Flora's Defiance by Lynne Graham

Author:Lynne Graham [Graham, Lynne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-408-92531-7
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon Ltd
Published: 2011-06-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

LITTLE more than a week after having that conversation, Flora received a visit from her friend, Jemima, whom she had not seen for several months. Jemima was married to Alejandro, a Spanish aristocrat, with whom she had two children, Alfie and Candida. Flora had got into the habit of visiting the family at their castle in Spain until Mariska had become an orphan, from which time Flora’s trips abroad had taken her to see her niece in the Netherlands instead.

Before she arrived, Jemima, a tiny beautiful blonde with big blue eyes, was already aware that Flora had fallen pregnant. Brought up to speed on the latest developments, Jemima was quick to offer her opinion. ‘Of course you should move to Amsterdam and give the relationship a chance. If everything works out between you and Angelo it will be wonderful for your niece and for those babies you’re carrying.’

At that advice, Flora grimaced. ‘But what if it doesn’t work out?’

‘That’s a risk you have to take. When Alejandro and I reconciled I didn’t want to take that risk either,’ Jemima admitted to her friend, referring to the reality that she and her husband had lived apart for a couple of years before having a second go at making their marriage work for the sake of their son, Alfie. ‘You’re scared of being hurt. You’re afraid to let your life go here in England, but you have to take those chances before you can find out if you and Angelo are meant to be together.’

‘What happened between us was just an accident,’ Flora argued ruefully. ‘I don’t think Angelo and I are meant to be together.’

‘Flora, you haven’t trusted a man since your engagement to Peter bit the dust,’ Jemima remarked ruefully.

Flora sighed. ‘It’s probably been even longer than that. My father being a womaniser predates Peter, and that’s the problem with Angelo—’

‘He’s a womaniser too?’ Jemima interrupted with a frown of dismay.

‘I don’t know about that.’ Flora groaned and pulled a face. ‘He’s a gorgeous-looking guy and he’s single and rich, so of course he’s had a lot of women in his life. But he doesn’t believe in love or romance. Strikes me he’s a commitment-phobe.’

‘Yet he clearly loves Mariska, or he wouldn’t be so determined to bring her up, so I wouldn’t give up hope on him yet. A child is a very big commitment for a single man to take on,’ Jemima pointed out thoughtfully. ‘He’s also doing everything he can to support you and he clearly wants the triplets as well. Full marks for him on that score.’

‘I’m not saying that he doesn’t have an admirable side to his nature. I mean, it’s obvious that he really likes kids,’ Flora conceded grudgingly.

‘And fancies the socks off you,’ Jemima chipped in. ‘Or you wouldn’t be in the condition you’re in now. He’d be keeping more distance between you if he didn’t want a relationship with you. I think his inviting you to share his home with him is quite a statement for a so-called commitment-phobe.

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