His Independent Bride: Wife Against Her Will / The Wedlocked Wife / Bertoluzzi's Heiress Bride

Meals could be taken on the veranda, or up at the hotel, depending on the whim of the individual guest.

In addition, she read, there was dancing each evening, a casino, plus a golf course, and horse-riding facilities near by. What more could anyone ask? she thought ironically.

‘Ever done any scuba diving?’ Joel asked.

She’d been aware he was watching her. ‘No, never.’

‘Then Augustina could be a great place to learn. I hear the reef is spectacular.’

‘Then perhaps I’ll try it,’ she said. ‘Some time.’

One detail she’d picked up on which gave her a modicum of hope was that all the bungalows had two bedrooms, each with its own en suite bathroom.

Perhaps Joel intended to keep his word after all, she told herself. On the other hand, he might assume that palm trees, and surf whispering on a moonlit beach, would work some kind of magic, and only one room would be needed.

If so, he would soon find out how wrong he was. She was not in the market for seduction, however expert. And she never would be.

It was getting dark when they finally arrived, the last stage of the journey being by boat.

She was reluctantly impressed. The hotel was luxurious, but the atmosphere was laid-back, and the staff welcoming and friendly. The manager himself came out to greet them.

‘Mr Castille, it’s good to see you again. Mr Ferrars has had to go to Miami, but he’ll be back in a day or two, and he says I’m to look after you personally, and your lovely bride.’

He turned to Darcy, and just for a moment she saw a faint flicker in his eyes, as if she wasn’t what he’d been expecting. Or whom, she thought. ‘Welcome to Augustina, Mrs Castille. I hope this is the first visit of many.’

She shook hands, murmuring something polite, and wondering.

A smiling man called Vince loaded them, with their luggage, onto a vehicle like an upmarket golf buggy for the short trip to their bungalow.

She said, ‘I didn’t realise you’d been here before.’

‘I came to the opening,’ he said. ‘Great party.’

‘Your companion enjoyed it too, I expect.’ She said it before she could stop herself. My God, she thought, I actually sounded as if I was jealous. That I cared if he’d brought another girl here.

‘She appeared to have a good time,’ Joel drawled. ‘We both did.’ He paused. ‘Do you want me to go into details?’

‘No!’ The denial was almost explosive.

His voice was cool. ‘Then let’s drop the subject.’ He paused. ‘And we’ve arrived.’

Vince helped her down from the buggy, then carried in the luggage.

Darcy made herself follow, trying not to look as if her legs were shaking under her. Because this was real seclusion. She hadn’t seen another person on the way here, or even a light.

She walked through sliding glass doors, straight into a lamplit living area that occupied the full width of the bungalow, and was comfortably if simply furnished with deeply cushioned rattan chairs and sofas. In addition, she noticed, one corner was occupied by a compact but fully equipped kitchen. At the rear of the room double doors led to a passage, where Vince was waiting enquiringly.

‘The bedrooms are through there,’ Joel told her. ‘One each side, and identical. Any preference?’

She shook her head mutely, speechless with relief, and heard him briskly directing Vince to put her case in the right-hand room, and his own in the other.

It was very warm, and the darkness outside seemed to be closing in. She’d taken off her jacket on the boat, but her blouse was sticking to her and her mouth felt dry.

Vince went past her, beaming at the money in his hand, calling a cheerful goodnight as he went. Moments later she heard the buggy wheeze into life, then fade into the distance, and knew that she and Joel were alone.

Her heels clicked on the wooden floor as she made her way to the right-hand room. Her case was standing by the range of fitted wardrobes along one wall. The wide bed was flanked by two night tables, and made up with sheets and pillows in dazzling white, with a matching coverlet neatly folded across the foot.

An electric fan turned quietly on the ceiling, and the gauzy white drapes at the tall window stirred lazily in the draught.

Apart from that—nothing. Just space, and peace.

Investigating further, Darcy discovered a frankly glamorous bathroom, tiled in white and gold, with a massive tub and separate roomy shower. The shelves above the twin wash basins held an array of expensive toiletries, and there were stacks of fluffy towels. The robe hanging behind the door was white towelling too.

No lock or bolt on the door, she registered, or on the bedroom door either. Clearly, seclusion had its limits.

Well, she was here now, and she would just have to make the best of it, she thought, unzipping her case and beginning to transfer its contents to the wardrobes and drawers.

Mrs Inman had done her proud, she realised wryly. As well as bikinis and sarongs, the housekeeper had packed several casual skirts and tops, and a couple of her favourite filmy dresses with their accompanying bags and strappy sandals.

And also, wrapped in tissue and tied with a ribbon, a nightgown, filmy as a cloud in ivory chiffon, with a bodice and straps made from tiny silk flowers, which she’d never seen before.

She was staring down at it, when she became aware she was being watched.

She turned to see Joel leaning in the doorway. He’d changed into a pair of cream denim jeans, worn low on the hips. He was barefoot, and the rest of him was tanned, muscular and bare too.

She swallowed. ‘I’d be glad if you’d knock in future.’

‘And I’d be equally grateful if you’d chill out,’ he retorted. ‘You’re like a cat on hot bricks.’ He paused. ‘I came to see if you fancied a swim. Because the pool’s right there outside the windows.’

‘Thank you for telling me.’ She dropped the nightdress back into her case as if it had scorched her fingers.

‘Don’t you like it?’ he asked.

‘It’s—very pretty,’ she said. ‘I just don’t know where it came from.’

‘From me,’ he said. ‘A small gift to the bride from the groom. After all, a wedding night is a special occasion. I thought you should have something equally special to wear.’

‘Thank you.’ Her throat muscles felt tight. ‘I—I didn’t expect…I mean, I’m afraid I didn’t buy anything for you.’

‘That’s all right,’ he said. ‘For the record, I always sleep naked.’

She continued not to look at him. ‘I think that’s too much information.’ She tried to sound casual, but missed by miles. ‘And no, I don’t want to swim, thanks.’

‘Fine,’ Joel said equably. ‘I’ll add it to the list.’

‘What list?’

‘All the activities you’d prefer not to take part in.’ There was faint mockery in his tone. ‘Do you want to order dinner here, or go up to the hotel?’