The Gold Collection. Maggie Cox

for, Lauren told herself that she was content with what she had. Ramon did not do anything lightly, and the dedicated playboy had transformed into an equally dedicated husband and father.

      ‘I hope I haven’t forgotten anything,’ she murmured, running through a checklist of preparations in her mind. ‘I want the party to be perfect for Valentina.’

      ‘It will be perfect. I know you, querida,’ Ramon said confidently. ‘I’ve no doubt you have planned things with military precision—just as you organised the other three parties we have hosted since we got married.’

      He had been impressed with the enthusiasm with which she had organised the events: two business dinners, and a reception for local dignitaries. Lauren had taken on her role of Duquesa with the same determination with which she approached every aspect of her life—especially motherhood.

      But Ramon was aware that although she was devoted to Mateo she was sometimes bored with life at the castle. Most women would be happy to spend their time shopping with an unlimited credit card and visiting beauty parlours, but he had realised long ago that his wife was not most women, he thought wryly.

      As he walked over to her he took a slim velvet box from his pocket. ‘For you—because when I saw them they reminded me of the creaminess of your skin,’ he murmured, pushing her hair over her shoulder so that he could fasten the string of pearls around her slender throat.

      The necklace was exquisite, each pearl separated from the next by a tiny sparkling diamond which caught the light when Lauren turned her head. ‘It’s lovely, but you shouldn’t keep buying me things,’ she protested.

      ‘Ah, but today is a special day,’ he said, feeling the tremor that ran through her when he brushed his lips up her neck and lingered on the sensitive spot behind her ear. ‘Today is the six-week anniversary of our wedding day. Did you think I had forgotten?’ he queried softly, knowing that she was remembering that disastrous night in London, when she had wanted to celebrate the six-month anniversary of their affair.

      ‘You said you didn’t set great store by anniversaries,’ she reminded him.

      He smiled. ‘But that was then, and this is now. Things have changed. I have changed, querida. And I think six weeks of marriage is worth celebrating, don’t you?’

      Her reply was lost beneath the hungry pressure of his mouth, and a long time later Lauren had to re-apply her lipstick before they hurried down to the great hall to greet the guests.

      Later that afternoon the one hundred or so guests trooped back from the chapel to the castle after a beautiful christening service, to toast the birth of Valentina’s newborn sons—Sancho and Tadeo.

      They were adorable, Lauren mused. She had forgotten how tiny new babies were. Matty looked huge in comparison, and now that he was walking he just loved being part of the gang, getting up to mischief with his older cousins. His first birthday a few weeks ago had been a day of mixed emotions for both her and Ramon. She had shown him photos of Matty, some taken when he was a few hours old. But now, as she watched Ramon cradling one of his new nephews, she knew he was thinking of all the precious time he had missed in his own son’s life.

      Juanita had also been observing her brother, and now she strolled over to Lauren and Ramon. ‘You’re going to have to hurry up and have another baby, Lauren, if you want to catch us up,’ she said cheerfully. ‘Alissa has three, I have two, and now Valentina has four. It’s definitely your turn next.’

      There had been a lull in conversation among the guests assembled in the drawing room, and Juanita’s words drew several curious glances in Lauren’s direction. Conscious of Ramon’s sudden intent scrutiny, she forced a smile. ‘Mateo is only just over a year old, and for now I’m happy to enjoy him,’ she said lightly.

      The awkward moment passed, but the conversation with Juanita stuck in Lauren’s mind for the rest of the afternoon. It would be nice to give Matty a little brother or sister, she acknowledged, and she knew, although they had not discussed the subject, that Ramon wanted more children. She sighed and wandered over to the window, watching Valentina pushing an enormous pram around the garden.

      Why wasn’t motherhood enough for her, as it was for Ramon’s sisters? she asked herself dismally. She adored Matty, and loved being with him, but sometimes she was ashamed to admit that she longed to use her brain—and she missed her job. Perhaps when Matty was older she would be able to return to her career, she told herself. She did not want to work full-time; she loved being with her son too much to want to be away from him for any length of time. But one day she hoped to work part-time hours and regain a little of her independence.

      Ramon had disappeared to take a phone call. It occurred to Lauren that he had been gone for ages, and she guessed the call was related to Velaquez Conglomerates. She hoped he would not have to rush off to the company’s headquarters in Madrid, as he sometimes did, but even while she was wondering what was keeping him from the party he walked back into the drawing room and strode over to her, a forbidding expression on his face.

      ‘Why didn’t you just come out with it and tell Juanita that you are not planning on having any more children because your career is more important to you?’ he demanded coldly.

      One glance at his dark face warned Lauren that he was furious, but because of the presence of their guests he was fighting to control his temper.

      ‘For that matter, why didn’t you tell me that you’re going to be working in London for one week a month—or is the welfare of our son so unimportant to you that you didn’t bother to mention it?’

      ‘Of course Matty is important to me,’ she said sharply. ‘He is the most important person in my life.’ She frowned. ‘How did you know…?’

      ‘That you have been offered a job with a law firm in England?’ Ramon finished for her. ‘My mother asked to see the photo album of Mateo when he was first born, and I did not think you would mind if I took it out of your bedside drawer. But when I picked up the album I accidentally picked up this letter that was hidden beneath it.’

      Lauren stared down at the letter he had thrust into her hand, and acknowledged that there was little point in denying its contents. ‘I can explain—’ she began, but Ramon cut her off.

      ‘I’m sure you can,’ he said sardonically. ‘But it is Mateo who will want an explanation when he is a little older—as to why you have chosen to leave him for a week or more every month.’

      ‘I have no intention of abandoning him,’ she said tightly. ‘And can I point out that you were away on business for three days last week, and you didn’t worry too much about leaving Matty.’

      ‘That’s different,’ he snapped. ‘I am CEO of Velaquez Conglomerates, and sometimes business trips are unavoidable. But there is absolutely no need for you to work. You cannot deny that I give you everything you could possibly want or need.’

      It was debatable whether she needed the numerous pieces of stunning jewellery Ramon had given her since their marriage, or the designer handbags and the wardrobe full of more beautiful clothes than she was ever likely to wear, Lauren thought heavily. She could not fault his generosity. But the fact he believed that material things mattered to her proved that he did not know her at all.

      ‘I appreciate that it is not necessary for me to work,’ she said quietly, ‘but is it really so wrong to want to do the job I spent years training for? To wish for a little independence that will give me a sense of self-worth?’

      ‘You and your damned independence,’ Ramon growled impatiently. He did not understand what she wanted. He showered her with gifts in an attempt to make her happy, but hearing her bang on about wanting her independence felt like a slap in the face. ‘Your place is here at the castle, as Mateo’s mother and my wife. I will not allow you to leave our son for days at a time just so that you can follow some selfish whim.’

      ‘You won’t allow? Am I your prisoner, then, Ramon?’ Lauren gave a bitter laugh, the happiness she had felt earlier in the