Page 58 of Bought For The Marriage Bed

‘I—I don’t think it’s such a good idea.’

‘Why not?’

‘No one can take Andre’s place. He is her father even though he is no longer…here…I don’t want to confuse her with you.’

‘Cristo, Nina, I am doing everything a father would do. I am providing for her and protecting her. I do not see why she has to call me Uncle for the rest of her life when all I want is to be her father.’

‘You are not her father.’

‘Do you think I do not know that?’

She met his eyes briefly, trying to think of a reason to put him off. ‘I don’t trust you enough to let you take that step.’

He let out a sigh of exasperation. ‘I married you, did I not? That’s more than my brother did.’

‘You only did it out of a sense of duty.’

‘So what is wrong with that? Surely you were not expecting me to fall in love with you and promise you forever?’

Her eyes fell away from his. ‘No, of course not, but I can’t help thinking you have a hidden agenda. As soon as I let my guard slip you’re going to snatch Georgia away from me. You’ve threatened me with it numerous times.’

He let out another deep sigh. ‘I can understand your fears and I apologise for threatening you in such a way, but believe me, I had to ensure Georgia’s safety. I had heard so much about you and I did not trust you to look after her in the way she needs.’

‘What about now?’ she asked, returning her gaze to his. ‘Do you trust me now?’

He gave her a studied look before answering. ‘My earlier misgivings have been somewhat resolved. However, I would be happier if I were officially documented as Georgia’s father.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ she said, buying for time.

‘I suppose I will have to be satisfied with that for the time being, but I am warning you, Nina, I will not rest until I get what I want.’

Nina knew he meant every word. She saw it in the hard glitter of his eyes and the determined thrust of his chin. The only trouble was, she was in the way of him achieving his goal. He could never be Georgia’s legal father, not unless he was to become fully aware of her deception. The web of lies she’d spun was threatening to choke her, each tiny gossamer thread pulling painfully on her heart as she thought about losing not only Georgia but Marc as well.

‘There’s something else I wish to tell you,’ he said after a short tense silence. ‘I have a business dinner tonight in Positano. I can’t get out of it—there are people who wish to see me before I return to Sydney. I know it is short notice, but I would like you to come with me. Lucia will mind Georgia; I have already cleared it with her.’

Nina hesitated.

‘Have you got something else planned?’ he asked, his tone sharpening a fraction.

‘No. No, of course not.’

‘We will leave at seven. Wear something long; it is a formal affair.’

Lucia gave Nina an approving smile as she came down the stairs later that evening dressed in clinging black satin, her long hair twisted into a casual but stylish knot on top of her head, the escaping tendrils drifting over her cheeks giving her a softly sensual look.

‘Will I do?’ She twirled in front of the housekeeper.

‘He will not be able to resist you tonight, Nina,’ Lucia said.

Nina felt her cheeks heating and hastily covered her embarrassment by plucking at a tiny thread on her shoulder strap.

‘You of all people know why he married me, Lucia.’

‘Yes, but things have changed, have they not? You share his bed like a proper wife. That is good.’

Nina met the housekeeper’s dark eyes. ‘He doesn’t love me. He hates me for what…for what I did to his brother.’

‘But you didn’t do anything to his brother, did you, Nina?’ Lucia asked, her dark gaze never once leaving hers.

---