’
    He flushed angrily. ‘He didn’t do anything, in the way you mean. He didn’t even say much—because he didn’t have to.
    It’s just—the way he is. Maybe you haven’t seen the ruthless side of him, Em’, he added. ‘But it’s there, just below the
    surface. And I wouldn’t deliberately upset him any more than I’d poke a sleeping tiger with a stick.’
    ‘But why should he be upset’ Emily shrugged. ‘He certainly doesn’t want me either, so why the hell should he care how
    the marriage ends, just as long as it does’
    ‘Because I don’t think it’ll be that simple. Not with him.’ Simon paused. ‘God—you didn’t mention me in all this, did
    you’
    Emily’s frown deepened at the anxiety in his voice. ‘Not by name, but I made it clear I planned to remarry. I’m not
    ashamed of that. Or of you, for that matter.’ She took a deep breath. ‘And I also think it’s time that Count Di Salis
    realised he can’t always have his own way.’
    She paused. ‘And now let’s have a drink. I asked Penny to put some champagne on ice to celebrate the morning’s
    achievements, but maybe you’d prefer a large Scotch instead.’
    ‘Make it a treble,’ Simon said moodily. ‘And have one yourself. Because I’m telling you now, Em, before this business is
    finished you’re going to need it.’
    CHAPTER THREE
    ‘IWON’T see him,’ Emily said stormily. ‘Iwill not .’
    ‘And just how,’ Simon asked, ‘do you plan to avoid him’
    ‘I don’t know. But I’ll find some way.’ She looked at the piece of paper crumpled in her hand. ‘As soon as I received his
    letter I wrote back, making it perfectly clear that I wouldn’t meet him under any circumstances. That any discussion must
    be conducted only through our lawyers.’
    ‘Hell’s bells.’ Simon sounded startled. ‘Surely you don’t expect old Henshaw to handle this kind of thing It would be the
    death of him.’
    ‘Of course not,’ Emily returned irritably. ‘He’s Raf’s cotrustee, for heaven’s sake. Thinks the sun shines out of him. No, I
    was planning to