Page 114

Birdsong, the scent of wild thyme her trainers-clad feet had crushed, she sat down to enjoy the last rays fading over the sea, allowing the peace to seep into her.

Except peace was an illusion.

She didn’t want to think, but the thoughts came anyway, jostling for position in her head. Elsie had always felt uneasy about her plan, but had told herself that Leandro would find another wife. No one would actually be hurt. That had been at a point when the idea of him trading her in for a proper working-model wife had not hurt—well, not hurt as much.

She couldn’t claim to love him and not tell him the truth; there was no argument. She didn’t even bother considering a scenario where he reacted to the news that she couldn’t give him children by saying it didn’t matter.

Even if he cared for her, and she had started to think maybe he did, she knew that Leandro would always put his duty to his country, his throne first.

She was in a lose-lose situation. Being honest meant that she would let her family down and lose the man she loved.

* * *

As she wandered back through the gardens, she was so lost in thought that she didn’t see the other woman until she was almost on top of her.

‘Elsie, my dear, how are you?’ The dog, who had been digging in a flowerbed, raced across but for once, Elsie didn’t react to the animal’s pleas for attention. The Dowager kissed her warmly on both cheeks and stood back to look at her.

‘I wanted to see you yesterday, but Leandro was very strict. He insisted you needed rest.’

‘I was very tired, but I’m fine this morning.’

‘We were all so worried about you, and as for Leandro…well, I’m sure you know.’ She shook her head in sombre reflection. ‘But I have never seen him like that before in my life.’

Elsie felt emotion rising up in her, colour flooding her face. ‘Really?’ Then, hearing the wistful longing in her voice, she added quickly, ‘I think he was very angry. I threw the whole place into an uproar.’

‘Angry?’ the older woman echoed. ‘That hardly covers it!’ The Dowager lowered her voice to a confidential whisper, not that there was anyone to hear her. ‘At least one good thing has come from this—that terrible man has gone. He will not be missed. Shall I walk back with you? I’m not sure you should be out alone.’

‘I’m fine, but the company would be nice,’ she lied.

As they walked, the Dowager kept up a conversation that did not require Elsie to respond until they reached the point where their paths diverged.

‘I was intending to speak to Leandro today; would you tell him?’

Emily gave a bemused frown. ‘Tell him?’

‘My news. I have met someone and we are planning on moving in together.’

‘Wow!’ This was the last thing she was expecting to hear. ‘Congratulations!’ she added warmly.

The Dowager gave a strained smile. ‘Thank you. The trouble is, I’m dreading telling Leandro—he is so protective. And, well, actually, I showed bad judgement once, and I cannot see Leandro trusting my judgement now. I know I don’t need his permission, but it would mean a lot to me to have his approval. Would you perhaps test the water, if the opportunity arises?’ Without pausing for Elsie to respond, she hugged her and walked on with the dog at her heels.

* * *

When Elsie returned to their apartment, she found Leandro in the salon drinking coffee. The light was shining directly onto his face, highlighting the shadows under his eyes and the lines bracketing his mouth. Her heart contracted with concern. He looked worse than she did, which was saying something.

He turned when he heard her. ‘Hello, there, where have you been?’

‘I was walking with your mother. You missed a beautiful sunrise,’ she said, walking across to the coffee tray.

Leandro came up behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist, while his free hand moved her hair in order to access her neck.

‘You should have woken me,’ he reproached huskily. ‘You shouldn’t be wandering around alone—you are meant to be resting.’

‘You were flat-out and I wasn’t alone.’ Elsie turned in his arms and fitted her mouth to his.

Frowning at the perfunctory nature of her kiss and the tension he could feel in her body, he watched her as she took her coffee and sat on the edge of one of the chairs, looking tense and unhappy.

He took his own seat and called himself an idiot for not appreciating that it would take more than a day for her to recover from her ordeal. Certainly, she needed time before he told her about the blood results and he needed time too… How the hell was he going to tell her?