AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Soren...you said youcamefor me. What did you mean?’
‘Just that, I came for you, to take you back with me. I know I have a lot to prove, but you belong with me. It is true when I first met you I thought, Iwantedyou to be guilty too...but in my heart and my body I knew you were innocent. I just wouldn’t let myself believe... I couldn’t trust my instincts.
‘I was a coward, Anna. I have been so stuck in the past, convinced that revenge would free me from the nightmares, but it didn’t, Anna, my sweet, beautiful Anna, you did. I have been afraid of committing to a future... You are my future and I didn’t recognise it until it was too late... It’s not too late and I won’t leave without you... You’re crying?’
‘Of course, I’m crying.’ She sniffed. ‘I’ve been so lonely, loving you, thinking you hated me, thinking of those terrible things I said to you...and you made me feel beautiful—’
‘Enough!’ He cut her off with an imperative slashing motion of his hand. ‘You love me?’
She nodded.
His fierce grin flashed white and he grabbed her, hauling her into him. ‘Then the rest it is—’
‘Kiss me, Soren,’ she said, her eyes on his face. ‘Just, please, kiss me. I’ve been so lonely.’
‘You will never be lonely again,cara,’ he promised.
It was two weeks since his grandfather had told Soren he would disinherit him if he married her and two weeks since Soren had told him to go to hell.
Biagio had been bluffing and he had realised that Soren was not—he was now the guest of honour at their engagement party. In fact, his attitude had undergone a total change to the extent he had personally taken control of the guest list for tonight, which was why the intimate dinner was now a ball for five hundred.
Soren had wanted to confront him, but Anna had persuaded him to let his grandfather get on with it if it kept him happy.
She was trying to decide on her earrings—the diamond drops were nice, but Soren said the emeralds matched her eyes—when there was a tap on the door.
Anna adjusted her robe and yelled out, ‘Come in.’
‘It’s only me, Anna.’ Hanna Steinsson came in. ‘I hope you don’t mind. Soren said you wouldn’t.’
‘Of course not. What a pretty dress. You look lovely.’ Her future mother-in-law was looking very youthful in a pale lavender crepe ankle-length bias-cut dress.
‘Thank you. There are a lot of people here already.’ Her eyes went to the red dress. ‘You will look stunning. What a shame your mother can’t be here.’
Anna smiled. In the short time she had known her she felt closer to Soren’s mother than she did her own.
‘I can’t decide what earrings to wear—what do you think?’
‘Well, actually, I was thinking, I was hoping... When Soren said you would be wearing red, and with your colouring...’ She put a padded velvet box on the dressing table. ‘Open it. I would like you to have them. They were my own mother-in-law’s once.’
Anna opened her box and gasped. Inside lay a string of fire opals and a pair of chandelier earrings.
‘They are beautiful and far too much. No...’ She shook her head. ‘I really couldn’t take them.’
‘It will make me happy if you do.’
Tears sprang to Anna’s eyes. ‘You are so kind. I was sure you’d hate me because of who I am.’
The older woman bent and kissed her cheek. ‘Anna, my dear, you are the woman my son loves and that is who you will always be to me. I just wanted to say how happy I am for you both now, because I know you will not be offended if I slip away early... I struggle with the crowds, you know.’
Anna sprang to her feet and hugged her. ‘I think I wouldn’t mind coming with you.’
Hanna shook her head. ‘No, my dear, you have a good time—this is your night and I know that Soren wants to show you off.’
When Soren came in a little while later the dress was still on the hanger but she had finished her make-up and was wearing the opals.
‘Mum will be happy to see you wearing those.’
‘She is lovely, Soren.’
