The Duke's Wife

‘I plan on showing them in the only way it’s possible to show such a thing: by the two of us making frequent appearances together in public and demonstrating by our behaviour how happy we are.’

He really meant it. Sofia felt sick inside. He really was cynical enough to stoop to such a charade.

‘You mean we’re to hold hands and gaze longingly into each other’s eyes, with perhaps the occasional passionate clinch thrown in just to make sure everyone’s getting the message?’

‘I see you get the general idea.’ Again the faint glimmer of an amused smile. ‘Though personally I would aim for a little more subtlety. Looks and glances. Sympathetic body language. That should be sufficient. No need to go over the top.’ Damiano paused and seemed deliberately to hold her gaze for a moment. ‘They can imagine that all the other stuff goes on in private.’

Sofia’s gaze nearly faltered, but she forced herself to keep it steady. Nothing went on in private. Nothing whatsoever. It was nearly eight months since they’d last slept together. Their sex life was totally a thing of the past.

She felt a crushing sense of loss. He was a wonderful, tender lover, the most accomplished, exciting lover a woman could ever have. It had been a hard thing to accept that he would never make love to her again. But she quashed these thoughts instantly. Things were better as they were. For surely there could be nothing in the world more demeaning than to be made love to by a man who didn’t love you and who had only just come from another woman’s bed. That had been her lot in the past, but it must never be so again.

She flashed him a cool look. ‘People could imagine whatever they liked. Fortunately, they’d be miles from the truth.’ Then, as he simply looked back at her with uncaring dark eyes, she added, ‘But that apart, your plan would never work. People aren’t that gullible and I’m not that good an actress. Nobody would be taken in for a minute.’

‘I’m afraid they’ve got to be.’ Damiano was sitting very still. ‘I’m afraid they’ve got to be completely taken in. And, besides, I’m sure you’re being unduly modest. I’m sure you can be a very good actress when you try.’

‘Not that good. Definitely not.’ Sofia shook her head. ‘No, I’m afraid your plan would never succeed.’ She smiled. ‘You really would do better just to take out an ad in The Times.’

Damiano continued to watch her in silence for a moment. Then he said, his tone flat and dangerously quiet, ‘You seem to be under the illusion that this is some kind of proposition I’m putting forward. Something to be discussed and debated and agreed upon. Well, I’m afraid you’ve got it wrong.’ He leaned forward in his seat. ‘This is no proposition. I’ve already made the decision. This is something that’s going to happen.’

Sofia tensed. ‘You mean it’s an order?’

‘Yes, if you like, an order.’

‘And what if I don’t like?’

‘Then that would be unfortunate. But, whether you like or not, it’s not going to change a thing.’

So he was laying down the law again? Hot anger flared inside her. Sofia narrowed her eyes and pointed out in an icy tone, ‘You said you needed my cooperation, I seem to remember. Well, I’m afraid I have no intention of giving it. Issue all the orders you like. It’ll do no good, I promise you.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you, but your clever little plan, I’m afraid, is a nonstarter and there isn’t a single thing you can do about it.’

‘Isn’t there?’

‘No, there isn’t. You can’t force me to act. You can force me to go places with you, if that’s what you want, but there’s no way you can force me to look as though I’m enjoying it.’

As Sofia finished speaking, Damiano said nothing. A silence stretched between them, as taut as piano wire. And as she looked into his eyes, black and unreadable, cold fingers of anxiety touched the back of Sofia’s neck. Something was brewing inside that ruthless brain of his. She had no idea what it might be, but already she feared it.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low, his words measured. ‘You’d be surprised what I could force you to do if I put my mind to it.’ And he paused, just for an instant, to let the warning sink in. ‘But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,’ he continued. ‘And it needn’t if you listen carefully to what I’m about to say.’ He faced her squarely, and his tone as he began to speak again was as hard as a block of stone.

‘Rumours are circulating, rumours concerning our marriage, rumours I don’t like and that I intend to put a stop to. I will not allow the dignity of my country—nor the dignity of my position as Duke—to be compromised and subjected to damaging gossip. I’ve told you what I intend to do about it and I’ve told you I shall need your cooperation and, whether you like it or not, you will give your cooperation.’ As he paused, his eyes drove through her like bayonets. ‘And there’s really no more to be said on the subject.’

‘Oh, yes, I’m afraid there is.’ As Sofia glared back at him, her insides were churning with an anger and outrage that had momentarily eclipsed her earlier anxiety. ‘I’ve already told you I refuse to cooperate. And I mean it, I promise you. I’ll never agree.’

It was as though she had not spoken. Damiano rose to his feet, as though signalling that their discussion was over. But before he turned away he glanced down at her and told her, ‘You shall have your first opportunity to show what a fine actress you can be on Thursday evening at the opera. And then, after that, you will have an even more public opportunity when you accompany me on my trip to London next week.’

‘You’re fooling yourself, you know,’ Sofia returned, trembling with anger.

‘I know you weren’t scheduled to join me on the London trip, but the arrangements have been revised and you’ll be joining me, after all.’ Again, it was as though she had not spoken. Pushing his hands into his trouser pockets, Damiano started to turn away, informing her almost casually over his shoulder, ‘Oh, by the way, don’t worry about cancelling your other engagements. That has already been taken care of.’

‘Meaning?’ she queried through clenched teeth.

‘Meaning, quite simply, that your previous appointments have already been cancelled. Including, of course, the Pasquales’ dinner on Thursday evening.’

‘What? Surely you’re joking? How dare you do this to me?’ As he began to head for the door, ignoring her protest, Sofia sprang from her chair and launched herself after him. Blindly, she grabbed at his arm. ‘Who do you think you are,’ she demanded, ‘treating me in this high-handed fashion?’

Damiano turned to look at her, eyes harsh and unrepentant. ‘Who I think I am is your husband and who I think you are is my wife. And it’s high time that’s what we started behaving like in public.’

‘Newer! I wouldn’t lift a finger to help you salvage your precious dignity! I don’t give a damn about your reputation and I’m not going to cooperate!’

‘Oh, yes, you are.’

‘And how do you suppose you can make me? You can’t make me, you know! There isn’t a thing you can do!’

‘I think you’re wrong about that.’ As she still clung to his sleeve, Damiano fixed her with a look as harsh as an Arctic winter. ‘In fact, you’ve probably never been more wrong about anything in your life.’

‘You’re the one who’s wrong!’ But her defiance was half-hearted. That look in his eyes was making her heart freeze and suddenly Sofia was seriously frightened. ‘You’re bluffing,’ she accused, praying she might be right.

Damiano shook his head. ‘No, I’m afraid I’m not.’

‘Why, what would you do?’

‘I don’t think you really want to find that out.’ He frowned. ‘Be sensible. Just do as I say. Believe me, that’s the best solution by far.’

But still Sofia refused. ‘I won’t cooperate. No matter what!’

‘Oh, yes, you will.’

‘And how will you make me?’ She continued to clutch at his sleeve. ‘Go on! What will you do?’

Damiano took a deep breath. ‘OK. Since you insist.’ And he fixed her anxious face with eyes as black as Hades. ‘It’s really very simple... If you refuse to cooperate, you’ll be barred from seeing our son until you come to your senses.’

So, finally she had her answer. Sofia’s heart stopped dead in her chest. ‘You couldn’t do that,’ she protested feebly, scarcely able to get the words out.

‘You think not?’

‘But you wouldn’t.’ Her cheeks were bloodless, transparent. ‘Even you,’ she stammered, feeling sick and suddenly faint, ‘wouldn’t do a monstrous thing like that.’

‘Oh, yes, I would.’ There was not a shred of mercy in his eyes. ‘And, if you don’t believe me, go ahead and put me to the test.’

‘You monster!’

A sudden burst of anger exploded inside her. Barely knowing what she was doing, Sofia took a swing at him, aiming to punch his shoulder with her fist. But he was already shaking her off and, as she swung, she lost her balance and went staggering backwards across the carpet, catching the corner of the coffee-table a sharp blow with her leg. As she landed like a rag doll in her chair, there was a sickening crash as the blue and gold tea service went shattering to the floor.

In her state of shock, Sofia barely noticed the disaster at her feet. ‘You monster!’ she shouted again. ‘Tell me you wouldn’t do that!’

But there was no reply. Damiano had already left the room.

Damiano had not intended that the meeting would end up that way. On the contrary, he had set the whole thing up most carefully, deliberately choosing the Rose Room for its relaxed, cosy atmosphere and ordering tea in the hope of keeping the mood civilised, but still things had degenerated into the usual shambles. It just wasn’t possible to have a civilised encounter with Sofia any more.

After he’d left the Rose Room, so mad that he hadn’t even heard the crash of toppled china, he had stormed down the corridor to his private quarters, flung open the door, startling poor Emilio, his valet, and demanded, ‘Look out my riding gear and tell Kurt to prepare Sirdar. There’s been a change of plan. I’m going for a ride.’