Read Online Accidentally Expecting! by Lucy Gordon - Free Book Online Page B

simply want to find out. Why should that make you angry?’
    ‘Why does any man get angry at being fussed over? Just leave it, please.’
    His voice was still quiet, but now there was something in it that was almost a threat.
    ‘But—’
    ‘I said leave it .’
    She didn’t dare to say any more, and that word ‘dare’ told her what a dreadful thing had happened. The mere thought of being afraid of Dante was incredible, and yet she was. This was more than masculine irritation at being ‘fussed over’, it was bitter, terrifying rage.
    But he was recovering himself. Before her eyes, the temper drained out of him.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’m not quite myself. I’ll be all right soon. Just promise me one thing—you won’t say anything about this at home.’
    ‘Not tell them about the fire? I think that story will get around somehow.’
    ‘I don’t mean that. I meant the other thing, that I had a bad moment on the ladder. Hope worries easily. Say nothing.’
    When she hesitated he said, ‘You must give me your word.’
    ‘All right,’ she said quickly. She had a fearful feeling that his rage was on the verge of rising again.
    ‘You promise faithfully?’
    ‘Yes, I promise.’
    ‘Fine. Then everything’s all right.’
    Everything was far from all right, but she couldn’t say so. She could never forget what she’d seen.
    But now his mood was lightening, changing him back into the Dante she knew.
    ‘Look on the bright side,’ he said. ‘Think what exciting pictures I must have given you.’
    Pictures. Stunned, she realised that she’d never once thought of them.
    She, to whom photography was such a part of her DNA that even her own lover’s treachery had been recorded for posterity, had forgotten everything the moment Dante had started to climb.
    ‘I didn’t take any pictures,’ she whispered.
    ‘What do you mean?’ he asked in mock outrage. ‘You take pictures of everything. How come I’m not considered worth the trouble?’
    ‘You know the answer perfectly well,’ she snapped. ‘I was too worried about you to think of photography.’
    He shook his head. ‘I don’t know what the world is coming to,’ he said sorrowfully. ‘My great moment and you missed it. Shall I go back up and give you a second chance?’
    ‘Don’t bother,’ she said crisply. ‘The second take is never as effective as the first.’
    They both knew what they were really talking about. The woman who let nothing get in the way of a good picture had missed this because she’d forgotten everything but his being in danger.
    Now he would know, and how he would love that! But when she met his eyes she saw in them not triumph, but only bleak weariness, as though a light had gone out. He was struggling to present his normal, jokey self, but it was an effort.
    ‘Come on,’ he said tiredly. ‘Let’s go home.’
    They found the car and drove back in silence. At the villa he immediately went for a shower. While he was away, Ferne outlined the events to the family but, remembering her promise, said nothing about what had happened at the end.
    ‘Trust Dante to go back for the dog,’ Hope said.
    ‘He loved it,’ Ferne said. ‘It was as though risking his life gave him some sort of kick.’
    ‘His father was the same,’ Toni sighed. ‘Always finding excuses to do crazy things.’
    ‘Yes, but—’ Hope began to speak, then stopped.
    Puzzled, Ferne waited for her to continue. Then Hope met her husband’s eyes and he gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
    ‘If a man is like that, he’s like that,’ she finished lamely. ‘I’ll just go up and see if he’s all right.’
    She returned a moment later saying, ‘I looked in. He’s asleep. I expect he needs it.’
    Then she deftly turned the conversation, leaving Ferne again with the impression that where Dante was concerned there were strange undercurrents.
    Next morning he’d already left for town when she rose. She tried not to believe that he was