Page 52 of Claiming His Baby At The Altar

‘Yes, he was so worried about losing my respect that he stole my money instead.’ He was pacing the floor, clearly agitated.

Was his agitation because she was getting through to him?

She could only hope.

‘He stole it stupidly thinking he’d be able to win it all back before you noticed.That’show out of his mind he was. Please, I am begging you, let him say his piece to you, and see if you can move on and forgive him. Please, for Benjamin’s sake if not for mine or his, and for your sake too—’

‘Enough!’ he roared, spinning around to face her.

Flora reared back, more shocked at the rage on his face than the fury in his voice.

It had been a long time since she’d seen such anger from him and it hurt her heart to see it.

Visibly composing himself, Alejandro took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. ‘I have made my feelings on the subject perfectly clear and I will hear no more about it, and I will thank you to keep the promise you made and keep my son away from him.’

Then he took four paces, snatched his robe off the hook on the bedroom door and, without looking back at her, walked out of their room.

Flora had no idea what time Alejandro came back to bed. He simply slid under the covers and turned his back to her.

He’d never done that before.

She drifted in and out of sleep, the wretchedness in her belly too strong for her to settle.

Since they’d become lovers, they’d bickered but never argued. Not like that. Alejandro had never raised his voice to her.

She just wanted her family to be together again, for her husband and her brother to be friends as they used to be and for her son to know his uncle. She would exchange all the wealth and trappings if she could have that.

All she could hope was that, once his anger faded, Alejandro would think on what she’d said.

It was for his sake too that she wanted bridges to be built. He missed her brother. She was as certain of that as she was certain of her love for him.

The sound of metal wheels rolling over the oak floor woke her with a snap from the latest doze she’d fallen into.

The room was dusky, the early morning sun still rising.

Alejandro was showered, groomed and dressed in a business suit, suitcase and briefcase in hand, ready for his trip to Paris.

‘I am going now,’ he said stiffly.

Flora’s stomach lurched miserably. His anger didn’t seem to have faded a jot.

‘Safe travels,’ she whispered as she always did.

His chest rose and then he inclined his head and left the room.

For the first time since they’d become lovers, he left for a business trip without kissing her goodbye.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ITWASLOOKINGto be another beautiful early autumn day in Barcelona. Flora was glad that she’d arranged to meet Camila for an early coffee. It meant she could walk there. Hopefully the fresh air would do some good in clearing her head. If it was too hot when they were done, she’d get her driver to collect her.

She checked her phone. Still no communication from Alejandro. He hadn’t messaged to let her know he’d arrived in Paris safely—although he had responded to her message asking if he’d got there okay with a simple yes—or called to wish her a goodnight.

The longer his silence went on, the angrier she could feel herself becoming at his stubbornness, so she took a handful of deep breaths for some zen before putting Benjamin in his pram and calling out to Madeline to let her know she was leaving. She got a cheerful shout back.

Things had changed dramatically between Flora and the staff. It was as Alejandro had suggested, although she didn’t think the change in their demeanour towards her was entirely down to them sharing a bed but more to do with them being a proper couple and the respect he showed towards her. Respect begat respect. Flora was the master’s wife and they now treated her as such.

Before opening the door, she checked her phone again. Still nothing.

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