Contract Baby

‘The housekeeper will take you upstairs to the nursery. You can eat up there. I don’t want to be bothered by the child...is that understood?’

‘Why do you say you’re in charge here? Are you related to Raul?’ Polly enquired stiffly, and stood her ground.

Melina’s green eyes narrowed with suggestive languor, full lips pouting into a coolly amused smile. ‘I’ve never been asked to identify myself in this house before. Raul and I have been intimate friends for a very long time.’

Every scrap of colour drained from Polly’s face. There was no mistaking the meaning of that proud declaration. Her stomach curdled. It was a judgement on her, Polly thought sickly. She had foolishly made that scene over the infatuated Irena and now fate had served up her punishment: she was being confronted by the real thing. A genuine rival...

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ Melina D’Agnolo enquired haughtily.

‘I think this is going to be embarrassing,’ Polly muttered.

Melina dealt her an impatient frown of incomprehension.

‘Raul and I got married a month ago.’

The thunderous silence seemed to reverberate in Polly’s ears, and then Luis started crying again.

The svelte blonde stared at Polly with raised brows, her incredulity unfeigned. ‘It isn’t possible that you are married to Raul—’

‘I’m afraid it is...’ Polly cut in, and switched her attention ruefully to the housekeeper still waiting for her.

The older woman murmured gently, ‘Let me take the little one upstairs and feed him for you, señora.’

Grateful for the chance to remove Luis from the hostile atmosphere, Polly laid her son in the housekeeper’s arms with a strained smile.

‘Señora?’ Melina D‘Agnolo echoed the designation with stinging scorn. ‘I think we need to talk.’

Raul, where are you when I need you? Polly

thought in furious discomfiture. This was his department, not hers! How could Raul possibly have overlooked the necessity of telling his mistress that he had acquired a wife? Polly turned reluctantly back to face the angry blonde. ‘I don’t think that would be a good idea.’

‘If you prefer it, we can talk out here, where all the staff can hear us.’

Rigid with tension, Polly followed Melina into a gracious reception room filled with superb antique furniture. ‘I don’t see that we have anything to say to each other—’

‘Obviously Raul married you because of the child. The oldest ploy of all. I expect you think you’ve been very clever.’ Melina loosed a grim little laugh. ‘Yes, I’m shocked, and I don’t mind admitting it. Ten years ago Raul loved me, but he still wouldn’t marry me, so I married someone else to teach him a lesson!’

Wanting no share of such confidences, Polly hovered, stiff with strain.

‘So you needn’t tell me that Raul loves you because I wouldn’t believe it! I am the only woman Raul has ever loved,’ Melina informed her with blistering confidence. ‘I have never been concerned by his other little flirtations.’

‘That’s your business, not mine.’

‘Your marriage won’t last six months,’ Melina said with dismissive certainty. ‘Raul cherishes his freedom. When my husband died, I chose to be patient. I have never interfered with Raul’s life—’

‘Then don’t do it now,’ Polly slotted in tightly.

‘If you think that is a possibility, you’re even more of a child than you look!’ Melina threw her a scornful look of superiority. ‘And next month you’ll be expected to deal with two hundred guests over the fiesta weekend. There’ll be a rodeo, a friendly polo match and a non-stop party. Are you used to mixing with the wealthy élite? How good are you on a horse? I’m usually Raul’s hostess, but now the job’s yours...and if it doesn’t go like clockwork, he’ll be furious.’

Polly had paled. ‘I’m sure I’ll manage—’

‘Raul will come back to me...of course he will. It’s only a matter of time,’ Melina asserted with contemptuous green eyes. ‘If you’re out of your depth with me, how much more out of your depth are you with him? I almost feel sorry for you. When Raul’s bored, he is cruel and critical and callous—’

‘I think it’s time you left,’ Polly interrupted flatly.

‘If I were you, I wouldn’t mention this meeting,’ the blonde murmured sweetly as she strolled to the door. ‘Raul detests jealous scenes. It would be much wiser for you to pretend that this meeting never took place.’

‘Why should you be kind enough to give me that warning? ’