Dante's Unexpected Legacy

by Catherine George

  To Rose’s relief, Bea slept the night through and was even more bouncy than usual the next morning as she ate her cereal.

  ‘I like Dante,’ she announced when she’d finished.

  Rose’s stomach did a forward roll. ‘Do you, darling?’

  Bea nodded. ‘Can he read stories again?’

  ‘I expect so.’

  ‘You like him, too, Mummy,’ Bea stated.

  ‘Yes, I do. Now, let’s get a move on or we’ll be late.’

  When Rose got back home from the school run Grace had let herself in and had coffee waiting.

  She eyed her daughter anxiously. ‘You obviously had a bad night. Dante didn’t believe you?’

  Rose busied herself with filling mugs. ‘Oh, he believed me right enough. He was stunned at first, but when the truth finally sank in he was all for marrying me right away.’

  Grace’s delighted smile faded quickly. ‘But you don’t want that.’

  ‘No. As I told Dante, we’re virtually strangers. Before jumping in at the deep end I made it clear we would need to know each other better, and I would have to be utterly sure that Bea was happy with the idea.’

  ‘Did he agree?’

  ‘Yes. He immediately made plans to go back to Fortino to arrange some leave, and then come back to stay at the Hermitage to spend time with his daughter.’

  ‘Goodness,’ said Grace, blinking. ‘I take it you’re against the idea?’

  Rose nodded vehemently. ‘The minute I gave Dante the good news he started giving orders. I was to change my life completely, marry him and take off for Italy to live with him and Bea in his house—the Villa Castiglione, left to him by his grandmother.’

  Grace downed her own coffee and got up to refill their cups. ‘Good for Dante. After all, love, he could have rejected all idea of Bea’s paternity.’

  ‘No chance of that; he was entranced with her from the start,’ said Rose moodily. ‘He played with her ducks with her in the bath, and afterwards sat with her while I read the bedtime story. Then I softened him up even more by giving him a good dinner before breaking the news that Bea was his child.’

  ‘How did he take it?’

  Rose blew out her cheeks. ‘As I told you, once the truth sank in he ordered me to marry him. Then when I didn’t joyfully and gratefully accept he turned belligerent and demanded time with his daughter whether I married him or not.’

  ‘To take her to his place in Tuscany, you mean?’ said Grace, startled. ‘So what did you say?’

  ‘Bea started crying at that point because she’d thrown up and we both bolted upstairs.’

  ‘How did Dante cope with that?’

  ‘He stripped the bed and remade it while I cleaned Bea up, then he read her to sleep.’

  Grace smiled. ‘Bravo, Dante! Tell me, darling, quite apart from Bea, how do you feel towards him now? Are you still bitter?’

  Rose shook her head hopelessly. ‘Fool that I am, I love him. I always have. I tried so hard to forget him, but it was impossible with Bea looking up at me with those eyes of his.’

  ‘How does he feel about you?’

  ‘I wish I knew. He still fancies me. Physically, I mean. But that’s not enough for marriage, especially with people from such different backgrounds.’

  ‘It works for Charlotte and Fabio,’ Grace pointed out.

  ‘True. But they got married because they really love each other. Dante’s motive for marrying me is purely to get Bea.’ Rose shivered. ‘Last night, when I didn’t leap at the marriage idea, he said he’d demand time with his daughter. Could he do that legally, do you think?’

  ‘No idea. You didn’t name him as her father on the birth certificate and you’ve never lived together. Also he’s not a British national, so I should think it’s unlikely. I’ll ask Tom.’

  ‘Dante thinks Tom doesn’t approve of him.’

  ‘He’s right. Tom can’t get past the fact that Dante made you pregnant when he was about to marry someone else.’ Grace smiled wryly. ‘Yet at the same time he can’t help liking Dante either.’

  Rose nodded ruefully. ‘I know the feeling!’

  ‘Have a cup of tea, then go off to bed for a bit. Tom and I will collect Bea.’

  ‘That sounds wonderful. I didn’t sleep much last night after all the excitement.’ Rose hugged her mother. ‘You spoil me.’

  ‘I prefer to think of it as helping. Take a hot shower and climb into bed. I’ll give Bea her lunch before bringing her home.’ Grace kissed her weary daughter and pointed her at the door. ‘Go.’

  * * *

  Rose felt better after the shower, and even managed a short nap. When she got up, she had come to a decision. This afternoon she would take Bea to the park, and then play all her favourite games with her and later watch her favourite cartoon film with her for the umpteenth time. Rose’s teeth clenched. Bea didn’t need a father! She’d done perfectly well without one up to now, and even had the benefit of a male presence in her life in the shape of Tom Morley.

  When Dante rang that night, Rose was ready and armed, waiting for him.

  ‘How are you tonight, carina?’ he asked in the deep caressing tones which still had the power to raise the hairs on the back of her neck—something that infuriated her in the present circumstances. ‘And how is my little Bea? Is she recovered now?’

  ‘My little Bea, actually, and we’re both fine.’

  Silence for a moment. ‘What is wrong, Rose?’

  ‘I’m afraid the deal’s off, Dante. I’m saying no to your demands.’

  ‘Cosa? Perche? What has happened?’

  ‘I’ve given it careful consideration and decided I can’t face the upheaval of making a new life in a strange country. I like my life the way it is. There’s no room for a man in it, even one as irresistible as Dante Fortinari,’ she added with sarcasm.

  ‘And so you will deprive me of my daughter, and Bea of a father? Can you think only of yourself?’ he demanded hotly.

  Rose suddenly lost it. ‘I had to after you left me pregnant and took off to marry someone else,’ she spat at him. ‘Goodbye, Dante.’

  Dante tried ringing back several times but eventually gave up, which made her even more furious. When her phone rang an hour or so later she snatched it up, ready to tell Dante to go to hell until she saw the caller ID.

  ‘When, Rose Palmer,’ Charlotte said belligerently, ‘were you going to tell me that Dante is Bea’s father? I had to hear it from Dad.’

  ‘I didn’t tell Dante until last night, so you were next on the list. Not even Mum knew, so don’t get angry with me.’ Rose’s voice broke. ‘Please.’

  ‘Oh, love, don’t cry; of course I won’t! But I demand details.’

  ‘First of all, how are you feeling?’

  ‘At this time of night I feel fine; in the mornings not so much. But never mind all that. You said Bea’s daddy was some student, while all the time it was Fabio’s best friend! So go on. Talk.’

  With a sigh, Rose went through her story yet again, with Charlotte exclaiming in amazement at intervals.

  ‘You were so brave, Rose, going through all that and never telling a soul, and all the while working so hard to make a living for Bea. Though, thinking back, the clues were there. You would never listen if Dante’s name came up, but I thought that was because of Elsa the Witch. I suppose he never mentioned her when he was charming the socks off my bridesmaid?’

  ‘Of course not,’ said Rose indignantly. ‘Otherwise—’

  ‘You’d have sent him packing! So now he knows about Bea, what happens next?’

  ‘I am ordered to marry him and take Bea to live with him at his villa.’

  ‘How masterful!’ Charlotte waited for a moment then sighed. ‘But you’re not going to do that.’

  ‘No. W
ith help from my wonderful mother and your equally wonderful father, I’ve managed my life very well up to now. Dante can issue orders as much as he likes, but I’m staying put. And so is Bea.’

  ‘Damn! I wish I could nip over and see you, but Fabio is adamant about no travelling for a while. And, if I’m honest, I’m not up to it right now, anyway. If I send you the fares will you bring Bea here instead?’

  The mere thought of being anywhere in the vicinity of Dante Fortinari made Rose want to kick and scream. ‘I can’t just now, love. Maybe later on.’

  Rose checked on Bea and then stacked her pillows and got into bed to lean against them, waiting for the phone to ring. When it remained obdurately silent she removed two of the pillows and tried to settle down to sleep. Instead of issuing orders, all Dante had needed to get her consent was to tell her—and convince her—that he wanted to marry her because he loved her, not because she came as a package deal with their daughter.

  When the phone rang later Rose shot upright and grabbed it, then sank back against the pillows when she saw the caller ID.

  ‘You took a long time to pick up,’ said Grace.

  ‘I thought it was Dante again.’

  ‘I gather you won’t answer when he rings.’

  ‘How do you gather?’

  ‘Because he rang Tom—he got the number from Fabio—and asked to speak to me. He’s desperately worried about you, love.’

  ‘Good!’ said Rose viciously.

  ‘I assured him that, healthwise, both you and Bea were fine, and told him it was best he doesn’t contact you for a while.’

  ‘And what did he say to that?’

  ‘That he would try to take my advice, but it would be hard.’

  ‘You should have told him not to contact me at all. Ever.’

  Grace shook her head. ‘I didn’t do that because I know you only too well, Rose Palmer. If I had, you’d be utterly miserable. So I gave you the chance to change your mind when your temper dies down, as it always does, in time.’

  ‘This wasn’t a childish tantrum, Mum!’

  ‘I know that. I also heard the pain in Dante’s voice, love. When he does ring again, promise me you’ll speak to him.’

  ‘I’ll think about it.’

  This was a promise all too easy to keep. It was impossible for Rose to think about anything else. The nights were the worst part, just as they’d been years before, after her first encounter with Dante Fortinari. Even though she immersed herself in her work and spent the rest of the time with Bea, she existed in a constant state of tension, waiting for a phone call from Dante. A phone call which never came.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  IT WAS A relief to spend most of the following Sunday at Tom’s house. Bea enjoyed her day so much she protested loudly when it was time to go home. She even refused to wave bye-bye to Gramma and Tom and sobbed when she was secured into her car seat for the drive home, but, much to Rose’s relief, fell asleep once the car was in motion.

  ‘Wake up, Bea. We’re home now,’ said Rose as she turned into the drive, then swallowed, her heart thumping, as she saw a familiar male figure standing on her front porch.

  Dante strode forward to help, arms outstretched, as Rose unstrapped Bea. ‘I will take her.’

  Exhausted after a day spent trying to fool her mother and Tom that she was perfectly happy, Rose yielded his daughter to him without protest.

  ‘This is a surprise,’ she said coldly.

  ‘We need to talk; you will not take my telephone calls, so I came,’ he informed her, then looked down tenderly as Bea woke up with a smile of delight when she realised who was holding her.

  ‘Dante! Read stories?’

  He chuckled. ‘Of course, piccola.’

  Rose unlocked the door and switched on lights. Now Dante was here, he might as well make himself useful. ‘Would you take her straight upstairs, please?’

  Once Bea was in bed later, flanked by Pinocchio and Bear, Rose handed Dante a selection of books for Bea to choose from, kissed her daughter good-night and, after a moment’s indecision, left them to it.

  The sitting room seemed small and chilly after the space and comfort of Tom’s house. Shivering with nerves as much as cold, Rose switched on the electric fire and drew the curtains, then went to the kitchen to make coffee and took a tray into the sitting room.

  Dante joined her soon afterwards. ‘Bea is fast asleep,’ he said and crossed to the fire to hold out his hands. ‘It is cold tonight.’

  ‘Would you care for some coffee?’

  His lips curved wryly. ‘Yes, Rose. Grazie.’

  ‘Why the smile?’ she asked as she poured.

  ‘You are so polite.’

  She set the pot down with a clatter. ‘Only to hide how worried I feel about the reason for your sudden appearance.’

  He lifted a shoulder. ‘It is nothing to cause distress, Rose. Because my first proposal did not meet with your approval, I came to make a different proposition.’

  Rose sat down suddenly. ‘What do you have in mind?’ If he had some idea about taking Bea away from her to stay in Italy for weeks at a time he could think again.

  Dante joined her on the old velvet settee, careful, she noted, to leave a space between them. ‘Ascolta—listen to me, Rose. I feel much guilt that in the heat of passion after the Vilari wedding I took from you something impossible to replace.’

  She raised an eyebrow. ‘I wasn’t a virgin, Dante! I’d had a steady boyfriend in college.’

  Dante’s lips tightened. ‘I meant that by leaving you with child I robbed you of your youthful freedom.’

  Rose nodded as she thought it over. ‘I suppose you could say that. I certainly had to grow up in a hurry. But, to be fair, I was an equal partner in what happened between us.’

  ‘But if you had known about Elsa you would not have been, no?’

  ‘Absolutely not! I wanted to beat you up when I found out about her.’ She ran the tip of her tongue over suddenly dry lips. ‘But the possibility of consequences never occurred to me because you used protection, and even though I later realised there had been a problem with the condom I really thought the chances of anything happening were a million to one. It was a huge shock to find out I was pregnant. There was an equally huge fuss when I refused to name the father.’

  Dante took her hand. ‘Why did you refuse?’

  ‘You were married by then, so what was the point? You’re a close friend of Fabio Vilari, so no way was I going to upset Charlotte’s newly wedded bliss by bringing your name into it. Anyway,’ she added militantly, ‘I was determined to take care of Bea myself.’

  He nodded. ‘And you have done so admirably. But now I shall help you care for her.’

  She eyed him warily. ‘How, exactly?’

  Dante’s grasp tightened. ‘The best way is to marry and give our child the love and security of a normal family.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘But you do not want this. You value your independence too much.’

  ‘Yes,’ she admitted unwillingly.

  ‘Even so, you must listen to my plan.’

  ‘I’m listening.’

  Dante smiled in approval. ‘Va bene. The plan is simple. Arrange your work to take time off, and then bring Bea to the Villa Castiglione for a little holiday. We can visit Charlotte and Fabio, also my family, naturalmente.’ He paused. ‘My mother is longing to meet her granddaughter, Rose.’

  She bit her lip. ‘I can’t believe she’s longing to meet me, Dante.’

  ‘You are wrong. I have told her everything, and she has much sympathy for you, also admiration for the way you work so hard to support our daughter.’

  My daughter, thought Rose fiercely.

  ‘My house has several bedrooms. You are not required to share mine,’ he assured her suavely. ‘A week is
all I ask, to see how Bea likes life Italian style.’

  ‘Are you saying that if she does like it you’ll expect me to let her stay with you there from time to time?’

  ‘She is too young to do that without her mother.’ Dante put a finger under Rose’s chin and turned her face up to his. ‘You would come with her.’

  Her eyes fell from the searching blue gaze. ‘And if she doesn’t like it there?’

  ‘Then I must spend time with her here.’

  ‘You mean stay here in my house?’ she demanded.

  He gave a mirthless laugh. ‘I do not hope for such a privilege. I shall stay at the Hermitage and come here to take her out.’

  Rose stared at him in defeat. ‘Very well,’ she said dully. ‘I’ll bring her to Italy, but only for a week. I can’t take more time off than that.’

  ‘Bene. Let me know when you are free.’ Dante stood up. ‘I will arrange my diary to give me time with Bea. And with you, of course, Rose,’ he added silkily.

  ‘Thank you so much!’

  ‘Prego. Now I must go.’

  Rose went to the door with him. ‘When do you fly back?’

  ‘Early in the morning. This was a truly flying visit. And I have much more travelling to do once I get back, but by road, for which I am grateful.’

  ‘You prefer roaring around Italy in your car, I imagine.’

  ‘What man would not?’ He took her hand and bowed formally over it. ‘Arrivederci, Rose.’

  ‘Goodbye.’ She hesitated. ‘Dante, I’m sorry you had to come all this way. I should have let you talk to me on the phone.’

  He shrugged. ‘It was worth it to gain time with my daughter.’