LITMIR.BIZ

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of course, he hadn’t. What could he have said? Matt wondered now. Angus had wagered that Matt wouldn’t chance deepening the rift between them by revealing her father’s weaknesses, and when Joanna had demanded to know what her father was talking about, he’d had to deny any knowledge of it.

      Angus had been a gambler to the last.

      Matt scowled. It was all right to think that Joanna should have had more faith in him, but it was easy to be wise after the event. He feared he was wasting his time, hoping she would stay with him, despite what she’d said. If she hadn’t believed him before, why should she believe him now?

      He was in his office at present, trying desperately to complete an article, and when his mother burst into the room, he didn’t know how he kept his temper.

      ‘What?’ he asked flatly. ‘Ma, if this is—’

      ‘You’d better come,’ she interrupted him. ‘Powell says that your father’s not feeling well. I believe he’s had an argument with Joanna and he’s resting in one of the bedrooms at the cottage.’

      Adrienne sniffed. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ she said coldly, as Matt pushed past her onto the veranda. ‘That woman has been nothing but trouble ever since you met her.’

      In the event, Matt found his father sleeping, and, judging from his appearance, he had probably just over-tired himself. Joanna was hovering over him, looking anxious, but Oliver looked well enough.

      ‘It was my fault,’ she said unhappily. ‘He was talking about my father.’ She licked her lips and looked up at her ex-husband. ‘He—he told me Daddy was a gambler. Is that true?’

      ‘Of course, it’s true,’ said Adrienne disparagingly, who had come into the room behind her son, but Matt hustled her and Joanna out of the bedroom so that they didn’t disturb his father.

      ‘Not now,’ he said, dark eyes boring warningly into his mother’s. He might regret this chance to redeem himself, but right now he was more concerned about Joanna. ‘I’ve sent for Dr Rodrigues. He should be here soon.’

      The doctor arrived soon after, by which point Matt had ensured that Joanna had had a drink and was comfortably installed in a chair on the veranda. He’d sent his mother back to the villa with Henry and couldn’t help a sigh of relief when she’d gone.

      He spoke to Dr Rodrigues privately, before the other man could get out of his car. Matt was actually more concerned about Joanna. He’d noticed how agitated she’d become.

      The doctor looked in on Oliver first and, according to him, Matt’s father was probably only exhausted, as Matt had thought. When Joanna had had her blood pressure taken, however, the medic looked anxious. He was of the opinion that she should rest completely for the next twenty-four hours.

      Joanna stared at him. ‘What do you mean? Rest completely? Are you saying I should stay in bed?’

      ‘That would be best,’ said Rodrigues, looking a little rueful. ‘You were so well when I saw you a few weeks ago. What have you been doing to raise your blood pressure? This isn’t the time to be indulging in marathons, you know?’

      ‘I haven’t.’ Joanna glanced guiltily at Matt. ‘I walk every day, but that’s all.’

      Matt’s lips tightened. ‘Is she ill?’

      ‘No.’ The doctor shook his head. ‘But her blood pressure is higher than it ought to be at this stage of her pregnancy. We don’t want to have to consider a condition called pre-eclampsia.’

      Matt shook his head, his stomach muscles tightening apprehensively. ‘I gather from your expression that it isn’t a good condition.’

      ‘No, it can be serious, but I’m not suggesting Mrs Novak is in danger. But she needs to rest and avoid any undue stimulation.’

      Matt swallowed a little convulsively. ‘But she will be okay?’

      ‘She and the baby,’ agreed Dr Rodrigues reassuringly. ‘My wife is a midwife, as you possibly know. I’d like her to examine Mrs Novak, and perhaps she could stay here at Long Point for the next couple of days?’

      ‘With pleasure,’ said Matt eagerly. ‘I suggest moving Joanna to the villa. We have more room there and I can keep an eye on her myself.’

      Joanna caught her lower lip between her teeth. ‘Is that necessary?’ The last thing she wanted was to have to spend time with Adrienne.

      ‘I think it is necessary,’ declared Rodrigues. ‘Don’t worry, Mrs Novak. I have the suspicion that this baby won’t be long in being born.’

      ‘But I still have three weeks to go!’ she protested.

      ‘Dates can be wrong,’ said Rodrigues solemnly. ‘So, if that’s all right with you, Mr Novak?’

      ‘Of course.’ Matt nodded, and, ignoring Joanna’s silent protest, he took her hand. ‘Relax, Jo. You can leave it with me.’

      Joanna was installed in the bedroom she’d occupied on her first night at Long Point, after she’d been frightened by the hutia in the cottage. Matt knew she hadn’t wanted to come here, particularly as his mother was still in residence, and, after her conversation with Oliver Novak, she would rather have avoided him, too.

      The trouble was, she couldn’t forget the things he’d told her. Somehow, hearing Matt’s father tell her that Angus Carlyle had been a gambler rang true. Oliver had no axe to grind; particularly not now. The court case was over and the compensation had been paid long ago.

      All right, perhaps he was just defending his son. But, after reading that email on her father’s laptop, Joanna couldn’t help thinking that it all made sense.

      Her father had never mentioned his previous relationship with Adrienne either. If she hadn’t found that letter, she would never have suspected they’d had an affair. But it was a relief to know that Oliver knew about it. That was one secret she didn’t have to keep.

      Looking back now, she guessed that when she’d turned up in Miami, Matt must have thought she’d come to realise there were two sides to every argument. Instead of which, she’d still believed what her father had told her, instead of taking the word of the man she loved.

      The man she loved!

      Joanna caught her breath. Was that true? Had she ever stopped loving Matt? If only he would give her another chance, she thought despairingly. Dared she tell him she wished she’d never got the divorce?

      Matt came to see her after supper. To her relief, no one else appeared. Except Elsa Rodrigues, the doctor’s wife who was a midwife, and who had examined her thoroughly before pronouncing that she agreed with her husband: Joanna might have the baby a little earlier than she’d expected.

      For his part, Matt thought he’d never seen Joanna look lovelier, the bloom of her pregnancy adding a becoming softness to her face. During the last week, every time he’d visited the cottage, he’d fought the desire to ask her what she really wanted from him. What he wanted from her was getting easier to explain.

      He knew his mother would think he was crazy if he admitted he wanted Joanna back. But could he really believe that the rapport they’d found in recent weeks was just because of the baby?

      Seating himself on the side of the bed, he regarded her closely. ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked. ‘I noticed you didn’t eat much for your supper.’

      ‘I wasn’t hungry,’ Joanna admitted, allowing him to take her hand. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve created a problem. I had no idea the doctor would send me to bed.’

      ‘It’s no problem,’ said Matt gently. ‘And my father and mother are going home tomorrow anyway. I’m just sorry if my father said anything to upset you. I should have suspected he had an ulterior motive when he asked Henry

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