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she paced. ‘I’m not twenty-three any more. I’m my own woman, self-reliant, secure and capable.’
    ‘You were always self-reliant,’ he murmured. ‘You never needed anyone, did you, Poppy? Except on your own terms.’ He heard her hiss of breath. ‘You used people for what you could get. Is that still your style?’
    ‘You’re a fine one to talk! When did you ever
give
or share?’ Orsino heard her jagged breath and knew intense satisfaction that he wasn’t the only one
feeling.
    ‘I remember giving all the time.’ He breatheddeep. ‘Money, the prestige and connections you were so hungry for …’
    Silence met his accusation. He waited, but she didn’t break it.
    So, in one thing at least she’d changed. Once she’d been ruled by passion, as impetuous in her defence as in everything else. Now she knew when to give up. What was the point arguing the unwinnable?
    Orsino frowned, fighting a disappointment he couldn’t explain.
    ‘Obviously you don’t want me here.’ Her voice sounded guarded and, if he hadn’t known it impossible, defeated. ‘The hospital made a mistake contacting me.’
    He shook his head, wishing yet again that he could see her face. The strength of his need to see her stunned him.
    ‘No mistake. But they were a little too prompt. You’re not needed quite yet.’
    ‘Needed? You don’t need me.’
    Orsino heard the shock in her voice and didn’t bother hiding his smile. Maybe it was shallow of him but after all this time, after what she’d done, it felt good to have her exactly where he wanted her.
    ‘But when I leave hospital I will. Who else should look after me as I recuperate but my wife?’

CHAPTER TWO
    ‘W IFE?’ POPPY’S VOICE ROSE. ‘You’re kidding!’
    But looking at his satisfied smile she had a dreadful feeling Orsino wasn’t joking. There were new lines around his mouth, grim lines that hadn’t been there when she’d known him. They spoke of rock-hard determination. And pain.
    She blinked as her heart squeezed. How bad
were
his injuries? He still hadn’t told her. Those bandaged eyes …
    Poppy pulled herself up. Did she seriously think she could read Orsino when so much of his face was swathed in bandages?
    He was a stranger now. He’d severed any connection.
    ‘Why should I kid?’
    It was there in his voice now, that smugness. As if he enjoyed her reaction, knowing her discomfort. The realisation made her shiver.
    Orsino had been hard, unreasonable and unforgiving. But spinning out a painful situation hadn’tbeen his style. He’d preferred to walk away, leaving her bereft.
    Had he changed?
    ‘Because I’m not your wife. You can’t want me nursing you.’
    ‘It won’t be full-time nursing. I expect to manage once the bandages come off.’ Was that a hint of doubt in his voice? But he was talking again, distracting her from the fleeting impression. ‘I’ll only need someone on hand to be sure. That’s where you come in.’
    ‘As I said, Orsino, I’m not your wife. It won’t be me caring for you. Ask someone else.’
    Then a horrible thought struck. Had his head injury affected his memory? Didn’t he recall what had happened between them? Poppy swayed. The possibility of brain damage was too much on top of exhaustion.
    ‘Of course you’re my wife. You never filed for divorce.’ He paused. ‘Why is that, Poppy? Because there was still publicity to be milked from my name?’
    His icy tone grazed her skin, making her shudder.
    Relief battered her, and anger. No memory loss after all. Orsino recalled everything. And still blamed her.
    Poppy stiffened her backbone, setting her jaw and telling herself she’d been a fool to think he’d ever be glad to see her.
    She didn’t want this man in her life. She was
glad
to be rid of him.
    Yet his question rang in her ears. Why hadn’t she divorced him?
    ‘You didn’t file for divorce, either.’ Poppy stopped, hating how scratchy and thin her voice sounded, revealing her turmoil. She breathed