Bride in a Gilded Cage

‘Isobel—’ he’d started to say, but she’d cut him off.

‘Really, Rafael, you don’t have to say anything. I’m glad we know where we stand. I know my place and I’m firmly in it now. That’s all you want from me, isn’t it? How hard can it be?’ She’d laughed, but it had sounded brittle. ‘I mean, in a country where most of the population has to struggle just to make ends meet I’ve got nothing to complain about, have I?’ She’d wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. ‘I’ll go and get ready.’

Her words came back to him, and his belly clenched again in self-disgust. He pulled her in even closer but could feel subtle resistance in her body. He didn’t want her like this. Everything he’d said last night had been wrong. And, however vulnerable it made him feel now, he had to do whatever it took to bring back the Isobel he knew—the wife he knew he wanted.

Isobel was gritting her teeth not to respond to the way her body seemed to want to mould into Rafael’s. His hand was making soothing circular motions against her waist and she fought not to let it affect her.

And then Rafael said to Bob, sending Isobel a quick, enigmatic glance, ‘You may have seen pictures of my wife in the paper yesterday?’

Isobel tensed all over and her stomach plummeted. She saw Bob flush brick-red and mutter something incoherent, and realised then that Rafael had been right. The looks and whispers she’d thought she’d noticed on their arrival had been in large part because of the picture in the paper.

But now something much bigger was making her belly tighten with dread. She couldn’t help but think that Rafael meant to ridicule her, here in front of this man—tell him about his wife’s grand plan and send her up while protecting his own reputation. She should have known that someone like him would never have endorsed her plan.

She tried to pull away from him and the dread mounted. He was opening his mouth to speak, and she hissed, ‘Rafael…please don’t do this.’

Tears prickled at the back of her eyes to think that she’d not anticipated his cruelty.

But then he started speaking. ‘I’m very proud to say that Isobel has decided to open up a dance studio in La Boca. It’s always been known locally as a bit of a no-go area, so I think she’s made a strategic and generous decision in choosing to open up there.’

Shock rippled through Isobel. She wondered for a second if she’d misheard and looked up questioningly. Bob, whose face had flushed so tellingly when he’d all but admitted to reading a piece of tabloid fluff, now said jovially, ‘Two bleeding hearts in one marriage? Rafael, you’d better watch that reputation of yours. If you weren’t such an astute businessman you’d be in serious danger of becoming the pin-up boy of liberals everywhere! Especially now that your wife is clearly cut of the same cloth.’

Isobel’s gaze swung back to her husband. She could feel the tension come into his body, saw him grimace and then quirk a small smile. ‘This isn’t the time or place for that conversation, Bob. We’ll discuss it later.’

Bob turned to Isobel. ‘Have you found a property you like yet?’

Rita had returned, picked up the conversation, and was joining in enthusiastically, rhapsodising again about the tango show they’d seen.

Rafael cut in. ‘Isobel’s plans are a little more far-reaching than just a standard dance studio…’ He looked down at her indulgently, for all the world the doting husband. ‘Why don’t you tell them what you want to do?’

Dumbfounded, and dying to know what Rafael had cut Bob off from talking about, she found it hard to take her eyes away from Rafael, still wondering was going on. Hesitantly, she started to tell the others of her plans, half expecting to hear Rafael burst out laughing and ridicule her. But when he didn’t, she found herself becoming more enthusiastic, until she’d almost forgotten Rafael’s initial reaction.

It was only later, when they were in the car and driving home, that Isobel realised the day had passed quickly after that, and had been surprisingly enjoyable. She turned to face Rafael. ‘Are you going to tell me what that was all about?’

He flashed her a look and his jaw tightened. ‘I owe you an apology. I completely overreacted last night. I think your idea does have merit, and normally I’d be one of the first people to encourage bringing growth and investment into an area like La Boca.’

Isobel saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel.

‘When I heard that the security men had lost you and then that photograph surfaced…I just saw red.’

‘I did try to tell you…’ Isobel pointed out quietly, stunned to hear Rafael saying this.

His mouth quirked. ‘I know. I’ve learnt my lesson. I won’t miss one of your calls again.’

Isobel sat back and felt a very ominous fluttering in her chest. ‘Thank you for your support today.’

He cast her another quick look as they pulled into the forecourt of the house. ‘I’ll take some time off work on Monday and come with you to see some properties.’

Isobel blustered, not sure why that idea was so threatening. ‘No, you don’t have to. You’re far too busy.’

Rafael smiled wryly. ‘How much did that man in the photograph quote you for the building you’d just viewed?’

Isobel named a figure, and Rafael winced and shook his head. ‘He saw you coming a mile away. He probably knew exactly who you were, too, which would have tripled his quote. No, I’m coming with you next time. Let him try and do a deal with me.’

They were walking through the front door when Isobel couldn’t keep it back any more. ‘What was Bob talking about earlier, when he called you a bleeding heart liberal?’

Rafae

l turned around slowly. Isobel could see his face tighten up, his expression shutter. ‘He was referring to a headline in the paper.’