Читать книгу Expecting The Fellani Heir - Lucy Gordon, Lucy Gordon - Страница 8

CHAPTER THREE

LEFT ALONE, ELLIE explored the luxurious apartment. Her own room was large with a double bed, extensive wardrobes and bulky drawers. Putting her things away, she couldn’t help noticing how plain and dull they looked in these glamorous surroundings.

If I was in search of a rich husband I’d jump at his offer, she thought wryly. But I’m looking for something else in a husband. Something Leonizio can’t give me. Not that he’ll ever understand that. He’s got money and why should a wife ask for anything else? That’s how he sees it.

She switched on the television and sat watching a news channel, discovering that her understanding of Italian was better than she’d thought.

I could do with something to read, she mused after a couple of hours. That looks like a newsagent just over the road. Let’s see if they’ve got any English papers.

Hurrying downstairs, she crossed the road to the shop, which turned out to be a delightful place, full of foreign publications. By the time she left she had an armful of papers.

But a shock awaited her when she arrived back at Leonizio’s apartment. As she reached the front door she could hear him inside, shouting, ‘Where are you? Where are you?’

There was something in his voice that hadn’t been there before. It was no longer the cry of a bully demanding obedience, but the misery of a man in despair. She thought she could guess the reason. Once before he had gone home to find his wife vanished, taking with her the unborn child on which he pinned his hopes. Now he was reliving that moment, fearing that he was deserted again, seeing his world collapse and everything he valued snatched from him.

‘Where are you?’ came the frantic cry again.

Unable to bear it any longer, she opened the door. At the same moment he strode out so quickly that he collided with her, forcing her to cling to him to avoid falling. He tightened his grip and they stood for a moment, locked in each other’s arms.

‘So there you are,’ he snapped.

‘Yes, I’m here.’

‘Come in,’ he said, still holding onto her as he led her inside. His arms about her were tight, as though he feared to release her.

He saw her onto the sofa, then stood back and regarded her uneasily.

‘Did I hurt you?’ he growled.

‘Not at all. But there was no need for you to get worked up. I just slipped out for a moment to buy a few things over the road. I’m here now.’

He sat down beside her.

‘You should have left a note saying where you’d gone.’ He spoke calmly but his face was tense.

‘Yes, perhaps I should have done that,’ she said, ‘but I knew I’d only be away for a couple of minutes, and I thought I’d be back here before you returned. I’m sorry. I really am.’

She spoke gently, regretting the distress she’d caused him. When he didn’t answer she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder.

‘Finding the place empty made you think I’d deserted you, taking your baby, as Harriet did.’

His shoulders sagged. ‘You’re right,’ he said heavily.

‘But I promised to stay, and I’ll keep that promise. So stop worrying, Leonizio. It’s not going to happen again. If you need to go out, just go. I’ll always be here when you get back. Word of honour.’

He turned, looking her in the eyes as though he couldn’t quite believe what he heard.

‘Really? You mean that?’

‘When I give a promise I keep it. You have to trust me, Leonizio.’

‘I do trust you. Completely.’

‘But you’re still afraid I might betray you as she did.’

‘No. You’re not like her.’

‘Then relax.’

He smiled and squeezed her hand.

‘Actually, I need to go out again for a little while,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you rest, and when I return I’ll take you out for dinner? We can start to get to know each other.’

‘That would be lovely, Leonizio,’ she said.

He seemed to relax but she knew the pain and fear she had heard in his voice had been real. It was there in his heart, and she would always remember it.

‘Go out,’ she said. ‘And stop worrying.’

‘I’ll try.’

He departed, giving her a brief glance before he left.

She was glad to be alone again that afternoon. Since her arrival in Rome, everything that had happened had disconcerted her. Leonizio’s reaction had only underlined how little she knew him.

But something else disturbed her even more. It was the memory of their collision in the corridor, the way his arms had enfolded her. She knew he’d been protecting her from a fall, but the sensation of being held against his body had been shattering, recalling another time.

That night still lived in her heart, her mind and her senses. She, who had never before even considered a one-night stand, had gone willingly into this one, letting it tempt her as though it was the most natural and the most desirable thing in the world.

She had come to Rome because Leonizio had the right to know about his child, yet she was still determined to stay in control of herself and the situation. Perhaps it was going to be harder than she had thought, but she was strong. Whatever disagreements they might have, she would be the winner. On that she was determined.

She prepared for the evening ahead with a shower, followed by an inspection of her clothes. She had nothing glamorous, but a simple green dress gave her an air of quiet elegance.

She hesitated briefly over her hair, finally deciding to wear it pulled back, sending a silent message that tonight her controlled self was the one in command.

When she heard Leonizio’s key in the lock she positioned herself so that he could see her as soon as he entered, and was rewarded by the look of relief that dawned in his eyes as soon as he saw her.

‘Let’s go,’ he said.

His car was waiting below, with a smartly dressed chauffeur in attendance. He opened a rear door, bowing to Ellie.

‘Take us to the Venere,’ Leonizio told him.

Ellie gave him a quick startled glance.

‘Is that the Venere Hotel, near the Colosseum?’ she asked.

‘Yes. It’s got a fine restaurant. You know it?’

‘I’ve heard of it,’ she said.

Lelia, her Italian grandmother, had worked in the Venere and had described it as one of the most luxurious places in Rome. It would be fascinating to see it now, Ellie thought.

She understood its reputation as soon as they arrived. The building looked as though it had once been a palace. Inside, a waiter greeted them and led them to a table by the window, from which she could see the Colosseum, the huge amphitheatre built nearly two thousand years ago.

‘It’s eerie,’ she mused. ‘Once people crowded there for the pleasure of seeing victims fed to the lions. Now the tourists go because it’s beautiful and fascinating. And maybe we’ve all got somebody we’d like to see fed to the lions.’

‘You wouldn’t be aiming that at me, would you?’ he queried.

‘I’m not sure,’ she said. ‘I’ll let you know when I’ve decided.’

‘Well, I can’t say I haven’t been warned.’

‘Right. I can be a real pain in the neck. You’ll probably be glad to be rid of me.’

‘Forget it. There’s no way you’ll escape.’

She gave him a teasing smile. ‘Surely you don’t want a woman who’s a pestiferous nuisance?’

He returned the smile. ‘I might. They can often be the most fun.’

He held out his hand and she shook it. ‘As long as we understand each other,’ she said.

‘Perhaps we always did.’

‘No, I don’t think we ever did.’

While he was considering this a waiter approached with a menu, which he gave to Ellie.

‘Need any help?’ Leonizio asked.

‘I can manage the Italian but I’ll need you to explain the food to me. What’s Coda all Vaccinara?’

‘Stewed oxtail in tomato sauce,’ Leonizio told her.

‘It sounds nice. I’d like to have some.’

‘May I suggest the Frascati wine to go with it, signorina?’ the waiter said.

‘No,’ Leonizio said at once. ‘Sparkling water for the lady. No alcohol.’

‘And for you, signore?’

‘I’ll have the Frascati.’

When the waiter had retired, Leonizio said, ‘I know you can’t drink wine while you’re pregnant.’

She didn’t reply and after a moment he demanded, ‘Why are you glaring at me?’

‘I’m not.’

‘Yes, you are. You’d like to thump me.’

‘That’s very perceptive of you. All right, the way you made that decision without consulting me makes me think a good thump might be satisfying.’

‘You do me an injustice. I paid you the compliment of assuming that you would already have made the sensible decision. You’re such an efficient, businesslike person that—’

‘All right, all right. You can stop there. You always know what to say, don’t you?’

He gave her a cheerful grin. ‘Luckily for me, yes. With some combatants it’s a useful skill.’

‘Is that what we are? Combatants?’

‘Not all the time. But it’s something that’s going to crop up now and then.’

‘Now and then. I suppose that’s true.’

‘And while we can have an evening out like this, we can relax together and find a way to solve the problem.’

His tone was friendly, but a man working at a business arrangement might have spoken in just this way, she thought.

‘How are you feeling now?’ he asked.

‘Fine. That rest did me good. Now I’m in the mood to enjoy myself.’

‘You’re all right after what I put you through?’

‘You mean when you got so upset because I wasn’t there? I’m sorry for the whole thing. It must have been terrible for you, feeling like you were reliving the past.’

He nodded. ‘It was exactly the same. I came home one day and she’d gone. She didn’t leave a note. I was left to wonder until an email arrived the next day.

‘Yes. Coming back to an empty house is something I don’t cope with very well.’ He gave a brief self-mocking laugh. ‘I remember telling you that we should discover things about each other. Well, that’s something you’ve discovered. Perhaps you should take warning.’

‘I’ve already had plenty to warn me, and there’s nothing I can’t cope with. Beware. This lioness has claws.’

‘Well, I know that. They left a few scratches on me when we were together.’

She drew a sharp breath. His words brought back the memory of the time she had spent in his arms, overcome by a physical excitement she’d never known before. Bereft of all self-control, she had clutched him in a fever of desire that it shocked her to remember now.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said hastily. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you.’

‘Don’t apologise. It was an accident. The world seemed to change that night, as though we’d become different people.’

‘Yes, that’s true. I no longer really know what to think about anything.’

‘Is that why you refuse to marry me?’

‘I haven’t actually refused. I just can’t take it for granted, the way you did. I don’t like being given orders.’

‘That’s not what I did.’

‘But it is. You just assumed I’d jump at the chance to marry you. How arrogant is that?’

She gave a brief laugh. ‘I once looked up your name and found that Leonizio means ‘lion-like’. That says it all about you. The lion rules the plains, and Leonizio thinks he can rule wherever he likes.’

Briefly she wondered if she was wise to risk offending him, but his smile contained only wry amusement.

‘Except for the lioness,’ he said. ‘She could stand up to him better than anyone else.’

She nodded. ‘As long as he understands that.’

‘He understands completely. And he knows he’ll have to be cleverer than usual to achieve victory.’

‘But he doesn’t really doubt that he’ll be the winner, does he?’

‘Tact prevents me answering that.’ He raised his glass. ‘Here’s to victory—for both of us.’

She raised her own glass and they clinked.

‘As long as we each understand what victory means,’ he said. ‘You know what it means to me but—’ He paused.

‘You just can’t understand why I don’t jump at the chance to marry you, can you?’ she said.

‘I’m not the conceited oaf that makes me sound. As a person I may not be likeable. I understand that.’

‘Is that what your wife said?’

‘She said plenty about me. None of it good, in the end.’

‘In my experience, marriage ends badly. My parents divorced. You’re about to be divorced. It’s par for the course, it seems. Can you blame me for refusing you?’

‘Yes, but don’t forget that not all marriages need end that way. Ours would be different. We would be entering it with our eyes wide open. What do I have to offer to persuade you?’

‘You don’t understand. It’s what I’d lose. My country, my career, my freedom, my independence. I’m not ready to rush into it.’

‘Not even to benefit our child?’

‘But does marriage always benefit the child?’ she asked. ‘My parents were married and the unhappiness filled the air. I need to know—this is going to sound crazy to you—but I need to know that we can be friends.’

‘I don’t think it’s crazy at all. It makes sense.’ He gave a contented nod. ‘We’ve got a while to get to know each other, and hopefully like each other.’

‘Yes,’ she said eagerly. ‘That’s the luckiest thing that can happen to a child, that its parents can be best friends.’

‘You think that’s luckier than if the parents love each other?’

‘It can be. Friendship doesn’t have so many ups and downs, so many dramas and crises. I can remember coming home from school wondering if my parents were speaking to each other today. When I got the lead in the school play they each came to a different performance. It would have been lovely if they’d come together and we’d had an evening as a happy family, but—’ she shrugged ‘—that’s how it was.’

Suddenly they were surrounded by applause. A man had appeared, bearing a guitar. He bowed to the guests at the tables who were applauding his entrance, and began to sing. Ellie listened with pleasure as he made his way between the tables, coming close until she could see him clearly. Noticing that she was delighted, Leonizio signalled to the man. He approached them, carolling cheerfully, until Leonizio held out a generous tip. He bowed and departed. When he finished his performance she clapped eagerly.

‘That was lovely,’ she said. ‘It’s such a nice, cheeky song.’

‘You understood it?’ Leonizio asked, astonished. ‘But he was singing in Roman dialect. I know you understand some Italian, but dialect?’

‘My grandmother used to sing it to me when I was a little girl. She came from Rome; she was born and spent her early years in Trastevere and she told me so much about it that I longed to see it. I loved my grandmother so much. I used to call her Nonna when I knew that was what Italians called their grandmothers. Now I’m here I feel wonderfully close to her.’

‘Tell me about her.’

‘She’s the reason I’d heard of the Venere. Years ago she worked here as a chambermaid.’

‘Here? In this very building?’

‘Yes. Then she met an Englishman who was a guest, and they fell in love. He took her back to England with him. They married and had a son, my father. Sadly, my grandfather didn’t live very long. Nonna mostly brought up my father on her own. When he married my mother she lived with them, looking after me.

‘So you’re nearly as much Italian as English?’

‘In some ways. My mother didn’t really like my grandmother very much. She said Nonna was a bad influence on me. She was very cross one day when she found her playing me some music. It was opera and my mother said it was way above my head.’

‘And was it?’

‘No, I like opera because of its terrific tunes. That’s all.’

‘So if I want to take you to an opera that would be a mark in my favour?’

‘It would be lovely.’

‘You’re so knowledgeable that I’m sure you know about the Caracalla Baths.’

‘They were a kind of spa built by the Emperor Caracalla nearly two thousand years ago. There’s very little left standing, but what’s left is used as a theatre for open-air performances.’

‘Right. They open every summer, but this year they’re doing a special run in April. We’ll get the programme and you can take your pick.’

‘That’s lovely. Oh, how I wish I had Nonna here now so that she could see me becoming her real granddaughter after all this time. She died many years ago, and I miss her so much.’

‘You’re going to enjoy Rome, I promise you.’

Of course he wanted her to enjoy Rome, because it would make it easier for him to persuade her to stay and marry him. A slightly cynical voice whispered this in her mind, but she refused to let it worry her. Leonizio was handsome and attentive and part of her simply wanted to relax and be with him.

A sudden loud noise announced the arrival of a crowd. The waiter dashed around, trying to find room for them all. Ellie closed her eyes, trying to shut out the commotion. These days she tired easily.

‘Perhaps we should go,’ Leonizio said wryly, looking at her. ‘It’s time you were getting some rest.’

‘Giving me orders again?’

‘Yes.’ He said it with a smile that made the word humorous.

‘In that case I’d better obey,’ she chuckled.

A few minutes’ drive brought them home. He saw her to her bedroom door.

‘Is there anything I can do for you?’

‘No, thank you. I have all I need.’

‘Go to bed, then.’

For a moment he seemed on the verge of kissing her, but he only opened the door and indicated for her to go in.

‘Goodnight,’ he said softly. ‘Sleep well.’

‘And you.’

She slipped inside and closed the door.

Now she could go to bed and try to come to terms with everything that was happening to her. It was hard because so many things in her mind seemed to direct her two ways. Some were troublesome, others suggested the hope of happiness if only she could understand many ideas. Still trying to get clear, she faded into sleep.

Suddenly she found herself in a new place, one where there were no boundaries, no definite positions. Here there was only mist and sensation, leading her forward into an unknown world.

But she realised that it wasn’t completely unknown. She had been here once before in another life, another universe, one that was still offering intriguing possibilities. She could feel again the sweetness that had tempted her, the touch so different from anything she had known.

But there was also the apprehension at the way she was losing control. Deep inside her a nervous voice was crying out.

‘What am I doing? Do I dare do this? Am I just a little mad? Or am I turning into somebody else—somebody I don’t know? I mustn’t do this...not now—not this time—’

Even as she spoke, she gasped with the tremor of remembered sensation that possessed her.

Be strong, whispered the warning voice. Stay in control. You lost control that time and you’re paying for it. You know that.

‘Yes, I do. And I mustn’t—no—no!’

Then everything changed. There was a pounding on her door. The next moment Leonizio was there, leaning over her, taking her in his arms.

‘Ellie,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Ellie! Wake up!’

The sound of his voice startled her awake. Gradually her breathing slowed and the world came back into focus. She found that she was clinging to him.