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‘Hello,’ he said, sitting down beside her and reaching for Emma. ‘How is she today?’ he asked, turning Emma round to face him with none of the awkwardness he’d displayed only a few days before. Then he held her standing on his knees, so she could partially take her weight with her own legs and bounce up and down, as if Lorenzo’s lap was her own private trampoline.
‘She’s fine,’ Chloe said shortly, unaccountably irritated by how natural Lorenzo now seemed with Emma.
It didn’t seem fair that her stomach screwed up in knots when he approached, and yet apparently he’d completely got over his uncertain floundering with the infant.
‘I have been thinking about our plan to have more children,’ Lorenzo said.
‘Our plan?’ Chloe turned sideways on the bench and stared at him. ‘I thought our plan was to wait until things are settled—until we are properly used to our new circumstances.’
Lorenzo’s comment seemed to be completely out of the blue. Surely he was not about to say that he thought they should start trying for a baby. They’d only been back together for a few weeks. To Chloe it still seemed as though everything was up in the air.
‘We agreed that we want children,’ Lorenzo said, ‘and I can’t see any point in waiting. It would be better for Emma if our first biological child is as close in age to her as possible.’
‘I can’t believe you’re serious!’ Chloe gasped. ‘Have you forgotten what you said to me just before we left Venice? You were ready to give up on this marriage. In fact I thought that was why you’d brought me back to England—so you could leave me here, then go and get on with your life.’
‘I have not forgotten.’ Lorenzo’s voice was strained, as if he did not appreciate being reminded of that particular conversation. ‘But things are different now.’
‘No, they’re not!’ Chloe exclaimed. ‘Just because you’ve had your own personal epiphany—realising you are capable of basic human feelings towards a baby—doesn’t mean we are ready to bring more children into this marriage.’
‘You are a natural mother. I thought having your own baby would give you a focus in your life. Help you move on after losing your friend,’ Lorenzo said calmly, despite Chloe’s rising agitation.
‘Don’t patronise me!’ Chloe gasped. ‘I’ve got Emma to look after. I don’t need another baby to help me forget my friend.’
‘I didn’t mean it like that—of course I am not telling you to forget your friend. But it doesn’t seem as if you have fully committed to this marriage. I thought maybe a baby—’
‘No!’ Chloe interrupted. ‘You can’t solve our problems with a baby. How can you even think of using an innocent baby like that?’
She reached across and took Emma back, then cradled her protectively in her arms.
‘You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to this,’ Lorenzo said harshly. ‘Nothing has changed. Whatever misunderstandings we may have had in the past—this time you knew for certain exactly where we stood.’
‘How could I have known?’ Chloe cried, jumping to her feet and looking Lorenzo straight in the eye. ‘I mean, really known. Until you’ve lived in a loveless marriage you can’t know what it’s like.’
‘You told me to my face, the night you agreed to stay in this marriage, that you did not love me.’ Lorenzo stood abruptly, towering over her once more. ‘Don’t start this nonsense about love again.’
‘It’s not nonsense!’ Chloe cried.
She turned away, feeling tears stinging her eyes. She’d chosen to stay in the marriage because she loved Lorenzo, and she couldn’t imagine not being with him. But she’d never guessed how hard it would be.
And now, knowing he loved Emma seemed to be making it even harder. Emma wasn’t his natural child, and she’d only been in his life a few weeks, and yet he’d already opened up his heart to her. But Chloe had been in his life for more than two years. If he didn’t love her by now—then she knew that he never would.
‘I want this marriage to work.’ Lorenzo’s deep voice rumbled through her. ‘But that is never going to happen if you keep throwing obstacles in the way.’
‘Love is not an obstacle!’ Chloe gasped, spinning round to face him once more. ‘Most people would think it’s essential!’
She glared up at him, and saw he was looking down at her angrily.
Suddenly she couldn’t bear to talk about it any more. There was no point. Nothing was going to change Lorenzo’s point of view and the only possible outcome was further humiliation and heartache for herself.
‘I need a car,’ she said abruptly, changing the subject completely.
‘What?’ Lorenzo burst out. ‘What do you need a car for?’
‘The same reason anyone needs a car,’ she said tersely. ‘I want to be able to get around the area independently.’
‘The driver will take you anywhere you want to go,’ Lorenzo said.
‘I said independently,’ she replied, holding his gaze crossly.
