Page 38 of A Baby Scandal in Italy

‘I don’t deserve you,’ he murmured as he swept her up into his arms and carried her upstairs to their bedroom. ‘I am going to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.’

‘Will you start now?’ she asked when he tumbled them down on the bed and they undressed each other with trembling hands.

Rafa drew her into his arms and kissed her with tender passion that quickly became urgent as desire and love combined, and each caress felt new and wondrous.

‘I will, my love,’ he promised.

EPILOGUE

NICOLOVIERIARRIVEDwith minimum fuss—although a good deal of stress for Rafa, who would willingly have endured Ivy’s labour pains—on a sunny spring morning. The baby was born in the castle and, once he had been thoroughly inspected by hismamma, who pronounced him perfect, he was introduced to his big brother. Bertie had grown into a lively toddler who was adored by his parents, and baby Nico was a treasured addition to the family.

When Anna took Bertie off to play in the garden, Ivy carried her newborn son over to the window to give him his first glimpse of the world, but he remained steadfastly asleep. ‘He’s so beautiful,’ she whispered, entranced by Nico’s long eyelashes curling on his cheeks. ‘I never imagined I could be this happy.’

Rafa came to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘Do you have any idea how much I love you,curore mio? You and our children are my world.’

Outside the window an orange butterfly settled on the ivy that grew over the castle’s walls. It remained there, opening and closing its delicate wings, before it took off again. Ivy watched it fly up into the blue sky and smiled.

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