The Italian Prince's Proposal. Susan Stephens

crazy scheme is actually going to work.’

      ‘Will you help her or not?’

      ‘Without my co-operation your sister will never play the instrument she has set her heart upon.’

      ‘What do you mean?’ Emily said anxiously, finding it impossible to sit down a moment longer.

      Stretching his arms out across the back of the sofa, Alessandro tipped his head to look at her. ‘Why don’t you sit down again, Emily?’ he suggested calmly. ‘You do want to help your sister, don’t you? You do want her to be able to play that violin she saw in the instrument maker’s shop near the castle in Heidelberg?’

      Emily could feel the blood draining out of her face as she stared at him. ‘How do you know about that?’ she said in a whisper.

      ‘I make it my business to know everything relevant to a case before I enter into any negotiation,’ he said steadily. ‘I never leave anything to chance.’

      Emily’s professional pride might have suffered a direct hit, but the only thing that mattered was Miranda’s future…But what was Alessandro Bussoni really after? Why had he gone to so much trouble? And how did he come to have such a hold over a German violin maker?

      ‘The violin in Heidelberg—’ she began, but her voice faltered as she remembered Miranda playing the beautiful old instrument. ‘What did you mean when you said that my sister might never get to play it?’

      ‘Without my co-operation,’ Alessandro reminded her, his expression masked in shade.

      ‘I don’t understand.’

      ‘Sit down again, Emily. Please.’

      ‘I think you owe me an explanation first.’

      ‘The particular instrument you refer to is a museum piece almost beyond price. It was being displayed by one of today’s most celebrated instrument makers—’

      ‘Was being displayed?’ Emily asked. ‘Why are you talking about it in the past tense?’

      ‘Because it’s no longer there,’ he said evenly.

      ‘You mean it’s gone back to the museum?’ Relief and regret merged in the question.

      ‘Not exactly.’

      ‘What, then?’ Her look demanded he answer her fully this time.

      But Alessandro still said nothing, and just stared at some point over her left shoulder.

      Slowly Emily turned around, her eyes widening when she saw what he was looking at. A beautifully upholstered taupe suede viewing seat was angled to face a large entertainment system. Nestled in the corner of the unusual triangular-shaped seat rested a violin, propped up between two cream silk cushions. ‘Should it be out of its case?’ she mumbled foolishly, sinking down on the sofa again.

      ‘I imagine that’s the only way it’s ever going to be played,’ Alessandro said, levelling a long, steady gaze at her.

      Emily’s heart was thundering so fast she could hardly breathe. She had to turn round to take another look, just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming—to prove to herself that she really was in the same room as the violin Miranda had played in Heidelberg.

      ‘But you told me it was a museum piece—beyond price,’ she said, not caring that her battered emotions were now plainly on show. ‘I don’t understand.’

      ‘Everything has its price Emily,’ Alessandro said with a small shrug as he regarded her coolly.

      He was waiting. For what? For her to say something? But how could she when her brain had stalled with shock and her whole body was quivering from some force beyond her control? To make matters worse, Emily couldn’t rid herself of the idea that she too was a prize exhibit—and with a rather large price tag dangling over her nose.

      ‘You bought it?’ she managed finally.

      ‘I bought it,’ Alessandro confirmed.

      ‘But why on earth—?’

      ‘As a bargaining counter.’

      ‘A bargaining counter?’ Emily spluttered incredulously. ‘What are you talking about?’

      ‘Will you allow me to explain?’

      Emily clenched and unclenched her hands. She didn’t like the look on his face one bit. ‘I think you better had,’ she agreed stiffly, feeling as if she was clinging to Miranda’s dream by just her fingertips now.

      ‘It would be far better for your sister if she had enough money to continue her studies without the distraction of working with the band.’

      ‘Well, of course,’ Emily agreed. ‘But—’

      Alessandro’s imperious gesture cut her off. ‘Let me finish, please. It would be better still if she could have the use of that violin behind you—’

      ‘Is this before or after she wins the Lottery?’ Emily demanded, rattled by his composure.

      ‘What if I told you that I am prepared to give the violin to your sister…on permanent loan?’

      A thundering silence took hold of the space between them—until Alessandro’s voice sliced through it like a blade. ‘Well, Emily, what do you say?’

      ‘What would she have to do for that?’ Emily demanded suspiciously.

      ‘Your sister? Nothing at all.’ Alessandro’s mouth firmed as he waited for Emily’s thought processes to crest the shock he had just given her and get back up to speed.

      Emily’s eyes clouded with apprehension as her brain cells jostled back into some semblance of order. ‘What would I have to do?’

      A smile slowly curled around Alessandro’s lips, then died again. She was so bright…so vulnerable. It was as if he had spied some rare flower, moments too late to prevent his foot crushing the life out of it.

      Standing up, he crossed the room. He needed time to think…but there was none. Opening a door, he reached inside the small cloakroom where he had been keeping the flowers. He had ordered the extravagant bouquet to seal their bargain. As he grabbed hold of them he realised that his hand was shaking. He paused a beat to consider what he should do. He could ram them in the wastebin, where they belonged, or he could keep on with the charade…