Angrily I pushed the unwelcome thoughts aside taking a deep breath before pushing open the double doors to the drawing room.

The Italian woman looked just as beautiful and elegant in the bright lights of the morning as she had in the evening before. Formally dressed in a pink-coloured dress with a perfectly beautiful matching pearl around her slender throat.

“Forgive me for coming late,” I said more politely than I felt, knowing instinctively that this visit would be an unpleasant one for me. I didn't want to entertain her but I was just a guest here and since Marc was not around I had to tolerate her.

“It doesn’t...