Scarlet Lady Read Free Page A

before!' he said tightly.
    She gasped in dismay and scanned the cold, bleak face for some sign of pity. None. Only that merciless glare. Pain seared through her. 'No man has ever made love to me but you!' she replied vehemently, her fingers picking fretfully at the pearl buttons of her suit. The curl of his mouth grew more contemptuous. 'You have to believe me, Leo!' she cried passionately, near to hysterics.
    'How can I ever know?' he shot back.
    The question shafted through her like a knife. Ginny raised sorrowful, gold-shot eyes to his, begging for a shred of affection that she could cling to. 'I can't prove anything,' she said in a whisper. 'Not to you, the public, my friends, your family, the courts. I was hoping—' She broke off and took a moment to find control of her voice. 'I lost the case,' she croaked. 'I have to pay nearly a million in costs,' she continued, hoping for some hint that he might want to console her.
    'I told you not to resort to litigation,' he said in exasperation.
    'Don't men normally defend their wife's honour?' she asked, her near-hysteria making her sound a little sharp.
    'Against the tabloids?' One peat-brown eyebrow expressed scorn and disagreement. 'That's not how it's done, Ginny. It would be tantamount to saying that their lies could have an effect. Ignoring them is more dignified. You went against my advice and now you're reaping the consequences.'
    'And you mean to chastise me like a disobedient child?' she retorted. 'Can't you see I need—?'
    'No. I won't throw Brandon money at you any more. You have your own account; use it,' he said flatly.
    Tears trickled down her cheeks and into the corners of her parted lips.. 'Oh, drat!' she rasped angrily, knuckling them away, not caring if her eye make-up became smudged. 'Leo, I wasn't asking for money; I'll earn more if I have to—do shows, TV interviews, anything— but... I...'
    Overwhelmed, she reached out her arms to him in a piteous gesture. He ignored her plea. She knew that he was stubborn. Once, he'd defied his family to marry her and had defended her when they didn't rush to produce children as soon as everyone expected. And once he'd admired her success.
    Now they no longer had the same goals, she thought miserably. Their lives were drawing apart. They had become strangers and he didn't want to defend her any more.
    'Your career means a lot to you,' he observed.
    'Naturally,' she said huskily. 'I've worked hard. It's given me self-esteem, Leo!'
    'I know that. I don't denigrate what you've done. I've been proud of you.' His hooded eyes brooded on her. 'But .:.you can't be everything to all people and do it well, Ginny,' he said in a gentler tone than before.
    'I had to try!' she cried in exasperation. 'Don't you see? If I hadn't kept my name up top and continued with the shows during the run-up to the trial, I'd have been yesterday's face in the twinkling of an eye. And what else would I do?' she asked hotly. 'You don't seriously think I could sit around all day discussing menus and arranging flowers, do you?'
    'Don't be ridiculous!' he growled.
    Ginny drove her teeth into her lower lip, knowing that she'd been unfair. He'd never asked that of her. 'What do you want from me?' she asked.
    'Exclusivity,' he rasped rawly.
    She controlled the urge to wince. 'I am yours. Wholly yours.'
    'Are you?'
    Her mouth trembled. It was clear that he didn't believe her. 'My darling, can't we start again? Please hold me. I need your arms around me so badly—'
    'And I've needed yours many times and you've not been there,' he said quietly. 'It's not a marriage any more—'
    'It will be!' she cried in panic, her hand pressing her chest where her heart banged painfully against her ribs. 'It's been a bad time but we can be together again—'
    'We both have to want that,' he muttered.
    Her eyes rounded in horror. His serious expression scared her. Cold to the bone, she dreaded to be told that he didn't love her any longer. She tried to speak but could only