Katy stared at her stupidly and Libby rolled her eyes and dropped the offending photographs on the table.

‘He was so blinded by love that he didn’t bother examining the facts. His reactions were totally emotional, which was what Dad was banking on when he set it all up.’

‘You’re being ridiculous,’ Katy said. ‘Jago couldn’t have been in love with me.’

‘Why?’

‘Well for a start because he never mentioned it,’ Katy said caustically, and Libby rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

‘So? You’re twenty-nine, Katy. When are you going to realise that not everyone is as honest and straightforward as you are? I suspect Jago had never said those three little words in his life before. You’d only been together for a month and you were only eighteen. Maybe if you’d had longer—’

‘Well, we didn’t,’ Katy said flatly, ‘and it’s history now.’

Libby put the photographs on the table. ‘I’d be very surprised if it’s history.’

‘Meaning?’

‘A man like Jago isn’t going to let it end there.’ Libby’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully and the hint of a smile touched her soft mouth. ‘And if I were Dad, I’d be shivering in my bed.’

‘Yes, well, we both know that nothing disturbs our father’s sleep,’ Katy said bitterly, not wanting to think about how his interference had affected her life. She didn’t know who angered her more. Her father for inventing his lies or Jago for believing them.

And he still didn’t know the whole story.

Libby looked at her. ‘What if he wants you back now he knows the truth? At the very least he’s going to want to talk to you again.’

‘There’s nothing to talk about,’ Katy said flatly. ‘It was eleven years ago and in two months’ time I’m marrying Freddie. Jago Rodriguez is nothing but a painful part of my past. I know that Dad was responsible, but Jago should have believed in me, Libby. He didn’t trust me and I can’t be with a man who doesn’t trust me.’

* * *

‘Jago, can you concentrate?’

Jago shook himself and stared at Charlotte. ‘Did you say something?’

‘Yes.’ She put her hands on her hips, her expression frustrated. ‘I’ve been talking to you for the past five minutes and you haven’t been listening to a word I’ve been saying. What’s the matter with you?’

‘Nothing.’ Jago’s insides were raw.

After Katy had walked away from him the day before, he’d spent a sleepless night coming to terms with the fact that he’d been successfully manipulated by a master.

He’d always known that Sir Charles Westerling was utterly ruthless, but when that ruthlessness had been turned on him, he hadn’t spotted it.

He was also extremely disturbed by Katy’s quiet statement that she’d been the one left to deal with her father.

What exactly had she had to deal with?

Had her father been violent?

He was suddenly forced to face the uncomfortable truth that he’d misjudged her appallingly and at the moment he had absolutely no idea how to go about making amends.