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him again. He d admitted he d wanted to marry her, but couldn t bring himself to do it. If
she mentioned the baby now, he would think she was trying to force his hand. She stood
in silent, bitter, lonely darkness until she could stand it no longer.
Then I ll say goodbye, she said in a small voice. You ve unburdened that guilty
conscience of yours, so there doesn t seem to be anything more to say.
Goodbye? Is that what you truly want, Meg?
What do you think?
For once their roles were reversed. Meg s voice was low with determination. When
at last Gianni spoke again he sounded unusually reluctant. You said you had something
to tell me. I interrupted you, tesoro.
The uncertainty in his voice was so unnatural Meg s eyes flew open.
Don t call me that. You don t mean it.
Yes, I do. Of course I do. I ve never meant anything more sincerely in my entire life.
Meg stared at him. Now she really was confused. Perhaps she was hearing things.
She certainly felt feverish enough to imagine his touch
No, that at least was true. He had extended his hand until it was resting on her arm.
His touch was as light as an orchid petal.
Open your presents, Meg.
Every ounce of his usual authority filled the order. Meg jumped towards the pretty little
decorated tree before she could stop herself, but the second she could, she did.
Go on. You know you want to. His voice was slow and certain. Still she hesitated.
Accept them, tesoro.Ifyou don t, then no one else will ever get the chance. I shall take
them back home unopened, and straight into the river Arno they go.
His eyes were warm with all the feeling she had seen there in his unguarded
moments. This must be another one. Hardly daring to hope, she lifted one hand a fraction.
Then she stopped. Gianni lowered his chin and slowly raised his eyebrows, encouraging
her silently.
Her fingers automatically went towards the smallest present. Gianni moved as
though to stop her, hesitated, but then decided that he couldn t leave well alone even now.
No don t take that one. Open this one first.
She said nothing, but the look on her face as she accepted a different red velvet
parcel told Gianni all he wanted to know.
Believe me, it s not another example of me dictating to you. There is a reason why
you should open these in a special order.
He was moving uncomfortably under her scrutiny, and his voice was as close to
apologetic as a man like Gianni was likely to get. Meg almost smiled, but couldn t bear to
hurt his feelings.
Pulling open the fine gold ribbon, she unwrapped a battered leather case. It so
obviously contained jewellery; she looked up at him in alarm.
This must be one of the only occasions when a woman says you shouldn t have
and means it from the bottom of her heart. Oh, Gianni, what have you done?
Open it, and see.
His gaze was steady and level, but she could see a pulse in his neck. It was flickering
almost as fast as her heart.
Obediently she dropped her gaze and concentrated on the small golden catch
fastening the jewel case. The lid sprang open to reveal an extravagance of diamonds
nestled in a bed of red velvet.
It s a tiara.
As quick as a flash Gianni lifted it out and set it on her hair.
It feels funny& she said with a puzzled smile.
You ll get used to it.
No& no, I can t& I mustn t&
Raising one hand to the gold and diamond crown, Meg tried to take it off. Gianni s
hand met hers and held it there, in place on her head.
Do you recognise it?
It looks like the coronet your mother was wearing in that portrait of your parents
hanging in your suite.
With his hand enfolding hers, Meg had no intention of struggling but she was worried.
Her eyes flickered nervously over the little lemon tree. She was trying to remember exactly
what else the contessa had been wearing in that frighteningly glamorous painting. As well
as the coronet she had been draped in earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, rings& Meg
racked her brains, wondering if there had been a wristwatch, too. That was the only thing
she might have considered accepting, but nothing decorating the little tree looked
remotely run-of-the-mill.
I can t wear this, she repeated.
It s for you. It s all for you, Gianni said quietly. Presenting her with a second, smaller
package, he released her hand to let her unwrap it. Inside an antique case was a pair of
stunning earrings to match the tiara. A waterfall of rose-cut diamonds fell from a fine
filigree of eighteen-carat gold lace. Meg knew she couldn t possibly take them. These
exquisite trinkets were exactly the sort of prizes awarded to women like Thomas Hardy s
Ruined Maid . Mistresses. If she fell under Gianni s spell again she would be lost for ever.
He would trample over her heart, her life would never be her own and all the diamonds in
the world could never restore her self-respect.
She could hardly find the words to speak. These are the most beautiful earrings I
have ever seen, she breathed eventually. But I can t possibly accept them or any of
these lovely things!
I ll put them on for you, he said, moving forward quickly. Before she could refuse, he
silenced her with a look. Lifting the first earring out of its red velvet bed, he fastened it
expertly into her lobe. Soon he had fixed the second network of precious stones to her
other ear. If you can t wear them, Meg, then no other woman in the history of the world is
going to have the benefit of them. I mean that. They re yours. You re entitled to them.
She gazed up at him, her eyes troubled. Gianni, you owe me nothing. That s what I
said, and I meant it.
Are you sure? He looked at her uncertainly.
It was the first time Meg had seen him wear an expression other than supreme self-
confidence. Suddenly she was scared. Her world had started spinning out of control when
she d discovered she was pregnant. The only dependable thing left in her universe was
Gianni s certainty. To discover that was no longer set in stone terrified her. They couldn t
both be adrift in wild, uncharted waters. Desperately, Meg tried to restore the natural
order of things. When she delivered her bombshell, he would bounce back to furious
normal.
Look Gianni I thought nothing could ever tear this secret out of me, but you re
forcing my hand&
Instantly all the old Bellini pride returned. Gianni drew himself up and regarded her
with hooded eyes. Meg took a deep, steadying breath. She had spent hours dreading his
fury, planning her defence and going over and over what she would say. Now the moment
was here, she felt strangely calm. Reliving every possible way he might explode had
prepared her for the very worst. It had convinced her she could cope. After all, an angry
Gianni was far less scary than the man who stood before her now, trying unsuccessfully to
hide shadows of doubt.
You need to know exactly how little all your wealth and possessions mean to me,
Gianni? Well, I ll tell you. Her palms were damp. She clenched her fists. Gianni s eyes
darted to the movement, then up to her face. His suspicion stiffened her nerves. This was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
