Free The Forced Bride by Sara Craven Page A

of
    the people I introduced to you.’
    That, she thought indignantly, isso unfair, but she could not deal with it now.
    She swallowed. ‘Then Simon must know them too.’
    ‘Signor Aubrey,’ he said with distaste, ‘knew only what I told him to say and what I told him to do. You see, I guessed,
    Emiliamia , that you would wish to avoid me if you could. Acting under my instructions, he provided you with the means
    to do so.’
    He paused. ‘And he sent you here. To me.’
    ‘No,’ she said. ‘He wouldn’t do that. We—we’d found each other again, Simon and I. We had plans…’ Her voice tailed
    away, then she rallied. ‘You must have tricked him.’
    ‘Of course.’ There was harsh mockery in his tone. ‘I tricked him into allowing me to pay the worst of his debts. They
    were considerable.’
    ‘How did you know he owed money’
    ‘I promised your father I would protect you,’ Raf said. ‘Therefore, I needed to know what Signor Aubrey was
    doing—especially when he ignored an earlier warning and came back into your life—with his plans.’
    She gasped. ‘You mean you’ve been having him—watched Investigated’
    ‘Of course.’ His tone was brisk. ‘I have to be away a great deal, so how else could I obtain the information I needed
    And the money he owed featured prominently in the reports I received.’
    ‘That’s nonsense,’ Emily said, her voice shaking. ‘Simon has his own successful business.’
    ‘There is no business. He has only what his wits can provide,’ Raf said curtly. ‘And he is running out of options.’ He
    shrugged. ‘I did not choose that you should be one of them.’
    ‘Do you know what you’re saying’ she whispered. ‘You’re telling me that the man I love only wanted me because I’m
    my father’s heiress.’
    ‘Yes, Emilia, I am telling you exactly that.’
    ‘And what about me’ she asked, dry-mouthed. ‘Have I been—watched too—in your absence’
    ‘Si, naturalmente.’
    ‘I don’t think there’s anything natural about it,’ she said furiously. ‘How dared you spy on me’
    ‘I am a rich man, Emilia, and you are my wife. In some circles this would make you a target.’ He shrugged. ‘I knew you
    would not accept a bodyguard at the Manor, so I chose the only alternative.’
    ‘And all from the most altruistic motives, of course.’ She radiated scorn. ‘But who watches you, pray’
    ‘I can look after myself,’ he said. ‘You, I wished to keep safe in accordance with my promise to your father.’ He paused.
    ‘Also, I needed to prevent you from making a fool of yourself over Simon Aubrey.’
    There was a taut silence, then he added curtly, ‘I regret that I have had to distress you. But it is time you knew the whole
    truth.’
    ‘I don’t—I won’t believe you.’ She snatched up her shoulder bag, extracting her mobile phone. ‘I’m going to call Simon
    right now. Prove you a liar.’
    ‘Then do so,’ Raf said and picked up his bag. ‘But first tell me where I will be sleeping.’
    ‘You’re not staying here.’ She looked up, white-faced, her eyes blazing. ‘Do you think I’d have you under the same
    roof’
    His voice was level. ‘It is not the first time. And I fail to see how you can stop me.’ He paused. ‘Fiona told me there are
    two bedrooms. Do I turn left or right at the top of the stairs’
    Their glances met—clashed, and it was Emily who looked away first, realising he was totally determined.
    ‘To the right,’ she said icily. ‘I suppose. As, sadly, I’m not physically capable of throwing you out. But Simon can, and he
    will, when he finds out what you’ve been saying. He’ll be here tomorrow.’
    ‘Your faith is admirable,’ he said quietly, ‘but misplaced. However, make your call if you must. But first ask yourself this.
    If I am a liar, how is it that I have found you so easily’
    Emily watched him walk up the stairs, her mind whirling in circles.
    She could hardly comprehend what he’d said. It