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'But when we met you had achieved that success Marco.’ Emily forced herself to remind him.
‘Yes but I had also grown used to the freedom of living and proving myself as plain Marco Fierezza. It seemed to me then that there was no need for me to live any other way—at least not for many years. My father was still alive and he would have succeeded my grandfather when the time came.’ Marco gave a small shrug. ‘I had no expectation of becoming king until I was much older.’
‘Maybe not. But you would surely have to marry appropriately and produce a son to whom you can pass on the crown.’ Emily couldn't help pointing out quietly.
Marco inclined his head. ‘Yes at some stage. One of the archaic rules that surround the Royal House of Niroli is that the king cannot marry a woman who is divorced, or of ill repute. The challenge of finding such a paragon in today's world is such that I was more than happy to remain unmarried until necessity directed otherwise.’
Emily had to blink fast to disperse her threatening tears. Marco obviously had no idea just how hurtful his casual words were. It could never have occurred to him to think of her as someone he might love and want to commit to permanently. She should hate him for showing her how indifferent he was to her. Emily told herself, but somehow she felt too sick at heart to do it.
‘Look.’ Marco told her crisply. ‘I don't have much time, and since you obviously need to eat. Why don't we discuss this over an early dinner?'
Emily shuddered and shook her head in instant denial, her reaction making him frown. Shed always had a good appetite, having never needed to worry about what she ate. But now the fact that she had not been eating properly was plain to see in the sharp angles of her cheek-bones and her jaw.
‘Jemma's right. Emily, you aren't looking after yourself properly.' Marco announced firmly. You need a break. I don't have time to argue with you. I've made up my mind. You're coming back to Niroli with me.'
Was this giddy, soaring feeling inside her really because she was so weak that she was glad that Marco had made up her mind for her? She was an independent woman, for heaven's sake, not some wilting Victorian heroine. She tried to wrench back some control of what was happening.
‘I can’t do that. Marco. For one thing, there's the business—‘
‘Of course you can Em. I can take care of things here.’ Jemma piped up from the threshold of the storeroom. With Niroli's back to her she mouthed to Emily. Go with him. You know you want to...Before announcing to both of them that time was getting on and she had to catch the post with some invoices.
Emily and Marco were alone in the shop now and she wished violently that she were not so all-consumingly aware of him.
‘You can’t take me back with you. Marco. It wouldn't work. We were lovers—‘
‘And still could be. If that's what you want.' Marco interrupted softly.
Emily didn't dare look at him in case he saw the hope and the longing in her eyes. She struggled between her own helpless awareness of how much she still wanted him and the practicalities of the situation, protesting unsteadily.
‘Marco, we can't. Even if I wanted to...to go back, it isn't possible.'
‘Why not if it's what both of us want?’
What both of them wanted. Her heart lurched, joyously intoxicated by the pleasure of hearing the admission his words contained.
‘But what about the rules of the House of Niroli? Surely your grandfather wouldn't approve, or—‘
‘My grandfather doesn't rule my personal life.’ Marco responded with familiar arrogance.
She had no idea how to handle this. She shook her head. ‘l don't know what to say.: she admitted. How long have I got?’
‘To share my bed?’ Marco cut her off smoothly. 'I doubt that my grandfather is really ready to step down, for all that he says he is. We could have the summer together and then reassess the situation.’
Emily could feel her face burning.
‘That wasn't what I meant. When I said how long have I got. I meant how much time will you give me to think things through before I make up my mind about your business proposition?’ she told him primly. Nothing else.
‘No time. Because you aren't going to think about it. You are coming back with me. Emily—you don't have a choice about that. What you can choose, though, of course, is in what capacity. My flight leaves at eight, so we've just got time to go back to your house and collect your passport, and anything else you might need. And time for me to show you exactly what both of us will be missing if you don't.' he told her giving her a look that was so explicitly sexual that her whole body burned with longing.
