Free The Purest of Diamonds? by Susan Stephens Page A

lovely,’ she exclaimed impulsively, relaxing for the first time since she’d arrived.
    ‘Wait until you see the castle. There—on the top of the hill.’
    Seeing their destination loom in front of her made all of Leila’s fears return. If only Raffa already knew about the baby, and they could celebrate her pregnancy together—not that he was ever likely to celebrate, with his thoughts on the subject.
    She turned to look at him as he launched into a brief history of the ancient building he was working so hard to save, and found herself wishing she didn’t have any secrets from him so she could relax and enjoy this trip to the full.
    Her biggest surprise was when they drove beneath the imposing stone archway that led through from the outer walls of the castle into the inner courtyard. Instead of closing around her as she had expected, being inside the ancient fortress actually lifted her spirits. The castle might have been built with the sole intention of defending the island from invaders, but it felt more like a friendly giant than a glowering monster.
    ‘Everyone says the same thing,’ Raffa agreed when she commented. ‘I think it’s the angle of the sun on the stone that makes it glow and seem so welcoming.’
    At least they were talking, Leila registered with relief. If she could keep that going, maybe the tension between them would relax. Build enough of a bridge and she could have a proper discussion about the baby.
    ‘The same building beneath the steely skies of Skavanga might struggle to look as attractive as this,’ she admitted, turning to him.
    ‘You’re probably right,’ Raffa agreed. ‘I hope you’re not too disappointed when we go inside, as I only live in a small part of the castle. I’m gradually turning the rest into a museum.’
    ‘Museums are becoming a bit of a theme between us,’ she remarked as he switched off the engine. She stopped there, seeing something in Raffa’s eyes that warned her off. It said there were no common themes between them.
    ‘I’ve housed you in one of the guest turrets,’ he said as they got out of the Jeep. Shading his eyes with his hand, he stared up to where the crenelated battlements were decorated with flags.
    ‘Like Rapunzel,’ she suggested lightly.
    ‘Like someone I thought might enjoy the view.’
    ‘I’m here to work, not to stare out of the window all day,’ she reminded him, working hard to keep the conversation between them going. And you’re not scrambling up my hair any time soon, she thought as Raffa glanced at her.
    ‘I’ll get my housekeeper to help you settle in.’ He pulled away as if he was impatient to go.
    His housekeeper? The castle, Raffa’s whole way of life, only served to emphasise the gulf between them, and she had yet to broach the subject of his child.
    ‘Leila?’
    Having climbed the broad flight of stone steps, they had stopped in front of a huge arched entrance door peppered with iron studs. ‘Yes?’
    She turned, but whatever had prompted Raffa to say her name had died on his lips. She was glad when the door swung open and a smiling motherly woman greeted them.
    ‘This is Maria, my housekeeper, Leila. Maria, may I present Señorita Skavanga.’
    ‘Please, call me Leila,’ Leila insisted as the older woman nodded and smiled.
    Raffa excused himself almost immediately. ‘I have building work to attend to,’ he explained.
    ‘Thank you for picking me up—’ She turned around to say this, but he was already jogging down the steps.
    ‘May I show you to your room, señorita? ’
    ‘Thank you, Maria.’ She was glad of the housekeeper’s friendly smile. She had never felt quite so isolated, or quite so far from home.
    * * *
    Leila’s apartment in the turret was like the setting for a fairy tale. Exquisitely furnished in delicate French Empire style, it boasted the most astonishing views over the beautifully manicured grounds to the lush green fields beyond, and on to where a bank of trees faded to a misty