A Passionate Revenge by Sara Wood

Author:Sara Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

‘Divine. What do you think, Vido, darling?’ Camilla speared another piece of lamb.

Anna held her breath. It was crucial that he should like her cooking. Everyone else had raved about it—apart from Peter and Vido. Peter was too busy boring everyone with a résumé of his entire life and Vido, at the far end of the table from her, had been unusually silent as if something was on his mind.

The candlelight gave his face a soft, golden glow. He didn’t even lift his eyes from his plate. ‘Perfect.’

The conversation swirled around her again. While Condalita recounted a funny story to her, she watched him covertly. It pleased her that he was eating slowly, savouring every mouthful, especially the last. His eyes were half closed as if in bliss. Her pulses began to beat out a little rapid rhythm.

That’s how he would be, she imagined, when kissing. Or making love. Suddenly he sensed that he was being watched and shot her a blazing look of such intensity that she felt it sizzle across the table like a flash of fire.

How dare he? she thought, angrily scowling at her plate. It didn’t matter to him that Camilla might have seen. He didn’t give a damn about anyone’s feelings.

‘Let’s change seats!’ cried Joe with a false heartiness.

Everyone, including Anna, fought back sympathetic smiles. He’d been sitting next to Peter and it was obvious why he wanted to move. But, amiably they switched around while some of the men collected dishes with Anna and she set off to the kitchen to turn out the chestnut cake.

When she returned, she found herself at the head of the table next to Vido. Trembling a little, she served the portions while Vido added crème fraîche or ice cream as requested. Squeals of delight greeted the first mouthfuls.

‘Vido! This is the summit of a glorious meal. If you don’t take Anna on, I’m leaving!’ declared Camilla.

Thrilled, Anna found that her smile was tinged with bitterness. There couldn’t be a clearer announcement of Vido and Camilla’s relationship than that.

She saw Peter frown at the interruption. Tapping his fingers on the table, he waited impatiently till everyone had heaped praises on her head, reducing her to pink-faced embarrassment, then he launched forth again.

Eyes glazed over. One or two rolled up to the ceiling. She felt ashamed of his lack of awareness.

He’d spoiled the atmosphere. Without him, the conversation would have been light and amusing. For a moment as she’d looked around the table, which was sparkling with Georgian silver and crystal goblets, she’d felt wrapped in warmth and friendship, just as if she were part of an extended Italian family eating out of doors beneath clambering vines.

This was something she’d always craved during her lonely childhood and the cautious, reserved years that had followed. A dinner table bursting with interesting people who regarded her as their friend.

And one day, she’d dreamed of her own large family with her at its head, sitting beside an adoring husband. For a few magical minutes part of that dream had seemed a possibility.

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