Dante's Unexpected Legacy

by Catherine George

  She winced, hoping he couldn’t tell how much that hurt. ‘But if I come—’

  ‘When you both come!’

  ‘All right, when we come, you must make it plain to your family beforehand that this is just a holiday. It doesn’t mean I’ve agreed to anything permanent.’

  Dante nodded, his eyes expressionless for once. ‘Va bene. It shall be as you wish. And if Bea likes it there at my home, what then?’

  Her chin lifted. ‘Let’s take this one step at a time.’

  ‘There is one step you must take before you bring Bea to the Villa Castiglione. You must tell her I am her father.’ Dante took her by the shoulders, ignoring the hand that tried to push him away. ‘Let us be truthful with each other, Rose.’

  ‘I just wish you’d been truthful when we first met,’ she snapped, her eyes stormy. She still couldn’t get past Dante’s deception in the past. The hurt was still raw for her.

  ‘I did not lie,’ he said huskily. ‘With you in my arms, I forgot Elsa existed—’

  ‘We spent a lot of time together that day before we reached that point. And while you might not have lied, you omitted to tell me you were engaged, which is as bad as lying.’

  ‘Davvero! But it was such pleasure to laugh and dance with you, I could not spoil the day by mentioning Elsa.’ He pulled her closer. ‘I fell under your spell at first sight and went on falling deeper and deeper all that day, until I lost control as we kissed later in your room. It was such agony to leave you that, even frantic with worry over Nonna on the flight home, I was determined to tell Elsa I could not marry her. That I had met someone else.’

  Rose stared at him in disbelief. ‘You obviously didn’t tell her,’ she said at last.

  ‘Ah, but I did.’ His mouth twisted in distaste at the memory. ‘It was a painful revelation to see someone so physically beautiful turn into a strega before my eyes. She spat at me that she was expecting my child, which, as she knew well, gave me no choice. Nonna died the next day and in my grief I felt only relief that Elsa abandoned her plans for a big church wedding. She arranged a hasty civil ceremony instead in her determination to become a Fortinari.’

  ‘So what happened to the baby?’ asked Rose, stunned.

  ‘There was no baby. Elsa lied. On our wedding night, she told me there had never been a child and never would be.’ He dropped his hands and turned away. ‘I was an arrogant fool, she told me, to imagine she would ruin her figure that way, even more fool to think I could jilt Elsa Marino, the supermodel all men lusted after. I stared at this beautiful woman saying these ugly things and felt such revulsion I did not touch her that night or ever again.’ He gave a mirthless laugh. ‘People pitied me when she left me for another man, but I rejoiced.’

  ‘You never told anyone the truth about this?’

  ‘Only Leo. Therefore, Harriet must know also.’ He turned to look at her. ‘If I had known that you were expecting my child, Rose, nothing would have made me go through with the farsa of my wedding to Elsa.’

  ‘You must have found it hard to live with her after that?’

  His mouth tightened. ‘I did not do so very much. With Leo’s help, I made sure I was often away on my travels when she was home, which for Elsa meant her flat in Firenze. She hated the Villa Castiglione.’

  ‘But you love it,’ said Rose quietly.

  ‘Very much. After Elsa left with Enrico Calvi—and my fervent blessing—the house was my sanctuary.’

  ‘Yet your family tried to get you out of it as much as possible.’

  ‘To show the world I was not heartbroken. My parents were enraged that Elsa had treated me in such a way. It was my mother’s greatest wish that I find someone else as soon as possible.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Therefore, every time I dined with my parents, or with Mirella and Franco, even Fabio and Charlotte, there was always some woman invited for me.’

  ‘How about your brother?’

  ‘Leo told me I could find my own woman, and Harriet lured me from my house by asking me to do the babysitting for them—which is when I learned to change a bed quickly! I enjoyed this much more than the socialising. But the one I am most grateful to is Charlotte Vilari. She sent me to Firenze to find you again, Rose.’ He paused, his eyes searching hers. ‘Are you truly sorry that I did?’

  Rose eyed him thoughtfully. ‘You really told Elsa the wedding was off because you’d met me?’

  ‘Yes.’ He raised a dark eyebrow. ‘You do not believe me?’

  ‘I want to,’ she said honestly.

  ‘But you still have doubts.’ He stood back. ‘Non importa. I shall ring you next week to learn when you are free to leave. I will make the travel arrangements.’

  ‘Right. I hope Bea will take to air travel.’

  ‘With both of us to care for her, there will be no problem.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘You’re coming to collect us?’

  He smiled bleakly. ‘This surprises you?’

  ‘Well, yes; I expected to cope alone.’

  ‘As always. If you prefer to do that—’

  ‘No! Indeed, I don’t. Thank you.’

  ‘Prego. You will permit me to look in on Bea before I go?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Rose watched him leave the room with the swift grace that was such an essential part of Dante Fortinari and felt sudden regret, as though she’d somehow missed out on something important. She smiled brightly when he returned. ‘Is Bea all right?’

  ‘She is sleeping like an angel, as all children look when they sleep, even Luca, Leo’s son, who is more demon than angel when awake. And now I must go. I will ring you early in the week.’ His eyes locked on hers imperiously. ‘And this time you will answer me and talk to me.’

  ‘Yes, I will. And Dante,’ she added quickly before she could change her mind, ‘I’m not sorry.’

  ‘Cosa?’ He frowned.

  ‘That you found me in Florence.’

  ‘Bene, I am happy to hear it!’ But, instead of kissing her as she’d hoped, he gave her the smile he shared with his daughter and turned to go. ‘Arrivederci, Rose.’

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ONE OF THE highest of the several hurdles facing Rose was informing Bea that Dante was her daddy. Grace advised doing it straight away before Dante rang again, so that evening, after reading a longer than usual bedtime story to put off the moment, Rose finally told Bea she had exciting news—they were going on holiday to Italy, where Auntie Charlotte lived, to stay in Dante’s house.

  Bea, no lover of road journeys, frowned. ‘In the car?’

  ‘Only for a little way. Dante is driving us to the airport to catch an aeroplane.’

  The blue eyes lit up. ‘Tomorrow?’

  ‘No, not tomorrow, darling, but soon.’

  ‘Gramma and Tom, too?’

  ‘No, just you and me. And Dante. Will you like that?’

  Bea nodded eagerly. ‘Are there stories in his house?’

  ‘I don’t know. We’ll take ours, shall we?’

  ‘OK.’

  Rose took a deep breath. ‘Darling, I’ve got a secret to tell you.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Dante is your daddy.’

  The blue eyes stared at her blankly for a moment then rounded like saucers. ‘A real daddy, like Holly’s?’

  Rose cleared her throat. ‘Yes.’

  Bea was quiet for several long, tense moments. ‘Will he get me from school?’ she said at last.

  Rose blinked, taken aback. ‘Why, yes, I’m sure he will when he’s here.’

  Bea smiled triumphantly. ‘Dante’s much nicer than Holly’s daddy.’

  ‘You like him then?’

  ‘Yes.’ Another pause. ‘Why didn’t he come before?’

  The question Rose had been dreading. �
��I wouldn’t let him.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I was silly.’ Rose bent to kiss her. ‘Now, go to sleep. You can tell Pinocchio and Bear your secret if you like.’

  ‘And Gramma and Tom, too?’

  ‘Yes. In the morning.’

  * * *

  After a hectic week spent in bringing accounts up to date and rearranging client appointments, Rose told Dante that the following week was good for her.

  ‘Ottimo. I will make all arrangements and ring tomorrow with details.’

  ‘Don’t book a hotel room when you come to collect us,’ she added casually. ‘It would be more convenient to stay here the night before we leave—if you’d like to.’

  He was silent for a moment. ‘I would like that very much, Rose. Grazie. Is Bea happy about the trip?’

  ‘She’s wildly excited, though surprised that Gramma and Tom aren’t going, too. I told her they had to do my job while we were away.’

  He laughed. ‘Is your mother happy to do that?’

  ‘Yes, though I’ve tried to make sure there’s very little for her to do.’

  ‘You sound tired, Rose.’

  ‘Nothing a night’s sleep won’t mend,’ she assured him.

  ‘I will ring as soon as I can. Buonanotte.’

  Rose was in the middle of an endless ironing session when Dante rang to say he would be with her on Sunday afternoon and had arranged a flight to Pisa the following day.

  ‘Is this good for you, Rose?’

  ‘Yes, fine. Mum and Tom have taken Bea out so I can get our things ready.’

  ‘They are much help to you.’

  ‘Always. I’m very lucky.’ She paused awkwardly. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then.’

  ‘Yes, Rose. A domani.’

  * * *

  When Dante arrived next day Bea flew to the door to open it, beaming up at him. ‘Dante, Dante. I’ve got a secret!’

  ‘A secret! How exciting.’ He put down his bag, smiling fondly as he picked her up. ‘Will you share it with me?’

  ‘Come inside first,’ said Rose, peering past him down the drive. ‘Where’s your car?’

  ‘I came by taxi.’ He leaned to kiss her cheek. ‘It is so good to be here, Rose. How are you?’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘Bene.’

  Dante followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table with Bea on his lap. ‘So, piccola, what is this wonderful secret?’

  She beamed at him triumphantly. ‘You’re my real daddy!’

  His eyes snapped shut as he hugged her close. ‘That is such a wonderful secret. It makes me very happy,’ he said when he could trust his voice. ‘Does it make you happy?’

  Bea nodded fervently. ‘I told Gramma and Tom.’

  Dante exchanged a look with Rose over the curly head. ‘And did they like your secret?’

  ‘Yes.’ She looked up at him cajolingly. ‘Will you get me from school now?’

  ‘Like Holly’s daddy,’ explained Rose, busy with the coffee.

  Dante took in a deep breath. ‘I will like to do that very much, whenever your mamma says I may.’

  Bea gave her mother a commanding look. ‘Every day!’

  ‘Dante doesn’t live here, darling,’ said Rose rather helplessly.

  ‘But every time I come to England I will fetch you, piccola,’ promised Dante, and speared Rose with a look which promised discussion on the subject later.

  ‘Mummy was silly,’ Bea informed him.

  ‘Because I wouldn’t let you come to see us until recently,’ explained Rose, wishing she’d explained more to Dante before he came. But she’d been human enough to want to see his reaction when Bea told him her secret.

  He smiled lovingly at his child. ‘But now we are going to Italy together tomorrow to stay in my house.’

  ‘Is it a big house?’

  ‘Quite big, yes,’ he said, ruffling her curls.

  ‘You got children there?’ she enquired.

  Dante shook his head. ‘You are my only child, piccola.’

  ‘But you remember Harriet, the lovely lady who came to see us one day?’ asked Rose.

  Bea nodded with enthusiasm. ‘She’s got children.’

  ‘You are so clever to remember,’ said Dante proudly. ‘Their daddy is my brother Leo, and we shall go to his house to play with Luca and Chiara.’

  ‘Tomorrow?’

  ‘No, but soon,’ promised Dante. ‘Tomorrow we fly in the aeroplane to Italy.’

  Due to her excitement, Bea took longer to get to sleep than usual, and later, after a dinner shared with Dante in determined harmony, Rose’s tension began to mount as she went upstairs ahead of him. ‘You’re in my room,’ she informed him, ushering him inside. ‘I hope you’ll be comfortable.’

  Dante closed the door quietly behind them. ‘Where are you sleeping, Rose?’

  ‘On the sofa bed in my study.’

  He frowned. ‘I should sleep there and you remain here, near to Bea, yes?’

  ‘Certainly not. You wouldn’t fit on it and, besides, I hear Bea wherever I am.’ Rose made for the door, but Dante barred her way.

  ‘I cannot take your bed, cara. But there is an obvious solution to the problem.’ He took her in his arms. ‘Share it with me.’

  Rose opened her mouth to protest but Dante kissed her into silence. He held her hard against him and her body reacted involuntarily, savouring the scent of him and the pleasure of the contact with a taut, muscular, male body. He raised his head a fraction, but only to rub his cheek against hers and murmur in her ear in his own tongue.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ she said hoarsely.

  ‘Ah, but you do, tesoro,’ he whispered. ‘I desire you, Rose.’

  Desire, not love, she thought bleakly.

  Dante drew her closer, his lips against her cheek. ‘I think—I know that you want me, yes?’

  ‘Yes,’ she admitted, but pulled away, blinking tears from her eyes. ‘But not so much that I’ll let you turn my life upside down again.’

  ‘Ah, carissima, do not cry, or you’ll break my heart.’

  ‘Then you’ll know how I felt when you broke mine!’ Rose flung away and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

  * * *

  Rose’s second trip to Italy was very different from the first one. A chauffeured limousine replaced the coach trip to Heathrow, followed by a first-class flight to Pisa. The flight attendants were charmed with Bea, the females among them charmed with Dante, too, noted Rose acidly as she listened to melodic exchanges in Italian. She couldn’t blame them. Dante was so obviously enjoying every minute of his time with his child, and so far Bea was behaving so well it was hard to remember she was prone to the odd tantrum or two at home. She was delighted with everything, including the pasta she was given for lunch, but Rose, occupied with thoughts of facing Dante’s family, could only manage a cup of tea.

  ‘You are not hungry?’ asked Dante.

  ‘No.’ She managed a smile across her daughter’s head. ‘What happens when we land?’

  ‘I shall drive you to the Villa Castiglione in my car. Do not worry,’ he added. ‘I have installed a car seat for Bea.’

  ‘Thank you; how thoughtful,’ said Rose, embarrassed because she hadn’t thought of it herself.

  To her gratitude, the rest of the flight passed quickly, helped by a peaceful interlude while Dante read to his daughter until she fell asleep. Rose sat, trying to relax, but her mind kept returning to the night before.

  After her emotional parting shot, she had dreaded seeing Dante again this morning. To avoid him she’d showered and dressed hurriedly in the downstairs bathroom, and after getting Bea through the same process took the coward’s way out by sending her to knock
on Dante’s door to say breakfast would be ready in a few minutes. She needn’t have worried. Dante had walked into the kitchen later, smiling as though the biting little exchange of the night before had never happened. But his eyes had smudges of fatigue that matched hers.

  Rose tensed as the plane began its descent. She wondered if Dante’s family would be there en masse at his house to meet them, or if she’d have a day’s grace to prepare herself while she explored the Villa Castiligione. A hand reached out to touch hers and she turned to face Dante’s questioning eyes over his sleeping daughter’s head.

  ‘You feel ill, cara?’

  ‘No, just nervous.’

  ‘Of the landing?’

  She shook her head. ‘Of meeting your family.’

  ‘You will not meet them today,’ he assured her. ‘I asked my parents to wait until tomorrow.’ He smiled as Bea stirred. ‘Wake up, bella. We are nearly there.’

  They left the plane with much waving and hand kissing from the flight attendants for Bea. Dante would have picked her up to carry her but she shook her head.

  ‘Walk—please.’

  So Beatrice Grace Palmer made her entrance into the airport, hand in hand with both parents, her father carrying a shiny pink holdall with Pinocchio and Bear peeping out of it. As the trio reached the baggage carousel Rose saw a young man waving vigorously.

  ‘Va bene, it is Tullio with my car keys,’ Dante told Rose. ‘He will help with the luggage.’

  Tullio bowed, smiling, as Dante presented him to Rose and Bea, who grew very excited when she spotted her mother’s familiar battered student luggage on the baggage carousel.

  ‘Ours, Daddy,’ she said, pointing.

  Dante gave Rose a look which turned her heart over. ‘So it is, tesoro,’ he said huskily, ‘and that is mine beside it.’

  The useful Tullio helped stow the luggage in the car while Rose fastened her daughter into the smart scarlet car seat. She chuckled suddenly and Dante looked round, smiling.

  ‘What amuses you, cara?’

  ‘Your car looks faintly ridiculous with a child’s seat on board.’

  ‘It must get used to it, yes?’ He had a quick conversation with Tullio, who took his leave of them, blew a kiss at Bea and hurried off.