Amara (Carlton House Cartel Book 2) by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-09-06T16:00:00+00:00

‘Come into the morning room, Eva, if you have finished,’ Sabine invited. ‘It gets what sun there is to be had at this time of day and we will be at leisure to converse until Amara rejoins us.’

‘I have finished, thank you,’ Eva replied standing and smiling at Sabine. ‘You are very gracious.’

‘Not a bit of it. Truth to tell I welcome the company, despite the fact that I am perfectly happy living here alone as a general rule—which probably sounds like a contradiction.’ They entered a pretty room with a view over the gardens. A weak sun played hide-and-seek with the clouds and Eva could see that the wind blowing in from the sea was gusty. They took seats across from one another. ‘I shared this house, my childhood home, with my husband. It was not a happy time for me, which is partly why I withdrew from the world. My younger sister lived with me but now…well, it’s a long story, but she is married and I don’t see her anymore.’

Eva was surprised by Sabine’s candour, but sensed that she required a sympathetic ear and was happy to oblige by sharing confidences of her own—something she seldom did. Some things were just too personal and painful to put into words. ‘There is no one who knows more about unhappy marriages than me,’ she said. ‘Amara’s father became head of our family when I was seventeen and took it upon himself to marry me off to a wealthy Athenian with whom he had business interests.’

‘Ah, I wondered if that might be the case.’

Eva smiled. ‘Because I have encouraged Amara to have a mind of her own, I imagine you mean. Well yes, that is what I have done. My brother will be furious, but there’s no help for that. Amara deserves to enjoy some freedom before history repeats itself.’

‘Your brother has someone in mind for her?’

‘Oh yes. Amara is not enthusiastic about the match, but she knows she can’t prevaricate for much longer. Most Greek girls are married long before they reach the age of twenty. Besides, she wouldn’t dream of defying her father. When the possibility of La Scala arose, for which I suppose we must thank Lykaios, I encouraged her to barter with her father. She would marry her father’s choice if she was permitted to sing in Italy before entering into the engagement.’

‘A heavy price to pay if she dislikes the man, but I suppose she has no choice.’

‘None whatsoever, but now I wonder if I did the right thing.’

Sabine nodded and smiled. ‘You have noticed that she returns Louis Harland’s interest in her?’

Eva smiled too. ‘It would be hard to miss. I have never seen Amara half so taken with any of the dozens of men who have vied for her attention over recent years. Fortunately, I like him very much. It’s such a shame.’ She sighed. ‘Nothing can come of it, obviously. If Amara took it into her head to remain in this country,

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