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The only way he could keep Emily on the island was by elevating her to the position of Royal Mistress, and to do that he would have to procure a suitably noble husband for her one who understood the way in which these things were done. Whilst he knew he would be able to find such a husband, he also knew that Emily would refuse point-blank to enter that kind of marriage and. besides...Besides what? He didn't want her to have a husband...
He had no time to delve into the inner workings of his mind at the moment, he reminded himself; nor could he go back to the villa—and Emily—no matter how much he wanted to do so. First he must go up to Rafael's village and deal with the situation there before it got any worse. And what about his growing dependence on Emily? When was he going to deal with that—before it got worse?
‘Emily’
She tensed as she heard Marco call out her name as he came out into the sheltered inner courtyard, where she was seated in the shade, one hand lying protectively against her stomach as she tried to come to terms with everything.
It was early evening and she could hear the sharp edge of something unfamiliar in his voice. What was it? Not tiredness or irritation, and certainly not anxiety, but somehow a something that made her heart ache for him. above and beyond her own pain and fear for herself and their child. Was it always going to be like this? Was she always going to have this instinctive need to give him the best of her love? How could she do so now?
‘I would have been back earlier.’ Marco told her ‘but I had to go up to Rafael's village to put an end to some trouble brewing there, as my grandfather informed me with great delight earlier.'
‘What kind of trouble?' Emily asked anxiously.
Marco sat down next to her. She could smell the dusty heat of the day on him but under it she was as always, acutely conscious of the scent that was so sensually him. However, this evening, instead of filling her with desire, it filled her with a complex mix of emotions so intense that they clogged her throat with tears—tears for their baby, who would never know and recognise his fathers scent, tears for herself because she would have to live without Marco. But most of all tears for Marco himself, because he could never share with her the unique feeling that came from knowing they had created a life together.
Her child, their child, his first-born child. The huge tremor of emotion that seized her shook her whole body, overwhelming her with a flood of love and pain in equal proportions. She wanted this baby—his child—so very much. Its conception might have been wholly unplanned, but if she could go back and change things she knew that she would not do so. She was a modern woman, financially independent, with her own home and her own business, and more than enough love to give to her baby. A baby that would never know its fathers love, she reminded herself as Marco answered her question, forcing her to focus on what he was saying and to put her own thoughts to one side.
‘Rafael had tried to stop the villagers using the generator.’ he explained. So Tomasso and some of his friends rebelled and hijacked it. Then Rafael—with my grandfathers approval—had the young fools punished. They were already antagonistic towards a way of life that traps them in the past and my
grandfather's old-fashioned determination to enforce a way of life on them to their detriment.'
‘It can't be good that they feel so disenfranchised.' Emily felt bound to comment.
‘I know.' Marco acknowledged. If my grandfather was more reasonable I could discuss with him my concern that these youngsters could, if handled the wrong way become so disaffected that ultimately it could result in civil unrest and even violence. But the minute I tell him that, his reaction will be to have them imprisoned.'
‘You need to find a way of getting them onside and opening a dialogue with them that allows them to feel their concerns are being addressed.' Emily offered.
‘My views exactly.' Marco agreed. I've told them that it's an issue I intend to take on board once I take over from my grandfather and I've asked them to be patient until then. But I also know that the moment I start instituting any reforms, the old guard is going to react against them, because my grandfather has drip-fed them the fear that change means that they will lose out in some way.'
Emily listened sympathetically. She could see how passionately Marco felt about the situation. But she also sensed that the more angry and opposed to his grandfather Marco became, the less chance there was of them reaching a mutually acceptable solution.
‘I don't have to tell you that your grandfather is an old man.' she replied. It may be that his pride won’t allow him to admit that he has got things wrong and they've gone too far or that the way the island is ruled needs to change. You might have to backtrack a little. Marco, and find a way to offer him a face-saving way of accepting your changes. Maybe you could handle them in such a way that he could feel they were his ideas—in public at least.' She could see from Marco's expression that he wasn't willing to take on board what she was saying. It seemed to her that he and his grandfather were two very proud and stubborn men and that neither was prepared to give in to the other.
