Read Online The Forced Bride by Sara Craven - Free Book Online

take it you will be in no hurry to return to Italy’ His tone was mildly curious.
    ‘Well, that wasn’t part of the deal, was it’ she returned defensively. ‘I thought I’d be living in England.’
    ‘Of course, if that is what you wish.’ He paused again. ‘Perhaps I was hoping, Emilia, that even if we are not lovers, we
    might become—friends. Learn to enjoy being together. What do you think’
    ‘That it’s not very likely. After all, we come from totally different worlds, and you have a very busy life.’ She stared at the
    bubbles rising in her glass as if they fascinated her. ‘You don’t have to be kind. Really. I’ll be fine.’
    ‘But there will be times when we shall be obliged to meet,’ he said curtly. ‘When I shall need you to act as my hostess. I
    did explain this to you.’
    ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘The formalities again.’ She paused. ‘But you don’t have to worry. I’ll do my best to carry out my duties
    to your satisfaction.’
    ‘Grazie, mia sposa.’ His voice was ironic, almost harsh. ‘Then that is how it shall be.’
    And that was how it had been, Emily told herself. At first, Raf’s visits to England had been frequent and his calls on her
    services quite exacting, but as the months had passed they’d become more and more rare.
    And at the same time, she’d discovered the first newspaper stories of his liaison with one of the Italian film industry’s
    rising young stars, Luisa Danni.
    For a while she’d felt stunned. But, after all, what else could she reasonably have expected Just because she preferred
    to sleep alone, there was no reason for Raf to be celibate too, she told herself over and over again. That had never been
    part of the deal.
    So there would be no accusations—no recriminations. No reproaches either. In fact, no reaction at all.
    She would continue to be polite and pleasant when she saw him, play the part required of her when necessary, and try
    not to think about him at all when he was absent.
    Besides, if she said anything, it might seem as if she cared. As if his infidelity actually mattered to her. And that wasn’t
    true. It wasn’t true at all.
    So she would ignore the whole sordid situation and simply live for the time when she would no longer be his unwanted
    wife. When she would be free of him.
    And that time, thought Emily, staring through the train window at the flying countryside, that time is now.
    My marriage is over and there’s nothing on this earth that Raf Di Salis can do about it.
    CHAPTER FOUR
    IT WASdark when Emily got to Glasgow, and pitch black when she arrived at last at Kilrossan. But her journey, though
    lengthy, had run like clockwork and she’d had no trouble making her connection.
    As she descended on to the cold and windy platform and stood for a moment ruefully easing her spine, a rangy young
    man approached out of the gloom.
    ‘You’ll be Miss Blake, I’m thinking.’ Voice and smile were cheerful. ‘I have the Jeep waiting.’
    He took the suitcase crammed with warm clothing and the bag of books from her and set off towards the exit.
    ‘I’m Angus McEwen, by the way,’ he added. ‘It’s my auntie who looks after the cottage for the owners, although there
    aren’t many visitors at this time of year.’
    ‘I wanted to find somewhere quiet and remote,’ Emily told him, huddling gratefully into her fleece.
    He laughed. ‘Well, it’s that all right.’
    ‘It’s also absolutely freezing!’
    ‘There’s snow expected.’ He stowed her bags in the back of the Jeep and they set off.
    She said stiltedly, ‘It’s very good of you to come and collect me at this time in the evening.’
    ‘All part of the service. I’m home on leave and like to keep occupied.’ He paused. ‘How did you hear about the
    cottage’
    ‘Through a friend.’
    ‘It’s a shame it’s so dark because the scenery around here’s something grand,’ he told her. ‘Mind you, they say the
    desert’s beautiful too, but I can’t see it