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CHAPTER ONE

ANGELO VAN ZAAL studied the nine-ht to hiolden-haired with the wide, pansy-blue eyes of a china doll, and the nition The innocence of that trusting selo as sharply as a knife, for few children could have been subjected to a tougher start in life than little Mariska Only a dark bruise and a scratch on one cheek bore witness to the fact that she had been miraculously thrown clear in her special car seat from the accident in which both of her parents had died

‘I understand that you are not related by blood to Mariska,’ the female doctor by his side remarked

‘Her father, Willeht of hielo stated with the clarity for which he was famed in the business world ‘I consider Mariska to be part of my family and I’m keen to adopt her’

‘The social worker in charge of her case did mention that you have been involved in Mariska’s life since she was born—’

‘I did what I could to support Willeh,’ he imparted with a ist of his mouth, as he knew that the medical staff would be well aware of the state in which Mariska’s parents had been at the tirateful that the sordid truth had not appeared in the newspapers

Angelo van Zaal was an extraordinarily handsolance He was also extremely wealthy, the bearer of a name famous for its benevolence in the field of philanthropy Nevertheless, the steel e and success as a business to the press, a procession of international fashionhours In looks, he had inherited his Spanish mother’s black hair and darker skin tone rather than his Dutch father’s fair colouring But his eyes were a bright burning blue, as lucid as a flawless sapphire and enhanced by a fraaze spectacular impact Tall, at several inches over six feet, and well built, he had attracted a good deal of notice froh the hospital to the children’s ward He was also, as far as the doctor are, still a single man

‘The hospital has had several enquiries about Mariska’s welfare from her aunt, Flora Bennett I understand that she is Julie’s older sister’

Angelo’s superb bone structure took on a forbidding aspect At the same time, he had a mental flash of eyes the colour of emeralds, skin as impossibly white as e a man into an erotic daydream Flora was a tall, feisty redhead with the kind of sensual appeal that would have entrapped a less wary and experienced elo crushed that provocative thought and shook himself free of it in exasperation ‘A half-sister,’ he pronounced quietly ‘She and Julie had the same father’

Angelo could have said a great deal more but he compressed his lips, reluctant to voice his hostility towards the other side of Mariska’s fanant Englishwoated when Wille reservations about Julie had proved prophetic

Had it not been for Julie’s inclinations, Angelo was convinced that Willem would still be alive and, from what he had learned about Julie’s elder sister at the saation had revealed that lurid scandal laced Flora’s background; some years earlier she had used sleazy tactics in an attempt to advance and enrich herself in the workplace While Flora was considerably more memorable in looks and personality than her rather er and Angelo kneould go to any lengths to ensure that Willehter, Mariska, was protected from her influence Mariska would, after all, inherit her father’s trust fund As Willeain access to thewoman

Indeed, if Angelo had anything to do with the matter, Mariska would lead a very different life from that of either of her feckless parents His wide sensual ht have failed to rescue Wille the very best he could for his stepbrother’s daughter would help hiht

The doctor cleared her throat as Mariska lay in Angelo’s arranted temporary custody of the child ‘Have you any plans to marry?’ she enquired, unable to stifle her curiosity on that score

Brilliant blue eyes flew straight to her blushing face Angelo was too hts but tension held hiirl is concerned, I still have h’

His acknowledgerounds for concern over his suitability as a single parentappraisal Soh she would never have called him an emotional personality, he was innately practical and reliable Many ed off the probleelo had stood his ground and done what he could to help until the inevitable tragic end was reached In the doctor’s book, that not only made hiuardian for a vulnerable child

Flora sat rigid-backed in the taxi that had collected her froht into Schipol airport Every step of her journey to Aanised without any input froh those arran

gerateful for that assistance, but also as tense as a bowstring

At five feet eleven inches tall, she was a long-li with her height and graceful carriage But Flora had never seen herself in that favourable light because froe and gawky beside her dainty, dihter’s size