‘DANNY?’
She could hear him coming down the stairs, and his purposeful stride heading towards the kitchen. She was on her feet, leaning over the kitchen counter with her arms braced and her fists planted. She didn’t move when he came into the room. She couldn’t bear to look at him. She didn’t respond in any way.
‘Are you okay? Danny—what’s wrong?’
Tiago was at her side in moments, still warm and damp from the shower. She could smell soap on him, she registered numbly as she pushed his hand away.
She stepped to one side, but he stood in front of her.
‘Speak to me, Danny.’ Dipping his head, Tiago searched her eyes.
She turned her face away. ‘I think it’s better if I don’t talk now.’
He straightened up. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m angry, Tiago, and I don’t want to say anything in the heat of the moment to make it worse.’
‘To make what worse?’ he demanded. Raking his hair, he shook his head impatiently. ‘I’m in the dark, here. Can you help me?’
Danny didn’t know if she could. ‘I owe you an apology.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Tiago flared.
‘I read your email. I know I shouldn’t have, but I came to get us both some water and I nudged your laptop by mistake. The screen flashed on and I read it. I read your exchanges with Lizzie.’
A shiver gripped her as Tiago swore softly under his breath.
‘Can you explain them?’ she asked quietly. ‘Can you tell me why you didn’t think to tell me that a baby was part of our deal?’
‘You must have known—’
‘That there was a possibility I could have a child? Of course I knew. I tried to discuss it with you, but you brushed it off.’
‘I didn’t brush it off,’ he defended.
‘Well, let me tell you this, so there can be no misunderstanding. If I’m lucky enough to have a child, no one on this earth is going to rip that child from my arms.’
‘Let me explain—’
‘You’re going to explain now?’ She shook her head. ‘It’s too late. Don’t you see that? I don’t think you were ever going to tell me, Tiago. I think you hoped nature would take its course and that it wouldn’t be necessary to tell me that a baby was part of the deal. And then—and I can’t imagine how you came to this conclusion—you must have thought I’d be content to leave with my money and without my baby at the end of our allotted year. How could you think that, Tiago? Why didn’t you say something? Didn’t you think I was strong enough to hear the truth?’
‘That rubbish in my grandfather’s will means nothing. It would never stand up in law.’
‘But it must have crossed your mind at some point that it might be a good idea, or why would Chico have mentioned it to Lizzie? Come on, Tiago—say something to make me believe I’ve misread this, that I’ve misunderstood your intentions. Please!’
‘It was a talking point and nothing more.’
‘A talking point?’
‘It was careless talk with Chico about a ridiculous demand by my grandfather that I had no intention of pursuing.’
‘Really? Careless talk?’ Firming her lips angrily, she shook her head. ‘Would that be “careless talk” back in the days when you were a playboy? Let me see—how many days ago would that be? And I’m supposed to believe you’ve changed?’ She made a contemptuous sound.
‘Danny, I have changed.’
‘Have you, Tiago?’
‘You’ve changed me.’
‘I’m supposed to believe that, am I?’
‘I would have told you everything—but not today. I didn’t want to spoil our wedding day.’
‘But you have spoiled it. You might as well tell me everything now.’
She twirled the fabulous engagement ring and the jewelled wedding band next to it round and round her finger, until the rings threatened to cut into her skin.
‘Shall I summarise for you?’ she suggested, when Tiago said nothing. ‘You bought me, and you think you’ve bought any baby I might have too. That’s why you gave me so much money. I understand now. It all makes sense. They do it in supermarkets—buy one, get one free.’
‘Danny—’
‘Well, how would you put it?’ she flared, her shoulders braced, ready to confront him. ‘To add insult to injury, you not only transferred an obscene amount of money into my bank account, you tried to pretend our relationship was close to normal with gifts—these rings and that fabulous horse. And to make things even worse I gave you gifts—chief amongst which was my heart.’
Almost crying from all the furious emotion inside her, she snatched off the rings and threw them across the counter at him.
‘And when I get home I’ll be transferring your money back too.’
Tiago snapped alert. ‘What are you talking about? When you get home?’
‘You can’t expect me to stay now?’
‘I do expect you to stay. Of course I do.’ His expression grew fierce. ‘You’re my wife. Where else would you be but with me?’ When she laughed incredulously he insisted, ‘Come with me, Danny. Come with me now and let me explain.’
‘Explain?’ She snatched her arm from his grasp. ‘I always knew this was wrong. Anything you have to say to me can be said right here, right now.’
‘This wasn’t meant to happen.’
‘I’m sure it wasn’t,’ she agreed.
With an impatient sound, Tiago raked his hair. ‘Not tonight—’
‘Not ever, I’m guessing.’
‘You’re wrong, Danny. I know this sounds bad—’
‘Bad?’ she said over him. ‘It doesn’t just sound bad—it is bad. I’m an adult, Tiago, quite capable of making my own decisions, but it would have helped if I’d known all the facts before I agreed to this marriage deal. Now let’s be clear. I will not involve an innocent child in this. I can’t get past that. Any arrangement we might have had is over. I’m going home.’
She held his blazing stare unflinching, certain that neither of them had expected their marriage to end on their wedding night. She was equally sure that Tiago had never seen her like this before—so cold, so determined, the equal of him. But her childhood hadn’t been so very different from his, and she could switch off her feelings too.
‘If you won’t allow me to explain, at least let me get you a robe.’
‘Oh, please,’ she exploded. ‘Don’t pretend you’re concerned about my appearance now.’
‘But I am concerned about you,’ Tiago insisted, in a much more collected tone.
He had realised she was serious about leaving him, Danny