The Silver Bride

Stella thrust up her chin as she voiced that reality. 'If Aria came to that front door right now, I'd hand you over without a murmur!' "That's enough!' Dior growled. Tm not finished!' Stella's anger was shooting higher even as he inexplicably appeared to be on the wane. 'You deserve her! I wish you had married her.

You'd have got frostbite on your wedding night!' Dior breathed in very slowly and deeply. Then he said, 'I think this could be that stage when the honeymoon phase comes to a sudden very sticky end.' 'I've had enough of you and that malicious vixen,' Stella announced tremulously.

'Tough,' Dior responded with extreme quietness. That switch in attitude bemused her. 'What do you mean, tough?' 'You're my wife and you're not going anywhere.

While you're displaying this deeply disturbing manic streak where Aria is concerned, you're staying on this island. I have to confess that I cringe at the prospect of you meeting up with her again. Look at yourself!' Dior invited with a curled lip.

'You're practically jumping up and down with rage as it is.' 'What do you expect?' Stella screeched so loudly her voice broke. Dior closed a determined arm round her shivering figure. This is not good for the baby—'

'Get your hands off me!' Stella hissed. 'No, your emotions are running out of control. It has to be your hormone level,' Dior decided, surveying her with extreme gravity but with a definite look of relief at an explanation, he liked very much.

'My...hormone level?' Stella practically whispered. 'In early pregnancy, a woman may be prone to emotional changes and may require extra support and understanding.' Stella's jaw dropped at what sounded very much like a direct quote from a textbook.

A dark flush scored Dior's stunning cheekbones as he appeared to absorb the meaning of what he had just said. 'I've been far too hard on you,' he added abruptly. Stella was disconcerted to find herself being herded over to a sofa and urged to sit down. 'Dior...what on earth are you playing at?' she prompted weakly. Dior came down beside her, his dark, devastatingly handsome features now stamped with taut discomfiture.

'You were distressed after you saw that article. Even if you had announced your pregnancy to the entire maintenance staff in my building, I should have been more sympathetic towards your feelings.' Stella could agree with that, at least. However, she hadn't the slightest wish to shelter behind the excuse of emotional mood swings provoked by hormonal upheaval. '

Yes, but—' 'It just made me so bloody furious to see you being attacked in print!' Dior vented with sudden rawness as he folded a powerful arm around her and drew her close. 'And it was chilling working out the sort of childhood you must have endured with two such selfish parents.

'I can't live with you not trusting me.' 'Of course, I trust you...with one single exception,' Dior extended without hesitation. 'And I don't think we need to discuss that exception again.' Stella breathed in sharply. All she could taste was her absolute defeat on the topic of Aria Bailey.

She was shaken and upset. But how did she persist with her accusations? She didn't want to destroy their marriage before it even got going. Aria was already working hard at doing Hard and successfully, Stella reflected painfully.

And how could she possibly fight the other woman without evidence? Was she about to sink to the embarrassing level of beggingChloe Murphy to repeat Aria 's malicious verbal attack at their wedding? The sad truth was that no spiteful comment could prove her own infinitely more serious allegations against the brunette.

'As for the newspaper foolish enough to print that rubbish, I shall sue,' Dior continued with chilling cool. 'My lawyers tell me I can hang them out to dry, and hang them I will." Involuntarily, Stella shivered.

'Why bother?' 'When anyone attacks you, they're attacking me. Your reputation is at stake. I will defend it' 'Well, don't feel you have to on my account,' Stella muttered limply. 'Sticks and stones and all that—'