Read Online Marriage: To Claim His Twins by Penny Jordan - Free Book Online Page A

looked adorable.
    As a reward for their good behaviour Sander had insisted on taking them to the toy department, where he’d bought them both complicated-looking state-of-the-art boys’ toys that had them both speechless with delight.
    The whole time they had been shopping with the boys Ruby had been conscious of the admiring looks Sander had attracted from other women—women who no doubt would have been only too delighted to be marrying him in two days’ time, Ruby acknowledged, and her heart gave a flurry of tense beats in response to her thoughts.
    â€˜I’ve got some business matters to attend to this evening,’ Sander told her as they made a detour on the way back to the hotel to allow the boys to walk in Hyde Park—a suggestion from Sander which Ruby had welcomed, hoping that the fresh air would ease the pounding in her head.
    After acknowledging Sander’s comment Ruby focused on keeping an eye on the twins, who were walking ahead of them.
    Sander continued. ‘But first I’ve arranged for a jeweller to come to the hotel with a selection of wedding and engagement rings. I’ve also made an appointmentfor you tomorrow morning at the spa and hair salon in Harvey Nichols, and then afterwards a personal shopper will help you choose your own new wardrobe. I thought I’d take the boys to the Natural History Museum whilst you’re doing that, to keep them occupied.’
    Ruby stopped walking and turned to look at him, her eyes blazing with temper.
    â€˜I don’t need a spa appointment, or a new hairstyle, or a new wardrobe, thank you very much. And I certainly don’t want an engagement ring.’
    She was lying, of course. Or did she think she could get more out of him by pretending she didn’t want anything?
    Oblivious to Sander’s thoughts, Ruby continued, ‘And if my present appearance isn’t good enough for you, then too bad. Because it’s good enough for me.’
    Quickly hurrying after the twins, Ruby tried to ignore how unwell she was feeling. Even though she couldn’t see him she knew that Sander had caught up with her and was standing behind her. Her body could feel him there, but stubbornly she refused to turn round.
    â€˜You have two choices,’ Sander informed her coolly. ‘Either you accept the arrangements I have made for you, or you will accept the clothes I shall instruct the store to select on your behalf. There is no option for you, as my wife, to dress as you are doing now. You are so eager to display your body to male eyes that you aren’t even wearing a coat—all the better for them to assess what is on offer, no doubt.’
    â€˜That’s a disgusting thing to say, and totally untrue. You must know the reason I’m not wearing a coat is—’Abruptly Ruby stopped speaking realising that she had allowed her anger to betray her into making an admission she had no wish to make.
    â€˜Yes?’ Sander probed.
    â€˜Is that I forgot to bring one with me,’ Ruby told him lamely. The truth was that she had not been able to afford to buy herself one—not with the twins constantly outgrowing their clothes. But she wasn’t going to expose herself to more humiliation by admitting that to Sander.
    How could he be marrying a woman like this one? Sander wondered savagely. It would have suited his purposes far more if the report he had received from the agents he had hired to find Ruby had included something to suggest that she was a neglectful mother, thus giving him real grounds for legally removing them from their mother. The report, though, had done nothing of the sort—had actually dared to claim that Ruby was a good mother, the kind of mother whose absence from their lives would damage his sons. That was a risk he was not prepared to take.
    Ignoring Ruby’s defiant statement, Sander went on, ‘The boys are approaching an age where they will be aware of appearance and other