A Whisper of Disgrace Read online

  He swallowed, struggling to cope with the new and very powerful feelings which were beginning to emerge. And he wondered if it really was too late. ‘I’ll go,’ he said. ‘And I’ll face whatever truth awaits me there—but before I do, there’s something you need to know. Something I never told you before, but which I should have done.’ There was a pause as he looked down at the soft parting of her lips. ‘That the first time I saw you, you spoke to something in my heart. I looked across that crowded nightclub, little realising that I was about to meet a woman who would change just about everything.’

  ‘Kulal—’

  ‘And that is why I am asking you—with all the earnestness at my command—can we please try again? Because I love you, Rosa, and I want to be a real husband to you—in every sense of the word.’

  She was swallowing frantically but it was no good, because the tears which had begun welling up in her eyes had begun to trickle down her cheeks. And she saw from the sudden darkening of his features that he was in danger of misinterpreting those tears and that’s when she stopped fighting her own feelings. She gave in to what she’d been wanting to do all along and flung her arms around his neck, her face wet as she pressed her lips to his.

  ‘Yes,’ she said, whispering the words directly into his mouth. ‘Yes in every language that I speak—and in yours too, which I have yet to learn. Yes, because I love you too—even though I tried to tell myself that I was crazy to love you. But I couldn’t stop myself, no matter how hard I tried. And I want to spend the rest of my life loving you back, but only if you promise never to lock me out of your heart again.’

  ‘I promise,’ he said fiercely. ‘Now will you please just kiss me properly before I go out of my mind?’

  Her lips were pressing hard against his almost before he’d finished the sentence but the kiss felt different. It felt like a statement—and a seal. It felt almost life-changing. And maybe it was. She smiled as if she’d suddenly understood the world’s best-kept secret as Kulal stood up and lifted her into his arms, before carrying her into the small, wooden house.

  Because didn’t everyone always say that true love had the power to transform?

  EPILOGUE

  THE AL-DIMASHQI PALACE shone in the late-afternoon light, rising up from the stark landscape like a beautiful fairy-tale castle in the distance and Rosa peered out of the car window with a fast-growing feeling of excitement. She had been longing to visit the desert kingdom of Zahrastan and now the moment was here at last. She could see turrets and domes and the tantalising glimmer of water in among the rose gardens and she gave a little sigh of anticipation.

  Kulal squeezed her hand. ‘Nervous?’ he questioned.

  ‘A bit.’ She turned to look at him. ‘I’m terrified your brother won’t like me.’

  ‘What’s not to like?’ His eyes were soft as he studied her. ‘You are the woman who has tamed the tear-away sheikh. The proud Sicilian beauty my people are longing to meet.’ He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. ‘And the woman who has captured my heart so completely.’

  ‘Well, when you put it like that.’ She brushed her fingertips over his mouth, but her next words were hesitant. ‘And how do you feel about coming back, Kulal? I mean, really.’

  Kulal was quiet for a moment while he considered her question. This was his second trip to Zahrastan in as many months. The first time he had come alone and it had been a trip of necessity, not of pleasure. He had gone to the hospital in the capital, where his mother had been taken following her fall. Assiduously, he had forced himself to read through all the records and then had spoken to the medical director, who’d been a very junior doctor at the time.

  Vividly, Kulal remembered flying back to Paris. He remembered the hopeful expression on Rosa’s face and the way it had become wary when he told her that the tests had proved inconclusive. That he still didn’t know whether his mother’s death had been caused by the fall or by some pre-existing condition. But that it was okay. He’d told her that too. It was all okay. The past had happened and there was nothing he could do to change it. All he had was the present—the glorious present, with his loving wife, who had taught him so much, by his side.

  ‘I feel joy,’ he said simply. ‘And gratitude. That in finding you, I could find myself and learn to live in a way I never thought possible. And I’m looking forward to the celebrations.’

  ‘Me too,’ she said. ‘Though I’ve had my reservations about the guest list.’

  ‘Well, don’t. I utterly forbid it. And I don’t know why you’re giggling like that, Rosa—because I do!’

  He tightened his hand around hers. They were here in Zahrastan because the king wanted to throw a big party for his brother and his Sicilian bride. Kulal’s former fiancée, Ayesha, would be there, with the Tuscan nobleman she had surprised everyone by marrying after Kulal had ‘freed’ her from their engagement. His lips curved. How life could constantly surprise! Rosa’s family had also been invited and most of them were coming. There would doubtless be friction, though hopefully the august surroundings of the Al-Dimashqi palace might inject a little calm into the sometimes overexuberant nature of the Corretti clan.

  And if it didn’t? If there were noisy scenes and tears, and make-ups and break-ups? So what. What would be, would be. Kulal had learnt that there was much in life he couldn’t control. He’d learnt that taking a risk was sometimes as necessary to life as breathing itself. He touched his hand to the gleaming crown of his wife’s dark hair and smiled as he bent to kiss her.

  And he’d learnt that love was the most necessary thing of all.

  Read on for an exclusive interview

  with Sharon Kendrick!

  BEHIND THE SCENES OF SICILY’S CORRETTI DYNASTY

  with Sharon Kendrick

  It’s such a huge world to create—an entire Sicilian dynasty. Did you discuss parts of it with the other writers?

  My story (which features an unbelievably sexy sheikh!) takes place mainly in Paris and the South of France, so my hero and heroine don’t spend much time in Sicily. However, before my story starts, Rosa (my heroine) has a row with Lia (Lynn Raye Harris’s heroine) and we discussed exactly what was said during this altercation.

  How does being part of the continuity differ from when you are writing your own stories?

  It’s pretty fabulous to have a plot handed to you on a golden platter!

  What was the biggest challenge? And what did you most enjoy about it?

  My biggest challenge was making my hero able to respect a woman who started out by behaving like a bit of a tramp!

  As you wrote your hero and heroine was there anything about them that surprised you?

  I was surprised at how dark Kulal became once he’d married Rosa—even though the marriage was never meant to be anything but temporary.

  What was your favourite part of creating the world of Sicily’s most famous dynasty?

  I liked Rosa’s battle for independence and Kulal’s courage in facing up to his demons.

  If you could have given your heroine one piece of advice before the opening pages of the book, what would it be?

  He’s nothing but trouble!

  What was your hero’s biggest secret?

  I don’t think I can tell you Kulal’s big secret, because it might spoil your enjoyment of the book.

  What does your hero love most about your heroine?

  He loves her spirit and her self-belief (which grows out of adversity).

  What does your heroine love most about your hero?

  *sighs* How long have you got? He’s powerful, successful and super-confident, plus he also has a (deserved) reputation as a ladies’ man. But Rosa can see through all the layers to the complex man beneath and it is that man she falls in love with.

  Which of the Correttis would you most like to meet and why?

  I’d like to meet all of Rosa’s immediate and extended family because something tells me that it would be one hell of a party!

  All the characters i
n this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

  First published in Great Britain 2013

  Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  THE CORRETTIS: SECRETS

  © Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. 2013

  A Whisper of Disgrace © Harlequin Books S.A. 2013

  Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Sharon Kendrick for her contribution to Sicily’s Corretti Dynasty series

  eISBN: 978-1-472-01564-8

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  About the Author

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Copyright