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Rosie had given him everything he needed on a plate. He was sorry she’d be hurt—and she would get hurt—but it couldn’t be helped. His aunt should have known that this would have a bad ending. He’d never made any secret of the fact that the chains of domesticity were not for him. ‘Yours is a very unusual proposition.’
‘It’s bold,’ she argued.
‘It’s a marriage of convenience.’
‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘That’s what’s so good about it—both sides benefit.’
Was she being so businesslike because she thought it was the only way to communicate with him, or did she have that hard streak beneath her vulnerable shell? Looking at her face, he decided she was certainly gritty and determined. She was a survivor, like him, he concluded. ‘Isn’t a marriage of convenience a little outdated?’
‘In this instance, it will be perfectly in tune with our needs.’
‘Then I agree,’ he said.
‘You do?’ She looked at him with surprise.
‘Pay attention, Ms Clifton. I just agreed to marry you. As you so rightly say, my aunt has faced us both with a problem, and the best way to solve that problem is with a straightforward business deal. I agree that we should be married—and as soon as possible.’
Triumph came in many forms, Rosie now discovered. She felt light-headed in victory, and frightened at what she’d done. Her erotic fantasies involving Xavier belonged in her fantasy world, where he was everything she wanted him to be, and he made no unreasonable demands on her. In reality, he was too much of what she wanted, and his demands would probably be many and vigorous, but, with everything at stake, what choice did she have?
‘Okay,’ she said, extending her hand for him to shake on the deal. ‘Let’s do it.’
‘You do know that in those few words your world has changed for ever?’ he asked as he closed his hand around hers.
‘I know it,’ she whispered, sensation streaming through her at his touch. ‘And I’d hoped my world would change,’ she added levelly. ‘It would have to, to embrace yours.’
‘Good.’ He seemed pleased. ‘I’ll have my people make a formal announcement. We’ll have to celebrate. I’ll hold a ball.’
‘A ball?’ Rosie was aghast. The drinks party had been bad enough. This was all moving too fast.
‘It’s usual to make a formal announcement,’ Xavier assured her. ‘We must give everyone chance to congratulate the happy couple.’
What happy couple? Rosie thought, shivering inwardly.
‘Is something wrong?’ Xavier asked her.
He knew very well what was wrong. She needed reassurance that she was doing the right thing, and there was no one, absolutely no one, who could give her that. ‘I’m surprised you care what the world thinks about our forthcoming marriage.’
‘I don’t, but I thought you might,’ he said.
She appreciated his concern. ‘Thank you.’
‘Don’t mention it.’ His stare was dark and triumphant, and it stripped away her brief moment of confidence, but she had to do this. It was the only way she could stop the island being torn apart. And, yes, the eyes of the world would be on them the instant this went public; and yes, cruel comments would be made, but this wasn’t about her feelings, but about the island and her promise to Doña Anna to keep it safe. ‘How will you explain away the suddenness of our marriage? Coming so soon after the reading of the will, won’t it seem odd?’
‘I don’t have to explain anything,’ Xavier assured her.
Of course he didn’t. Don Xavier Del Rio didn’t play by the rules; he never had. No explanations were necessary.
‘I expect the press to report it as a coup de foudre, love at first sight, our first meeting having been engineered by my aunt, your employer, Doña Anna. That will get us through for the duration of our marriage.’
‘You make our marriage sound more like a prison sentence.’ She felt a pang that it couldn’t be more, and had to remind herself that a road bridge between fantasy and fact had never existed.
‘It will be what you make of it,’ Xavier stated. ‘It’s your idea.’
From the frying pan into the fire, she thought. ‘Where will the ball be held?’
‘Here, of course.’
