Free The Proud Wife by Kate Walker Page B

had failed him by being unable to deliver the one thing he had married her for, and nothing had been the same after that. Not even the desire that had once blazed so hotly could bridge the chasm that the loss of their baby had opened up between them.
    Unable to bear it any longer, wanting things over and done with, she marched across the room and flung open the door, revealing the lawyer who was still standing there waiting for his client’s next command.
    â€˜Come in Mr—Signor Rinaldi. I think it’s time we really got down to business.’
    â€˜And by business you mean—ending our marriage?’
    Was she hearing things or had there been some sort of a hitch in Pietro’s voice as he asked the question? With her back to him she couldn’t see his face, but really she knew itwasn’t possible. It would be like seeing a tear in the eye of a tiger just before it pounced on some defenceless prey.
    â€˜Of course. What else could I possibly mean?’
    Slowly he turned to face her, his expression closed off, frozen into the blank mask of some carved marble statue.
    â€˜Fine. But if you don’t want all this…’
    The pale-eyed glance took in the room, the offices, those documents once more, before he tossed the file into the nearest wastepaper bin.
    â€˜Then we don’t need lawyers or courts to wrap things up. We can handle this on our own. Matteo, consider yourself dismissed from this case.’
    â€˜Principe…’ the lawyer began in protest, but Pietro held up a hand to silence him.
    â€˜My wife and I will talk this over in private, then we will call you back to make the legal arrangements. Is that not right, Marina?’
    â€˜I— It—’
    Marina didn’t know how to answer him. It sounded as if she was finally getting exactly what she wanted. At least, that was how Pietro made it seem. But she hadn’t anticipated the ‘private’ discussions her husband had decided they needed.
    â€˜Yes,’ was all she could manage, even as her mind was still processing what Pietro had said.
    Being ‘private’ with Pietro was exactly what she had hoped to avoid at all costs. Yet, if she didn’t agree to it, what hope did she have of ever leaving Sicily with the divorce and the freedom that she had told herself she wanted so desperately?
    Her resolve might have been shaken for a moment when Pietro had taken her in his arms and kissed her, but if anything that had only shown her just how much she neededto do this. She had to get away, out from under his malign influence and into the hope of a new life, before he gained control of her again. Before the dark, erotic spell that he wove around her simply by existing closed over her head again and dragged her down into the sensual mindlessness in which she had existed when she had first met him.
    If a short time talking things over was what was needed in order to ensure that happened, then surely she could cope with it? Forewarned was forearmed, and she was already well armoured against Pietro’s seductive techniques. That near-miss earlier had reminded her of just how much she needed to be on her guard.
    So, ‘Yes, if that’s what’s needed,’ she managed.
    â€˜Buono…’
    Pietro’s nod was a gesture of dark triumph. He reached for the raincoat she had discarded on a chair on her arrival, shook the creases out of it and held it up, ready for her to put on.
    â€˜Where are we going?’
    â€˜First I will drive you back to your hotel.’
    â€˜There’s no need.’
    Just meeting his eyes made her want to take a step backwards—more than a step. But that would be to give away what she was feeling and she was determined not to do that.
    â€˜There is every need. You will drown if you go out in this.’ A flick of his head towards the window indicated the rain that was still lashing down. ‘It is hardly the act of a gentleman to allow his