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Of course, she didn’t love hiedly All the same, she couldn’t take her eyes off Jai when he was in the same room and her heart hammered and her mouth ran dry every time he looked at her If she was honest with herself, she was sort of fascinated by Jai, always hungry to know more about him and work out what made him tick He had accepted Hari without question and ht into his home

Yes, he had threatened her with legal action but only on Hari’s behalf, not to take her son away fro the hostel and agreeing toshrewdness, he had accoistered in belated dish at heart he didn’t want to marry her! But that was the mystery that was Jai He was volatile and emotional and very hot-blooded, yet he was still apparently willing to settle for a practical e

Jai watched Willoalk away from him to return to their son Evidently, he was about to acquire a wife He gritted his teeth, for being forced toHari officially into the fa hie was difficult, as his parents’ failure to surmount their differences proved But he knew in his heart that he owed Willoedding ring It was that simple, because what he had done with her broke every principle he had been raised to respect: he had greedily and irresponsibly taken an innocent woman and slept with her when she was vulnerable, and even in the act he had not protected her as he should’ve done

He found it hard, though, to forgive her for hiding Hari fro him precious moments of his son’s babyhood that would never be repeated But he had to set that anger aside, he rerets that he could have been such an idiot and concentrate instead on the present He should be relieved that she still attracted hi pull of her understated sensuality He didn’t kno she still had that effect on hiain, not until they were safely, decently married

‘You look a treat,’ Shelley said, patting Willow’s hand as they travelled in a liister office

Willow shivered, scolding herself for having picked a wedding dress unsuited to autuo-round of change and struggling to adapt throughout the past week in Jai’s London ho on an express train that hurtled along at breakneck speed He had pointed out that getting married in Chandrapur would entail a solid week of festivities while getting married discreetly in London would only require an hour and a couple of witnesses

She had spentShe had, however, seen Jai at mealtimes and had tripped over him in the nurserynurseet to know his son and Hari was thriving on the a Willow could already see that the biggest proble that Hari did not grow up into an over-indulged young man, unacquainted with the word ‘no’

Her wedding gown left her arms and throat bare With cap sleeves, a crystal-beaded corset top and a sparkly tulle skirt, it was a fairy-tale dress and very bridal In retrospect, Willoas embarrassed about the choice she had made and worried that it was too excessive for the occasion But who knew if she would ever gether one and possibly only wedding dress, she had gone with her heart

Luckily, she had had Shelley’s support when a stylist had arrived at the house and informed her that she had been instructed to provide Willoith a whole neardrobe A huge wardrobe of clothes tailored to fit Willow had been delivered within forty-eight hours, outfits chosen to shine at any possible occasion and rand Hari now also rejoiced inJai, Willow reckoned ruefully, was rewriting their history and redesigning his bride into a far more fashionable and exclusive version of herself Did he appreciate that that determination to improve her appearance only revealed that he had previously found her unpolished and gauche?

She walked into the anteroom with Shelley by her side Jai approached her with his best friend, Sher, and performed an introduction Sher was the Nizam of Tharistan and he and Jai had been childhood playmates Sher was tall, black-haired and as sleekly handsome as a Bollywood movie star Beside her, she felt Shelley breathe in deep and slow as though she was bracing herself and she al man until it occurred to her that she was even more susceptible to Jai

‘You chose a beautiful dress,’ Jai raphs’

‘What photographs?’ she asked with a frown

‘I have organised a photographer to record the occasion Brides and grooms alant to capture such precious memories on film, I believe,’ he advanced calmly ‘A photo will be released to the local media in Chandrapur and some day Hari may wish to look at them’

Willow grasped that he had wanted her to look suitably bridal in the photographs and understood that there was nothing personal in the compliment He was simply keen for her to visibly fit the bridal role so that the haste that had proe was less obvious

They entered the room where the ceremony was to take place Willow focussed on a rather tired-looking display of flowers in a cheap vase and tensed as Jai threaded the wedding ring onto her finger She turned in the circle of his ar numbly, I am married to Jai now, but it didn’t feel reht in his arms had felt