The Sicilian's Mistress by Lynne Graham Page A

resentment. ‘I don’tsee why you should have a problem with that. Your father’s generous offer meant that we could have a financially secure future together. Of course it made a difference.’
    Nausea pooled in Milly’s stomach. ‘What about love?’
    â€˜I’m very fond of you. But I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that I was also very concerned about the risks of forming a lasting relationship with you.’
    â€˜Risks?’
    â€˜Do I have to spell it out? That bombshell you dropped on me last night wouldn’t have occurred in a normal relationship!’ he reminded her with derision. ‘Like any other man, I want to feel confident that I know everything there is to know about my wife’s past. You can’t give me that confidence.’
    â€˜But the assurance of a financially secure future persuaded you to overlook those drawbacks,’ Milly gathered, struggling to keep her voice level. ‘Yet you said you loved me.’
    â€˜For pity’s sake, you’re talking like a silly teenager-’
    â€˜I think maybe I still am just a teenager inside, Edward. If I had had any idea how many reservations you had about me, I’d never have agreed to marry you.’ Tugging the solitaire from her finger, Milly stood up to place it on the edge of his desk.
    Edward was outraged. ‘You asked me to be honest!’
    But he had been cruelly belittling her from the minute she started speaking, Milly reflected painfully. ‘When you hear what your boss has to tell you, I think you’ll be relieved to have that ring back. I imagine he’ll offer you the partnership anyway. I do wish you well, Edward.’
    Striding forward, he snapped bruising fingers round her slender wrist to prevent her departure. ‘Who do you think you are to talk to me like this?’ he demanded contemptuously.
    Milly was shaken. ‘Let go of me…you’re hurting me—’
    â€˜I found your attitude equally offensive last night,’ Edward snapped furiously. ‘It seems to me that the minute you discovered that Connor’s father was a rich man, you gottoo big for your boots! Now put that ring back on and we’ll say no more about this nonsense!’
    Taken aback as she was by his aggression, Milly was relieved when a knock sounded on the door and his secretary interrupted them. Edward released her immediately. Milly hurried down the corridor, ignoring his call in his wake. And then, out at Reception, she hesitated and looked at the car keys still clutched in her hand. She left them with the receptionist for Robin Jennings to collect. Suddenly she wanted nothing that had belonged to Faith Jennings…
    Edward had never loved her. Indeed, right from the start Edward had had serious reservations about a woman with a past she couldn’t remember. Without the partnership deal he would never have proposed. And why had she never noticed what a bad-tempered bully Edward could be if he was crossed? The answer was that until last night she had never crossed or challenged Edward. She had been a doormat, ashamed of her unwed mother status, thinking herself very fortunate to be the intended wife of a respectable professional man. And who had given her such low expectations and such a poor self-image? Her fake parents, who had packaged her up with a lucrative partnership to persuade Edward to marry her.
    There was a stiff breeze blowing and it was cold. Milly had left her jacket locked in the car, but she still hurried away from the engineering plant. When she found herself on the main road she just kept on walking, insensibly soothed by the noise of the anonymous traffic. All the shocks she had withstood over the past twenty-four hours were hitting her now full force. Edward had seemed like a safe and sturdy post to clutch in the storm, but the post had toppled when she had reached for its support. The oddest thing was that she couldn’t yet feel a