‘I can understand that.' Jemma agreed. But according to what I've read. Marco came over here incognito because he wanted to prove himself in his own right. He had already done that by the time he met you. Yet I suppose he could hardly tell you his real identity—not only would it have been difficult for him to just turn round and say. "Oh by the way. perhaps I ought to tell you that I'm a prince." he most probably wanted you to value him for himself, not for his title or position.'
Emily could see the logic of Jemma's argument, and she knew it was one that Marco himself would have used—had they ever got to the stage of discussing the issue.
‘Marco didn't tell me because he didn't want to tell me’ she retorted, trying to harden her heart against its betraying softening. ‘To him, I was just a...a...temporary bed-mate—a diversion he could enjoy, before he left me to get on with the really serious business of his life and return to NiroIi.’
‘I think I know how you must be feeling.’ Jemma allowed, ‘but I did read in one article that it wasn't until the death of his parents in an accident that Marco became the next in line to the throne. I'm sure he didn't tell you because he assumed he would continue to live in London with you anonymously.'
‘I meant nothing to him.'
I can't believe that. Emily. You always seemed so happy together, and so well suited.'
‘It's pointless talking about it or him now. It's over.'
‘Is it? I can't help thinking that there's a lot of unfinished business between the two of you.' Jemma told her softly. ‘I know from what you told me that you left the apartment virtually as soon as you discovered the truth. You must have still been in shock when that happened, and my guess is that Marco must have been equally shocked, although for different reasons.’
‘Reasons like being found out you mean, and resenting me being the one to end our relationship, not him?’ Emily asked her bitterly.
‘So you wouldn't be interested if he got in touch with you?: Jemma probed quietly.
‘That isn't going to happen.' But she knew from the look in her assistant's eyes that Jemma had guessed her weakness and how much a foolish, treacherous part of her still longed for him.
‘Be fair to yourself. Emily.' Jemma told her. You and Marco have history together, and there are still loose ends for you that need proper closure, questions you need to ask and answers Marco needs to give you. A poisoned wound can't heal.' she pointed out wisely. And until you get that poison of your break-up out of your system, you won't heal.'
‘I'm fine.' Emily lied defensively.
‘No. you aren't.' Jemma responded firmly. ‘Just look at yourself. You aren't eating, you're losing weight and you obviously aren't happy.'
‘It’s just this virus, that's all. I can’t seem to throw it off properly.’ Emily told her. But she knew that Jemma wasn't deceived.
Emily was still thinking about her conversation with Jemma more than two hours later as she wandered aimlessly round her showroom, pausing to straighten a line of already perfectly straight sample swatches. Jemma had been right about her not wanting to return to her empty house and correct too about how much she was missing Marco.
It had been all very well telling herself that he had lied to her and that she was better off without him. The reality was very different: the empty space he d left in her life had been taken over by the unending misery of living without him. He had only been gone just a short time, but already she had lost count of the number of times every night she woke up reaching out for him in her bed only to be filled with anguish when the reality that he wasn't there hit her once more. No matter how hard she worked, she couldn't fill her mind with enough things to block out the knowledge that Marco had left; that she wouldn't be going home to him; that never again would he hold her, or touch her or kiss her; never ever again.
It was over, and somehow she must find a way to rebuild her life, although right now she had no idea how she was going to accomplish that. To make matters worse, as Jemma had already commented, she was losing weight and felt unable to eat properly. Emily had put it down to a flu bug she had picked up earlier in the year. She just couldn't seem to get rid of it.
Allied to which, she had an even nastier heartache bug. Emily recognised. Did Marco think of her at all now he was living his new life. Emily wondered miserably, or was he far too busy planning his future? A future that was ultimately, and surely, bound to include a wife. Pain seized her ripping at her all her defences, leaving her exposed to the reality of what loving him really meant.