Page 28 of The Italian's Marriage Bargain

‘Can I at least say that you’ll be meeting us for coffee? Perhaps we could…’ Anna began, but her voice trailed off as Luca let out an acid hiss.

‘When I know what is wrong with Felice,’ he snapped, ‘then I will decide. Engage the red light on your way out!’

Anna didn’t slam the door exactly, but at the way she tossed her hair and marched across the room Felicity found she was bracing herself for a bang.

The tension in the air lifted once they were alone.

‘Engage the red light?’ A smile dusted her pale lips. ‘What on earth does that mean?’

‘That I do not want to be disturbed,’ he explained. ‘Which I don’t.’

Struggling to sit up, Felicity took a couple of steadying breaths, realising with relief that the room had finally stopped moving. ‘It’s not quite your standard office, is it?’ she said dryly, taking in her surroundings. ‘Was the four-poster bed an optional extra?’

‘Felice…’ Luca sighed. ‘Until I married you I practically lived here. You could hardly expect me to sleep at my desk.’

‘I guess not,’ she mumbled, realising how churlish she must sound, but it wasn’t the grandeur of the surroundings that was eating at her now. Anna had followed them into this bedroom without a moment’s hesitation, and it irked Felicity, but, pushing her misgivings to one side, she forced a smile. ‘I’m feeling a lot better, Luca. If you need to meet with these people I’ll be fine. I’m just going to lie here and do some reading.’

‘I’m not meeting with anyone, andyouare not going to be reading,’ Luca said tartly. ‘You are not even going to open those books of yours. First you will lie here and rest awhile, and then if you do feel better you will take a gentle walk, get some fresh air. Is there anything I can get you?’

Felicity shook her head. ‘You get on with your work. I’m just going to lie here.’

‘No studying,’ Luca warned. ‘I’ll pull the curtains and let you sleep. In fact, I’m going to keep your books and computer at my desk to make sure that you rest.’ After pulling the curtains he fussed a couple of moments more, tucking a rug around her and collecting her bags.

‘I’m sorry, Luca,’ she mumbled as he headed for the door, her eyes heavy with sleep but not wanting him to go.

‘For what?

‘Being sick like that. Ruining our day.’

‘Who said it was ruined?’ he asked softly. ‘It’s just nice having you here. And don’t worry about being sick, I’m used to it; Bonita, my secretary, is expecting, and she takes dictation with her head between her knees at the moment, whipping out little plastic bags at the most inopportune times. Still, at least that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.’

Shutting the door, he left her frowning into the darkness.

Frowning into the darkness and praying it wasn’t so.

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘YOUlook better!’ Smiling as she tentatively pushed open the bedroom door, Luca clicked off his Dictaphone and came around the desk to join her.

‘I feel better,’ Felicity said brightly, and she was speaking the truth. An hour lying in the dark had done wonders, and after a quick freshen-up in the bathroom she was desperate to get out and do some exploring. ‘In fact so much so I think I’m going to take your advice and get a bit of fresh air.’

‘Good idea.’ Pulling out his wallet, he selected a credit card. ‘I would love to come, but I really do have to meet with these people. Just for a short while,’ he added quickly. ‘You could do a bit of shopping while I am tied up. I could arrange for someone to go with you.’

‘Someone to go with me?’ Felicity asked, bewildered.

‘Katrina can take you to the shops on the Via Condotti. All the best fashion houses are there, but they won’t know your face yet, and without an appointment they can make things difficult. Katrina can deal with all that. She will introduce you to them, let them know you are my wife; she can help you plan your wardrobe.’

‘But I’vegota wardrobe,’ Felicity replied indignantly. ‘Are you not happy with the way I dress, Luca? Are you trying to tell me that I embarrass you?’

‘Of course not,’ he answered, irritated. ‘But you have just come from an Australian summer to an Italian winter, and I don’t recall too many woollen coats hanging in the wardrobe, or boots or gloves. Take it,’ he urged, pressing the gold card into her hand. ‘What is it that women say? Go and “shop till you drop”.’

‘Shop till I droop, more likely.’ Felicity sighed. ‘Look, Luca, the last thing I feel like doing now is shopping, and when—if—I decide that a new coat or new boots are in order I’ll buy them myself, thank you. I certainly don’t need some wardrobe consultant telling me what colours suit me best; I worked that out long ago.’

‘Why do you always have to be so stubborn?’ Luca admonished. ‘You are the only woman I can think of who could start a row because I tell her to go clothes-shopping! Most women—’

‘I’m not most women,’ Felicity broke in, popping the card into his top pocket and dousing his anger with a bright smile. ‘But thank you for the offer.’

‘I suppose you’re going to insist on paying half for lunch,’ he said broodingly, which only made her smile wider.

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