Page 35 of The Housekeeper's One-Night Baby
‘I see,’ she said slowly, but she didn’t, not really. Because they were weasel words. A double negative, or something like that. He wasn’t actually saying he wanted herinhis life, was he? Just that he didn’t want her out of it.
His mouth hardened as if he was disappointed by her understated response, and from his eyes glittered a strange, black light. ‘We could even get married, if that’s what you wanted,’ he added harshly.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ASLIZZIEFROZEwith what looked like genuine horror, Niccolò found himself thinking it wasn’t a particularly complimentary way to respond to a proposal he had spent his life vowing he was never going to make.
‘Run that one past me again,’ she said tightly.
‘My lawyers think it would be a good idea. To get married.’
‘Your lawyers think it would be a good idea to get married?’
‘Is it really necessary to keep repeating everything I say?’
‘I think it is. Just to check I haven’t slipped into some parallel universe. Because this is surreal, Niccolò. In fact, it’s beyond surreal.’
‘But why?’ he demanded. ‘Isn’t this what people used to do in the old days? They honoured their responsibilities, as I am prepared to honour mine. As my wife, you will be afforded status, income and security.’ He paused. ‘And, of course, inheritance would be a much tidier issue for this baby, if he or she is my legal heir.’
Niccolò waited for the inevitable rush into his arms, the tears mingled with shouts of laughter as she accepted his proposal. But the face she presented to him was not the one he had expected to see. It was a militant face. Her eyes were flashing green fire and her colour had become heightened so that two bright spots burned at the centre of her cheeks.
‘Thisbaby? Is that all you can say? All you caneversay!’ she declared, flicking back a lock of pale red hair with an angry hand. ‘When are you going to start thinking aboutthis babyas a person, Niccolò, rather than a thing—or is that too big a stretch?’
He flinched. ‘That isn’t fair.’
‘Isn’t it? Think about it. Not once—notonce—have you asked me whether it’s a boy or a girl.’
His voice was quiet. ‘Do you know?’
Her voice was equally quiet. ‘Yes, I know.’
His body tensed. ‘Tell me.’ His eyes met hers. ‘Please.’
‘It’s a son,’ she said, at last, her jaw working. ‘You’re having a son, Niccolò.’
Niccolò felt his heart clench. ‘A boy,’ he said hoarsely.
‘A boy,’ she agreed, her eyes scanning his face as if searching for clues. ‘I call him Freddy.’
‘Freddy,’ he echoed as an unexpectedly powerful rush of emotion flooded through him and Niccolò couldn’t work out whether it was relief, or sorrow. Or both. He knew he owed her some reaction to what she had just told him, but he couldn’t give one. He felt weighted to the place where he stood, as if he were made of marble instead of flesh. As if this were happening to someone else, not him.
‘I guess you must feel as if you’ve hit the jackpot,’ she continued quietly.
He stared at her uncomprehendingly. ‘What are you talking about?’
She shrugged. ‘Isn’t marriage just a way of securing your legal heir? Of getting what you want.’
‘You think this is all aboutme?’ He shook his head, hurt and angered by her assumption. ‘I just want to do my best for you and the child. I am prepared to have you inherit the majority of my estate on any terms you like, and marriage makes that a whole lot easier. You must believe that, Lizzie.’
But she shook her head as she walked away from him, as if she needed a safe distance from which to glare at him.
‘Money, money, money, that’s all you seem to care about,’ she declared, beginning to pace up and down the ornate reception room. ‘You’re going to be a father—yet not once have you mentioned your own father. Why not?’
Niccolò swallowed, the heavy weight of pain turning his heart into a lump of stone. ‘You know more about me than anyone else. Yet still you want more. Because this is what women do,’ he said bitterly. ‘They grasp and grasp and are never satisfied. Well, you’ve had as much from me as I’m prepared to give, Lizzie. This is the man I am. You’ve heard what my offer is. Take it or leave it. So...’ He raised his brows. ‘What’s it to be?’
A long silence followed as he waited for her inevitable capitulation, knowing he mustn’t appear smug or triumphant.
‘Actually... I’ll leave it.’ She sucked in an unsteady breath and stared at him. ‘I don’t want to bring my child...our child...up in that kind of way. In a cold, empty marriage where certain subjects are off-limits just because you say so.’
