Forced Bride

"NO," SAID Emily. She spoke with cool clarity, but her green eyes flashed at the two lawyers on the other side of the desk. "Not a divorce.You will kindly inform your client that I want an annulment." The younger man gasped audibly and received a reproving glance from his senior, Arturo Mazzini, who took off his glasses, wiped them and replaced them on his nose. "But, Contessa," he said gently, "that is surely just--a question of emphasis. The important matter must be the actual dissolution of your marriage, not how it is done." His placatory smile was not returned. "I can decide for myself what is, or is not important," said Emily. "A divorce--even the no-fault variety that your client is offering--suggests that a marriage really existed between us. I wish to make it perfectly clear to the world that it has not. That I am not, and never have been, the wife of Count Rafaele Di Salis--in the usual sense of the word," she added. Signor Mazzini looked appalled. "Clear--to the world?" he repeated. "But you cannot mean that, Contessa. Any arrangement between yourself and the Conte Di Salis must be a private one, its terms not meant to be divulged." "I wasn't responsible for the arrangement of my marriage," Emily told him stonily. "My father was. Nor did I offer any guarantees about the ending of it. And please don't call me Contessa,'she went on. "It's hardly appropriate under the circumstances. Miss Blake will be just fine." There was an uneasy silence. Signor Mazzini produced a fine linen handkerchief and applied it to his forehead. "Is it too warm in here,signore?'his antagonist asked more kindly. "Would you like me to open a window?" Both men repressed a shiver. There had been a sharp frost that morning and the formal gardens around Lang-borne Manor were still silvered over. Indoors, too, the elderly central heating system left a lot to be desired, although, to Signor Mazzini's certain knowledge, the Conte Di Salis had offered more than once in the past three years to have it replaced. "You are all goodness," he returned. "But no, I thank you." There was a pause, then he leaned forward. "Contessa--Miss Blake--I beg you to reconsider. The divorce would be a mere formality and the settlement terms my client proposes are more than generous." "I want nothing from the Count." Emily lifted her chin. "As soon as I'm twenty one, he will no longer be in control of my affairs. My father's money and this house will finally be mine. I need nothing else." She sat back in her chair, the low winter sun slanting in through the long sash window behind her striking fire from her auburn hair. Young Pietro Celli pretended to busy himself with the papers in the file in front of him while he studied her unobtrusively. Too thin, too pale and altogether too tense, he thought, recalling with renewed appreciation the frankly sinuous curves of the Count's latest mistress, which he had been permitted to admire on a number of occasions--although only from a discreet distance. The slim hands were bare, he noticed, so heaven only knew what the Count's soon-to-be-ex-wife had done with His Excellency's wedding ring, or the Di Salis sapphire, which would have to be returned, of course, however the marriage reached its end. But her eyes--Madonnamia!--they were amazing--the colour of emeralds, and with those long lashes too. However, the rest of the face--nondescript, he decided with a mental shrug. And clearly a virago along with all her other faults. Small wonder, then, if a connoisseur of women like Rafaele Di Salis had opted for a marriage in name only. Who could blame him? "Unless, of course, your client has gambled my entire inheritance away on some dodgy financial deal," this impossible young woman was adding lightly. "Perhaps you've been sent here to break the bad news." Signor Mazzini bristled, while Pietro felt his jaw drop and had to hastily recover himseCraven, Sara is the author of 'Forced Bride ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373233618 and ISBN 0373233612.