Page 24 of Claiming His Baby At The Altar

She pushed away the images she’d always reacted so violently to and prayed it didn’t show on her face.

‘I have had many lovers, I do not deny that and I will not apologise for it, but I have never lied and I have never cheated,’ he stated flatly.

‘You told me your mistresses always knew you wouldn’t be faithful to them, that it defeated the purpose ofhavinga mistress.’

‘There was no cheating because that’s not how the arrangements worked. My father cheated on my mother, many times. I know first-hand the damage affairs can do and, quite frankly, I find it insulting that you assume I’m like that.’

‘If I have insulted you then I apologise,’ she said stiffly. ‘That was not my intention.’

‘I would consider accepting your apology if I believed it, but I thank you for allowing me tofill my bootswith whoever catches my eye. I will bear your open-minded generosity in mind.’

‘You do that.’

‘I will. Me however...’ He shook his head, the flashing of his eye belying the moderacy of his voice. ‘My own mind is a little less open and my generosity does not extend to permitting you the same.’

Flora’s mouth fell open before she found her own voice. ‘Permittingme? Who are you to permit me to do anything?’

His nostrils flared. She could sense his temper hanging by a thread.

‘Your husband, that’s what I am, and, in case you need reminding, there is no statute of limitations on Hillier’s crime in Monte Cleure. I can have the case against him reopened and prosecuted whenever I so desire.’

Words uttered five months ago floated in her head.Be nice to me and I can be very generous.

‘Are you threatening me?’

‘I never make threats,querida. Only promises. Consider it a warning.’

‘Okay, well, considerthisa warning...’ Leaning forwards, Flora looked deep into the molten eyes glimmering with fire and ice. ‘All the money you’ve given me is sitting in an English bank account that you can’t touch, doing nothing but accrue interest until the day I need it. There’s more than enough in there to pay for the best legal representation for Justin to fight you every inch of the way.’

CHAPTER SIX

FLORABRACEDHERSELFfor the explosion of rage that was sure to follow her threat in using Ramos’s own money against him.

His generosity as a husband could not be faulted. The allowance she was given had allowed Flora to pay off her mortgage and the bank loan she’d taken for Justin’s legal fees. Other than clothes and toiletries, she spent nothing on herself and was growing a nice nest egg.

She had no idea how long she awaited the explosion. So many emotions flickered over his face that they passed like a blur, the only unyielding feature the darkness of his eyes fixed tightly on hers.

The last thing she expected was the low chuckle that escaped from his widening mouth.

He settled back in his chair, folded his arms across his broad chest and shook his head. ‘You really are back to your old self,’ he murmured appreciatively. ‘I had seen the changes...’ He raised a shoulder. ‘I had hoped.’

Taken aback at his change in demeanour and at something that was delivered sounding like a compliment, Flora was completely unable to think up a response.

‘I knew recovering from birth could take some time but I didn’t expect it to take quite so long for the Flora Hillier I have known all these years to come back to life.’ With a subtle wink, he added, ‘Let us hope it never comes to my money paying for both the prosecution and the defence, eh?’

‘Well...quite.’

Eyes now gleaming, Ramos straightened and flexed his fingers. ‘Correct me if I am misunderstanding you, but you are unhappy with how my staff treat you?’

Now confused at the change of conversational direction, she nodded and cleared her throat. ‘They treat me like a houseguest. Apart from Mateo, who doesn’t flirt with me but does treat me as a human being deserving respect,’ she felt compelled to add.

He touched his fingers to his forehead. ‘I apologise for misreading the situation.’

She thought her eyes might pop out in shock. ‘You do?’

‘I do.’ His lips pulled into a grimace. ‘It has been a difficult few weeks.’

‘Why’s that?’

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