Authors: Sara Wood

The Impatient Groom (19 page)

He couldn't answer for several seconds. Even then, when he spoke his voice betrayed how he felt. âYes. I know.'

âForgive us. But we do love each other.' She hesitated. âI've come to say goodbye. Enrico and I are going away together.'

He let out a hiss of surprise. âAnd Letizia?'

âShe cares only for money. Enrico will give her a good settlement. And perhaps she'll find someone she loves too. It's better than living a lie, Rozzano! You have to admit that!'

But he wouldn't meet her eyes because she was right. âYou know he can't be faithful,' he cautioned, beginning
to think that perhaps Arabella was the right woman for Enrico with her guts and determination.

âI do know. I'm willing to take that chance. He's not strong, like you. But few men can be, Rozzano. You're too big an icon for him to live up to. Maybe in England he'll stop trying to prove he can do just one thing better than you, and learn to be himself. I'll make something of us both. One day you'll be proud of your brother. I promise you that. I'm only sorry that you haven't found someone to loveâ'

He winced. âDon't believe everything you hear.' Suddenly he wanted to rid himself of all the lies, the pretences he'd nursed for the whole of his life. âArabella, I know that on my wedding day I told you and Enrico what my feelings were for Sophia. But I lied to protect her. I...love Sophia more than my own life. I thought that if Rico knew that he'd hurt her to get his own back on me. So I said I'd married her because she was suitable and I wanted an heir. Whereas...' his voice deepened â...she's the most important person to me on this earth. I value her above everything.'

âI don't understand your motives for lying, but I'm glad. Perhaps both the Barsini brothers will be happy at last,' Arabella said quietly. She kissed him on the cheek. âGoodbye. God bless you. Be happy.'

He didn't move for a long time. His heart felt like stone, his limbs leaden. âBe happy'. As if.

He covered his face, his hands shaking uncontrollably. Thank God no one could see him. He drew in a raw, painful breath and wiped a small tear from his eye. He'd abandon his intended search for Sophia. What was the point? He couldn't put himself through that torture again. Every second in her company was agony. He couldn't wait for the time when they began to lead separate lives.

Devastated, Sophia watched him through the heavy lace curtains. He'd lied to Enrico because he'd feared that the past would be repeated, and his brother would try to seduce her.

She had wronged Rozzano terribly. Almost ruined them both. Paralysed with shock, she felt a huge lump of emotion fill her throat. It was so hard and painful that she couldn't call out and stop him from walking away as if the world sat on his shoulders.

He loved her. Arabella had never been interested in himâor he in Arabella. Everything he'd said had been true and she'd chosen not to believe him. His staff and friends had greater faith than she did. Appalled, she followed his slow progress along the lakeside. He stumbled and her heart leapt with compassion.

Perhaps he would forgive her. Suddenly life came back to her shocked body and she jumped to her feet, flying out of the summer house towards him.

âRozzano!' she yelled, half sobbing as she ran. âStop, Rozzano!'

He spun around in alarm. âWhat's happened? Who's hurt you?'

â
I
've hurt me!' she wailed, coming to a halt a few feet away, the tears streaming down her face.

âWhere?' he demanded, frowning.

âHere,' she sobbed, her hand on her heart. âAnd I've hurt youâ'

âI thought you'd been injured,' he muttered. âCut the dramatics. I'm not in the mood. Leave me in peace!'

Panting and distraught, she struggled to master her tears and speak coherently. âBut Rozzâ' she began jerkily.

âLeave me! For God's sake, see when you're not wanted!' he snarled, striding rapidly away.

âYou do want me!' she cried, running to his side and grabbing his arm.

He shook her off. But said nothing, forging on, his face thunderous.

âI want you,' she whispered.

His stride checked, then continued. But she'd shaken him.

Her hand stole to his chest. He brushed it away. She slid it around his strong back and he flinched.

âWhat are you trying to do?' he snarled, coming to an abrupt halt.

He sounded like a wounded animal. She stared into his blazing, pain-filled eyes and let out a shuddering breath. There was one way to prove her trust in him. Slowly she began to unbutton her shirt.

She had his attention. His gaze searched hers warily as if she might be deliberately tormenting him. He made no move to touch her but stood tensely, an arm's length away.

Sophia didn't take her eyes from his. Slipping the shirt from her shoulders, she saw the tremor in his jaw and knew he was finding it difficult to remain indifferent. The shirt drifted to the ground. Her fingers reached back for the clasp of her lacy bra and Rozzano gave a satisfyingly sharp intake of breath when that, too, was discarded.

Too intent on gaining his love and forgiveness to even think about her natural inhibitions, she teased him by taking her time over unbuckling the belt of her jodhpurs.

âI need help with the boots,' she breathed, nerves and sexual hunger making her voice husky. This had to work. He mustn't turn away in cold pride and ruin their future. Shaking with sheer desperation, she braced her naked back against the smooth trunk of a eucalyptus tree and lifted one booted leg invitingly.

As if in a dream, he swallowed hard then knelt to ease first one, then the other boot from her feet. But he stood up again, still keeping his distance as if he didn't totally trust her.

Sophia felt panic rise within her. She would have to lure him still further. Wriggling the jodhpurs down, she tossed them away and stood naked but for a pair of tiny red lace briefs. Her breasts felt tight and hard, every inch of her skin tingled with sensation. Her body was ready for him and he must know it.

âMake love to me,' she murmured.

He didn't move an inch. But there had been a small, betraying twitch of his jaw and a flicker of his lowered lashes. Sophia lifted her arms above her head and pulled her hair from its confining snood. Gulping at her own audacity, she let her fingers drift down over her breasts.

âI want to have your child,' she told him huskily, her heart melting at the struggle going on within him. âI love you, Rozzano. I know you weren't unfaithful to me. I want to apologise for doubting you. I misunderstood what I saw. I heard Arabella talking to you outside the summer house. Oh, please, please forgive me!' she begged.

She was in his arms in a moment, being crushed in his impassioned embrace. âSophia!' he rasped in her ear. âOf course I forgive you! I'd have doubted you under the same circumstances. The evidence was damning. My darling! I thought I'd lost youâ'

Her tear-stained face lifted to his. âI love you so much! I couldn't bear to think of life without your loveâ'

âNor I without yours,' he said rawly. âI think I fell in love with you straight away. I didn't realise till later. It wasn't like anything I'd ever felt before. I thought I was acting rationally, scheming and plotting because I needed an heir and you seemed perfect to be my wife. And then,
when we were in London and you said we must part, I felt devastated. Even then I couldn't admit the truth: that I loved you. Yet I wanted to protect you, care for you, keep you with me day and night, every second of the day. Whenever we were separated I felt as if something was missing. It was: a part of my heart. I fell madly in love with you, Sophia, despite all my efforts to stop that happening. I still am in love with you. I love you more than anything in the whole of my life.'

She began to undo the buttons of his shirt. âShow me,' she whispered.
âNow.'

Tenderly he drew her down to the grassy bank. Her eyes closed as his mouth met hers. She felt the welcome warmth of his strong body and yielded to the instincts of her heart. Rozzano loved her as much as she loved him. Joy surged in her soul as he brought her closer and closer to their true union. This was a man she could love and honour and respect for the rest of her life.

Afterwards, they watched the setting sun turn the lake to fire. And knew that for them it wasn't the end of a day, but the beginning of a wonderful life together. Happily they returned to the villa, clasping one another frequently on the way, gazing into one another's eyes with profound love.

âI have a confession,' she murmured into the satin warmth of his throat.

âMmm?' He barely paused in kissing her ear.

âI've always dreamed of being happily marriedâ'

âMmm.' His mouth found hers.

A breathless while later, she was released. âAnd,' she persisted, despite his chuckle, âthere were children in this dreamâ'

âUh-huh.'

She gasped as his fingers found the hard tip of her
breast. âAnd,' she said, battling for her cause, âthere were
four
children.'

His hand stilled. âFour.' She nodded and he chuckled. âBetter get on with it, then, hadn't we?'

And, with a total disregard for the people they passedâthe gardener, Maddy, who was strolling on the softly lit terrace, and the maid in the haltâhe ran hand in hand with Sophia, arriving breathless and exhilarated in the bridal suite.

âCome here, Princess Bride,' he said softly.

She gave her Madonna smile and flung herself into his arms. âMy prince!' she said with a giggle. And he punished her for her mockery in the best possible way she could have imagined.