The Sicilian's Wife. Kate Walker

betrayed the way he was feeling below the surface of apparent calm.

      ‘Megan,’ he began again when she could only shake her head weakly in mute despair. ‘What can’t you do?’

      ‘I can’t sleep with you—or anyone. I mean, I can’t have an affair with just anyone—no matter who.’

      ‘And why not?’

      But that was too much. She couldn’t answer that question because she knew what his reaction would be. And right now she was feeling far too lost, too vulnerable to cope with the rejection that she knew he must inevitably toss in her direction when he knew the truth.

      So she simply shook her head again, silent as before, fixing her unfocused eyes on the distant view from the window so as not to have to look into his dark, angry face.

      ‘Megan—why not?’

      Cesare’s tone warned that he would not stop until he got an answer. She knew that he was totally ruthless when he was determined to get what he wanted. And he wanted to know the truth.

      ‘Why can’t you have an affair with me—or anyone? Why? Megan—are you going to tell me, or do I have to come over there and…’

      The step he took towards her was positively the last straw.

      ‘All right!’

      Megan cried out in despair and resignation.

      ‘All right! I’ll tell you! You want the truth—you can have the truth!’

      ‘And that is?’ Cesare persisted mercilessly when she still couldn’t make herself form the words. ‘Just what is the truth that you…’

      ‘That I’m pregnant!’ Megan cut in when, having drawn a deep, determined breath, she knew there was no going back. ‘That’s what’s happened. I had an affair at college—I made a mistake and—and I’m pregnant as a result,’ she finished starkly. ‘I’m having a baby in seven months’ time.’