ProserpinaI lay on the bed, listlessly.I felt Camilla’s eyes on me. She knew that I was feeling upset but I had realised that the big woman with the strong features and the brusque manner, was actually a kind, caring soul.She came closer, holding my littlest child in her arms.“Do you want to hold the baby?” she asked, “I know he is your favourite.”It was untrue, I loved them all equally but I could see it was a clumsy attempt to make me cheerful. I looked up at her, meeting her bright black eyes and smiled. *The smile faltered as I saw the concern in her eyes and I began to cry.Suddenly I was sobbing, great wrenching sobs, torn from my chest.“It is alright, it is going to be alright, girl.” she cooed, holding me to her chest. I shook my head wearily.“No,” I mumbled, “it is never going to be all right.” I thought of Lucien, the steeliness in his eyes as he had said he would not share me…SHARE me? With Schwartz?The shame, the pain in me on hearing that! It had been immense.I
Lucien He stared at the phone.It suddenly seemed to him that he was watching, like a disinterested bystander, as his life unravelled.First, his wife who had seemed to look at him as though she abhorred his very presence.Not surprisingly, he thought, pouring himself another stiff drink although he had had way too much already. He scratched his powerful, hirsute chest and brooded.He had spoken in an unspeakably unforgivable manner to her. Yes, he knew it had been his insecurity speaking. But he had chosen to hurt her when she was most vulnerable and he hated himself for it. With a loud oath, he threw the glass across the room where it shattered into smithereens. The strong smell of rum filled the air almost at once and he scowled. He would need to get someone to clean the mess.But he was too disturbed.*Now, his daughter, the one child who was his favourite…Ria had been crying as she slammed the phone after screaming at her father. She had accurately read the equation between Pro
ProserpinaThe doctor had finally agreed to let me go back home. I was excited; God knows I was dying to meet my children. Every day we spoke for hours, at least, Ria spoke for hours, monopolising the conversation. Piers would finally, in exasperation, snatch the phone from her and talk. Claude would also be allowed to join in where he would blow me raspberries.*Claude was now beginning to say “Mumma “ in a clearer manner. So he would also be given his time. After that I insisted on saying Hi to poor Paddy who shuffled around in the background, looking shy and indecisive. Then, of course, there was Beatrice to greet and then Philippe, who would steal into the kitchen when he knew Beatrice was going to be talking to me. Seeing them, the family who had been with me through thick and thin, gave me a sense of peace.Watching everyone on video calls made me feel thoroughly glad that it was possible to view the person you were speaking to!My children at home were waiting to see me and
ProserpinaI was aching to see my little ones, Ria, Piers and Claude and introduce them to the babies. Ria had already decided that they would be choosing the names of the little ones. THEY meant, of course, herself. Piers was overruled when he came up with what she called ‘stuffy sounding’ names.Danielle and Aiyana had been to see me the previous afternoon. They were leaving and they had come to say goodbye. As Aiyana, whose arm was still in a sling, stepped to me, she said quietly,‘You need to forgive Delano.’As I raised my eyebrows and looked at her, she said, controlled and dispassionate as ever,“He’s a great fighter and a tough Boss. But he’s hurting now.” Danielle took up the thread of the conversation, and continued,” And Schwartz was to blame, you know; him and his flirty ways.”And seeing the mutinous expression on my face, the ever loyal Danielle growled,“Kid, that man of yours loves you. Seriously.”She sighed and groped for a cigar, then remembered she could not smok
LucienHe was already thinking of putting off his trip; how could he resist this woman who wanted nothing more than his love? She who had endured so much pain for him? Lucien Delano began to put the wheels in motion; he would leave in a day’s time, after spending time with his beloved Woman. Ultimately it was Ria’s pleading that made Lucien put off his trip to East Europe for a few more days.She spoke to him, her pretty golden hair and blue eyes creating a charming picture.‘Pappa,’ she pleaded, her eyes shining with tears,“Pappa, please, come and meet us...please. After that, you can go to work. Pleaseeee….!’ ***ProserpinaLucien had melted. He was a big softie when it came to his firstborn daughter, I thought as I nursed the tiny boy, who was the hungriest; I winced as I shifted him as he kept tugging at my nipple. I sighed and looked up, meeting Lucien’s eyes. We were on the plane, his large private plane, with the sleeping area. I reclined against a pillow and sighed involu
ProserpinaWe touched down in the early hours of the morning.The drive home was uneventful. Lucien and I rode in the large vehicle with the babies and Nurse Camille sat behind us. I was tired but the babies were cantankerous after the journey. They insisted on being fed almost continuously and I had to take turns moving them from one breast to the other. I reflected on the doctor’s advice; he had suggested that I start them off on formula very soon since they showed signs of being voracious in their appetites.“Besides, Mrs Delano,” he had added, his warm brown eyes sympathetic,’ you have had a very stressful experience. So you …’ I sighed and looked away.*Beston rode in the same vehicle. I glanced at my husband.Lucien looked older and tired. There were lines of exhaustion on his face and the lines from his nose to his mouth were more prominent, making him look cold and frightening. He sat beside me, deep in thought as he studied his phone, the other two phones in his pocket, o
AiyanaThe morning sunlight was filtering in through the curtains in the apartment where Aiyana stayed.She glanced over at Schwartz who was sleeping beside her. It was early in the morning and she noiselessly slipped out of bed and padded across to the bathroom, intent on getting herself a cup of coffee after that.A few minutes later, she was sipping her hot black coffee and checking her phone. The news from her farm, her late husband’s farm actually, made her smile. The man in charge, her trusted manager had written to inform her about two foals that had been born. He went on to talk about other matters related to the farm, mending fences, and things that went over her head. Cupping her chin in her hands, she thought of her late husband. The farm had been his baby. He had loved it. She sighed. Aiyana was a person who thrived on the action. Farming was definitely not HER thing.*Schwartz walked in yawning hugely, clad in a pair of low slung jeans and nothing else. He had a lean and
ProserpinaI settled into a routine of sorts. It was difficult to return to the old way of life; I had undergone too much of pain and suffering. Nothing could turn the clock back and make me the happy young mother of three I had been before I had fallen into Dmitri Rudenko's hands.*I had little trouble blanking out my dreadful experience when I was awake. My babies and my older children kept me awake. My friends called from all parts of the world; Alex Wu from Japan, and Brian from Paris where he was on a lecture tour of Europe. And of course, Rachel. She had promised to come and meet me when she was returning from Scandinavia.Grace came to spend time too; she had given up her job because she was taking up a new one at a school closer to her home. She spend hours with us. And yes, my staff, the nannies who had been with us since Ria and Piers had first arrived here with me, Beatrice, dear Bea and now Camille as well. She had also been easily and effortlessly merged into our unwield