To Make a Marriage Read Free Page B

if we should all produce daughters?’ she prompted gruffly.
    Adam laughed, seeming unaware of her distraction. ‘Then you’ll all just have to keep trying until that male heir materialises!’
    â€˜I’m sure Harrie and Danie will be thrilled to know that!’ Andie gave a hollow laugh.
    â€˜Look on the bright side, Andie,’ Adam drawled. ‘Until you find a husband it isn’t a problem that need bother you!’
    How little he knew…!
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    She didn’t look well, Adam decided concernedly. Oh, there was no doubting Andie was as beautiful as ever. That would never change. Apart from her blonde hair, which she had inherited from her father, she looked exactly like her mother. And Barbara had been the most beautiful woman he had ever known…
    But he knew Rome was worried about Andie, and, after seeing her at the wedding on Saturday, Adam had to admit he felt the same way. Andie still looked good enough to eat, but there was an air of fragility about her now that he had never noticed before, and a haunted look to those deep green eyes.
    â€˜So I really can’t tempt you, then? To come out to lunch with me,’ he pressed as she looked at him beneath mockingly raised brows.
    She sighed her impatience. ‘I’ve already explained—’
    â€˜Several times,’ he agreed tersely. ‘Will you be at the estate this weekend?’
    Now her expression became guarded. ‘Why?’
    It never used to be like this between them! He had always had a close friendship with all of the Summer sisters, and Andie, as the youngest, had been able to twist him around her little finger. But there was a barrier between them now—and it wasn’t a situation he was particularly happy with.
    â€˜No particular reason,’ he replied. ‘But it’s a fact that I have been invited down this weekend, and, if Rome is as bad-tempered as you say he is, it might be nice to have some happier company along!’
    Andie gave a loud laugh. ‘Ever the bluntly honest Adam!’
    He grimaced. ‘You wouldn’t know me if I suddenly became all charming and polite!’
    â€˜True,’ she acknowledged evenly. ‘It might be interesting to see, though,’ she added softly.
    Was it his imagination, or was there a wistful note in her voice…?
    Wishful thinking, Adam, he instantly told himself.
    Although there didn’t seem to be anyone in her life at the moment; Andie had attended the wedding alone on Saturday. But Adam knew there had been men in her life in the past, and to even imagine that she might have been nurturing a secret passion for him all these years was the height of stupidity on his part.
    â€˜So what’s wrong with Rome?’ he abruptly changed the subject.
    Andie frowned as she obviously readjusted her thoughts to coincide with his. ‘Audrey has handed in her notice.’
    â€˜ Audrey has?’ Adam gasped disbelievingly.
    Because he didn’t believe it. Audrey Archer had been Rome’s personal assistant for so long now, had become partof the Summer family life, it was almost impossible to think of any of them without including Audrey in the equation.
    Andie gave an unhappy grimace. ‘We’re all as surprised as you obviously are, Rome most of all—’
    â€œSurprised isn’t exactly the way I would have described my own reaction,’ Adam said.
    â€˜No…?’ Andie looked puzzled by his words.
    Were all of the Summer family blind? Adam wondered impatiently. It had been obvious to him for years that the beautiful Audrey was in love with her employer. Just as it had also been obvious that, although Rome might be unaware of it, to all intents and purposes, apart from the physical side of things—which, Adam had decided long ago, was none of his business!—Audrey had been Rome’s wife in everything but name for at least the last ten years!
    Audrey went everywhere with Rome, had