The Duke's Wife. Stephanie Howard

here because I intend to put a stop to these rumours. And, in order to do that, I’m going to require your cooperation.’

      ‘My cooperation?’ Sofia allowed herself a small sceptical smile. In view of the state of controlled hostility between them, the very notion of cooperation had a decidedly hollow ring to it.

      Nevertheless, Damiano was insisting, ‘Yes, your cooperation.’ And there was no hint at all of amusement in his eyes now. On the contrary, his expression was deadly serious as he put to her, ‘It seems to me that the most effective way of putting an end to the divorce stories is by convincing people that you and I have a perfectly happy marriage.’

      Sofia could not help it. Incredulously, she laughed. ‘And how do you plan to accomplish that?’ Her grey-blue eyes were mocking. ‘Are you going to wave your magic wand? Or maybe take out an ad in the London Times declaring to the world how very much in love we are?’ She laughed again. ‘What a fanciful notion!’

      Damiano did not join in her laughter, though a small smile touched his lips. ‘Actually, I wasn’t planning to do either of those things.’

      ‘In that case, I would say you’ve set yourself an impossible task.’

      ‘Difficult, but not impossible.’ The dark eyes watched her for a moment. Then he continued, ‘What I plan to do, you see, is not simply tell people how happy we are.’ Again, a small, dry smile touched his lips. ‘Rather, what I plan on doing is, with your assistance, showing them.’

      ‘Showing them? How?’ Sofia was no longer laughing. Deep inside she felt a flicker of real alarm. She didn’t like the sound of this at all.

      ‘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