His Merciless Marriage Bargain

“Mmm, funny, but I think you know it’s not for me.”

She sighed, the sound wistful. “It’s true, then? You really are engaged?”

“You’ll meet the right man one day, I promise.”

“You were the right man.”

“I wasn’t.”

“I should have gotten pregnant,” she pouted.

“Allegra,” he said, a warning in his tone.

“I’m not sure how she managed it. You were always so zealous about protection with me.”

“I don’t want to have this conversation. But I do want the dress. I need it today, and it will have to be shortened. Can you send a seamstress with it to the house this afternoon?”

Allegra hesitated. “She doesn’t seem your type.”

“But that’s just it,” he said quietly. “She is my type. She’s exactly my type.”

“Does that mean you’ve finally fallen in love, Gio?”

“I’m not sure Rachel would be comfortable with this conversation.”

“You are in love,” she said, wonder in her voice. “When is the wedding? Have you set the date?”

“We’re keeping the details private for now, but it’s soon. Very soon.”

* * *

Rachel was playing with Michael after his afternoon nap when a knock sounded on her door. Opening her door, she discovered Anna in the hall with a middle-aged woman carrying an oversize red garment bag with silver script on it, reading Paladin.

“Signor Marcello…” Anna paused, frowning, as if uncertain how to explain.

But then Gio was there to take over. “Has something for you,” he said, stepping around the women to enter Rachel’s room as if it was his. He crossed to Rachel and took the baby from her, as if the baby was his, too. “The dress is for tonight,” he added, holding Michael comfortably against his chest, the baby’s diapered bottom resting on his arm. “I hope you’ll like it.”

Rachel watched as the older woman unzipped the bag and drew out a gleaming green gown, shot with gold threads with pops of rose and light gold flowers. “Oh, it’s gorgeous.”

“Do you like it?”

“I do. But why wear it tonight? Shouldn’t I save it for the engagement party?”

“We’re going out tonight. I’ve booked a reservation somewhere special.”

“Won’t people see us…or did you want that?”

“It’s going to be foggy tonight, a perfect night for us to slip out and not be seen. We’ll leave here at eight. Does that work for you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. And now the seamstress from Paladin is going to hem the dress for you, and make any other adjustments necessary.”

* * *

Rachel had never owned a dress like this one before. The bodice hugged her breasts and waist before spilling in a waterfall of silk and lace to her feet. The sheer lace sleeves made her skin gleam and she didn’t think she’d ever felt so feminine before. She struggled with her hair, uncertain as to whether she should put it up or leave it down. In the end she drew it into a low side ponytail because she felt too bare wearing it up, and it was so heavy when she left it down.

Rachel was in the great hall right at eight, and yet Gio was already there, waiting for her. “Don’t tell me I’m late again,” she said, shifting her black wool coat to the other arm.

“No. You’re right on time. But you’re not going to wear that coat tonight, so give it to me.”

“What will I wear instead?”

“A cape.”

“Like Batman and Robin?” She laughed.

“Or like a princess from the eighteenth century.” He lifted the black velvet cloak from the banister and draped it over her shoulders before loosely tying the braided silk ribbon at her throat to keep it from falling off her shoulders.

The brush of his fingers against her neck sent a shiver of pleasure from her, while the long velvet, fur-lined cloak felt like heaven. It was soft and yet with enough weight to cocoon her in warmth.

“I didn’t think I could possibly feel more elegant,” she said breathlessly, “and yet I do.”

“Wait. I’m not quite done. There is one more small adjustment to make,” he said, drawing something from his trouser pocket. “These are not old. Nor are they family pieces. It’s something I bought for you today.” He opened the small bronze leather pouch and shook out a pair of earrings, the dark green stones spilling into his palm, glimmering with color and light. “I worried that the green might be a little off, but they’re such quality stones that I thought it was worth it.”

She was almost afraid to touch the earrings, each one made of two emeralds, a large oval at the lobe, with a huge teardrop emerald beneath. “They’re real?” she whispered.