Sara Craven Tribute Collection

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

The Marriage Truce (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWO (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#u93194149-f890-59a8-915b-50b9177c6e90)

Wed to the Italian (#ulink_f39d3535-9d51-5099-83f2-3857eaae6f42)

SARA CRAVEN SUMMER COLLECTION

WED TO THE ITALIAN

Bartaldi’s Bride © 1999 Sara Craven Rome’s Revenge © 2001 Sara Craven The Forced Marriage © 2002 Sara Craven

HER GREEK GROOM

The Tycoon’s Mistress © 2000 Sara Craven Smokescreen Marriage © 2001 Sara Craven His Forbidden Bride © 2003 Sara Craven

HIS RELUCTANT BRIDE

The Marchese’s Love-Child © 2004 Sara Craven The Count’s Blackmail Bargain © 2005 Sara Craven In the Millionaire’s Possession © 2005 Sara Craven

MARRIAGE RECLAIMED

Marriage at a Distance © 1998 Sara Craven Marriage Under Suspicion © 2002 Sara Craven The Marriage Truce © 2002 Sara Craven

Published in Great Britain 2016

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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ISBN: 978-1-474-05666-3

Version: 2018-02-12

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Bartaldi’s Bride (#ulink_54d12f91-a5b6-5557-a756-320dc03f16d5)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_9eaab372-ff1f-5028-84be-74670c8e2ff6)

THE weather in Rome had been swelteringly hot, with clear blue skies and unremitting sunshine, but, as she drove north, Clare could see inky clouds massing over the Appenines and hear a sour mutter of thunder in the distance.

Out of one storm, straight into another, she thought ruefully, urging the hired Fiat round a tortuous bend.

The first storm, however, had been of human origin, and had brought in its wake an abrupt termination to her contracted three months in Italy teaching English to the children of a wealthy Roman family.

And all because the master of the house had a roving eye, and hands to match.

‘It is not your fault, signorina,’ Signora Dorelli, immaculate in grey silk and pearls, had told her that morning, her eyes and mouth steely. ‘Do not think that I blame you for my husband’s foolish behaviour. You have conducted yourself well. But I should have known better than to bring an attractive young woman into my home.

‘At least you may have taught him that he is not irresistible,’ she’d added with a shrug. ‘But, as things are, I have no choice but to let you go. And the next tutor will be a man, I think.’

So Clare had packed her bags, said a regretful goodbye to the children, whom she’d liked, and expressionlessly accepted the balance of her entire fee, plus a substantial bonus, from a sullen Signor Dorelli, his elegant Armani suit still stained from the coffee she’d been forced to spill in his lap at breakfast.

If it had been left to him, Clare reflected, she’d have been thrown, penniless, into the street. But fortunately his wife had had other ideas. And no doubt the enforced payment had been only the first stage of an ongoing punishment which could last for weeks, if not months. Signora Dorelli had had the look of a woman prepared to milk the situation for all it was worth.

And he deserves it, Clare told herself. She’d spent a miserable ten days, at first ignoring his lascivious glances and whispered remarks, then doing her damnedest to avoid him physically altogether, thankful that her bedroom door had had a lock on it.

But, however spacious the apartment, she’d not always been totally successful in keeping out of his way, and her flesh crawled as she remembered how he would try to press himself against her in doorways, and the sly groping of his hands whenever he’d caught her alone.