Chapters (71)
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Part Two
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Part Three
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Part Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Part Five
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Author
- Newsletter Sign-up
“Partially true. I got separated from you when we arrived, and I made it down to the end of the room and the French doors. We kind of bumped into each other, and I was struck at once by her looks. Vanessa is stunning; you can’t deny that.”
“I don’t. But I think it was a bit calculating.”
“I would prefer to say she’s enterprising. In any case, I felt as if I’d been hit by a truck. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and she reacted in the same manner. Finally, I took her hand and we went right down to the end wall. Later, we walked into the garden to smoke.”
“How did you feel really and truly?” Adrian asked quietly, understanding that this was a serious situation now developing right before his eyes.
“I’m smitten, and so is she, I’m certain. But before you tell me, I know it can’t work because I’m a married man. But I’m in trouble, Adrian.” Robert smoothed his hand over his forehead. “I have a wife. In name at least.”
“Finally, we can now discuss that bloody dead marriage of yours! Because you’ve brought it up, your feelings must be very genuine indeed.”
“They are. I don’t want to hurt Vanessa.”
“You could have an affair with her. Would she go for that?” Adrian raised a blond eyebrow.
“I’ve no doubt she would. She wants to be with me.”
“So go ahead, enjoy each other while you can.”
Robert shook his head. “I cannot. I don’t want a quick affair with Vanessa. I want more. Something is different.”
“I wish I could think of a way to murder that bloody wife of yours—”
“Don’t be so bloody daft!” Robert cut in sharply.
“Let me finish, Robert. I was about to add ‘without getting caught.’ But I can’t. No woman is worth swinging for. We must find a way to get you your freedom. It’s all gone on far too long. You have been living separate lives for—”
“Nine years!” Robert interrupted. “That’s when Lucinda told me she would never allow me in her bedroom again. I tried several times, because I did want more children after the boys were born. However, nothing worked. She’s just about civil. However, she comes to Yorkshire less and less, and never to London now. When we’re back in Ireland, I barely see her. I can’t stand to be near her anymore. She’s moody, reclusive, a pain in the neck.”
“You usually go to Yorkshire when she goes to Switzerland.” Adrian frowned and threw Robert an odd look. “Come to think of it, why does she go trotting off to Zurich, and quite a few times a year? What’s that clinic she goes to, the Medallion?”