The Sicilian's Defiant Virgin

by Susan Stephens

  Jen stared around the boardroom table as talk turned to what could possibly tempt the Tebaldi family to spend even more in future sales. Rare stones were just that, the board members lamented: rare.

  A prescient shiver ran across Jen’s shoulders as she tried to persuade herself that exchanging a draughty bedsit for a trip to sunny Sicily was a great option, and that it would honour Lyddie’s memory in the best way possible. But nothing was ever that simple, and this trip was full of uncertainty.

  ‘Do you know the history of the Emperor’s Diamond?’ the chairman probed, tapping his pen on the desk as he looked at her.

  At last, something she could be sure about. ‘As it happens, I do,’ she confirmed. She always took an interest in the rare stones that came through the auction house, and her studies had allowed her to spend time researching them thoroughly. ‘It was once posted in a plain brown paper envelope, and yet it still reached its destination safely. I’m sure my trip to Sicily will be equally uneventful,’ she said, reassuring everyone around the table, but herself.

  I am that plain brown envelope, Jen thought as the chairman acknowledged her remarks with a thin smile.

  * * *

  Melvyn Worseley Esquire, aka the Chairman, took Jen aside later that day. With the Emperor’s Diamond valued at a conservative thirty-five million, he said it was important to get everything just right. Jen couldn’t have agreed more, and was glad she had confidence in her own abilities. If there was one thing she was good at, it was lighting and setting. Creating the elusive wow factor was what had won her the prize at college, the Vice Chancellor had told her when he’d handed her the prize.

  ‘Perhaps you might want to freshen up and put on some make-up before Luca Tebaldi arrives?’

  She looked sideways at the chairman. There was that subtle, or not so subtle, hint again. She would freshen up, but sluicing her face with cold water would be enough. This wasn’t a beauty pageant. It was a client coming to inspect a precious stone.

  There was no chance of the elusive wow factor where Jen was concerned, Jen conceded with amusement as she smoothed her long red hair and checked her ponytail was in place. Pulling away from the sink in the ladies’ room, she returned to the boardroom where the chairman was waiting for her.

  ‘If you’re short of cash,’ he observed, viewing her thrift-shop outfit with dismay, ‘I’m sure we can allow you a small amount of expenses. Creating a good first impression is paramount, don’t you think?’ he pressed, staring keenly at Jen over his gold-rimmed glasses.

  She was suitably dressed for work, Jen thought, in a mouse-grey knee-length suit and white blouse. Admittedly, the blouse had been washed so many times the fabric was practically threadbare, but if she fastened the jacket...

  The chairman lifted the velvet case containing the precious gemstone and, with maximum drama, he flipped the lid. Even Jen gasped. It was as if the diamond’s luminance, having been contained within a dark box for so long, leapt out at them in a stunning display of rainbow light. She knew the physics was the other way around, and that without the light the stone was nothing, but at that moment, far from being cursed, the Emperor’s Diamond seemed to contain some magical force. She had to remind herself that she didn’t believe in things like that.

  ‘I’m sure you will do a fine job displaying this,’ the chairman said as Jen came towards him, drawn closer by the magnificent gemstone.

  As she studied it Jen thought the diamond so beautiful she couldn’t think of it bringing anything but good luck. It would never be locked away again, if she could help it. She remembered her mother saying that exceptional gems should be displayed to the public, and enjoyed by as many people as possible.

  ‘Isn’t it a remarkable gem?’ the chairman murmured, obviously equally awestruck as they stood side by side, briefly joined in admiration of one of nature’s wonders.

  ‘And the ceiling hasn’t fallen in yet,’ Jen murmured tongue in cheek.

  ‘Not yet,’ the chairman agreed as they shared a rare smile.

  Somewhere in the Victorian building, a door must have opened. Jen shivered as if a breeze had blown in. ‘The wind of change,’ she joked, trying to hide her apprehension as she took a step back from the so-called cursed stone.

  The chairman had barely had time to put the diamond away when the door swung open and his guest strode in. Luca Tebaldi somehow managed to look even more impressive in daylight than he had at the club. He was taller, darker, and far more dangerous-looking than Jen remembered. Her heart thumped wildly as his stare lingered on her face. Why this intense interest? She was hardly one of nature’s wonders. She was more run of the mill. And yes, they were having dinner tonight, but this appointment was for him to view the fabulously valuable stone his father had just purchased, so shouldn’t he be concentrating on that?

  ‘Signor Tebaldi,’ the chairman gushed, moving past Jen to greet his guest.

  Wearing a dark, beautifully tailored lightweight wool suit and a crisp white shirt, garnished with a grey silk tie, and with sapphires glittering tastefully at his wrists, Luca Tebaldi looked every bit the billionaire connoisseur. She could see why the chairman hoped Luca Tebaldi would become as lucrative a source of income to the auction house as his father before him. She watched as the two men exchanged a firm handshake, but once that was done Luca’s stare switched to Jen.

  ‘Jennifer Sanderson—the courier you requested,’ the chairman said, introducing her.

  Not wanting to seem overwhelmed by their guest, Jen seized the initiative. Stepping forward, she took a firm grip of Luca Tebaldi’s outstretched hand. It was like being plugged into a power socket. She snatched her hand away as the chairman started talking about an upcoming auction for rare stones, but not before sparks had shot up her arm, and far more sensitive parts of her body were responding with even more enthusiasm. This was crazy. She didn’t even know him. She didn’t have to know him to feel that primitive response to a man as blatantly sexual as Luca Tebaldi, Jen reasoned with concern.

  He felt the girl’s reaction to him, and could see it in her darkening eyes. Last night she had been dressed in a skimpy and provocative costume, while today she was dressed as if butter wouldn’t melt. Would the real Jennifer Sanderson please stand up?

  They stared at each other with naked interest. She was as curious about him as he was about her. What was the connection between the Emperor’s Diamond, Raoul Tebaldi, and Luca? she had to be thinking. She was smart. It wouldn’t take her long to come up with some answers, though they might be wrong. He would keep her guessing until they got to Sicily.

  Nothing was simple. He admired her, and he hadn’t expected that. He had enjoyed her performance at the club. She’d given generously of her time and talent—such as it was. And she’d stood up to him afterwards. He was intrigued to find out how she’d react to the next part of her journey.

  The chairman was saying something about another auction Luca might like to attend. He shut the man’s voice out, preferring to concentrate all his attention on the intriguing Ms Sanderson. Why did he find her so attractive? She wasn’t conventionally beautiful, and she certainly wasn’t as showy or as successful as many of the women he knew. And she definitely wasn’t biddable, as women of his acquaintance tended to be, for fear of losing his favour. She was challenging and spiky and unpredictable. And he found her utterly fascinating. Her strange mix of caution and boldness had him in its grip. To inflame him even more, just one of her glances was enough to tell him that it was immaterial to her whether he approved of her or not. She might be moneyless and powerless, but her spirit was strong. So what did she know about his brother’s will? And what would it take for her to relinquish her hold on Raoul’s estate?

  He barely glanced at the precious stone when the chairman held it up for his approval. He was far more interested in Jennifer Sanderson’s face and trying to fathom what was behind that steady green gaze. Was it duplicity, innocence, professional interest, or something more?

  ‘If you’ll e
xcuse me,’ the chairman said, distracting him, ‘I’m afraid I must leave you now. Another appointment,’ he explained with a brief professional smile. ‘I’ll leave you in Ms Sanderson’s capable hands.’

  He raised a brow and the girl did too, he noticed. She had no interest in being a bonus to the deal, and her employer should have more sense than to suggest it.

  ‘Jennifer has my blessing to offer you any assistance you might need,’ the chairman added with an oily smile, adding to his damnation in Luca’s eyes. Luca’s only response was a brief nod of his head.

  Jen tensed as the door closed behind the chairman, leaving her alone with Luca Tebaldi. ‘So you’re Raoul’s brother,’ she said. ‘I thought so last night. I haven’t seen Raoul for ages. I hope he’s well?’

  ‘My brother’s dead.’

  ‘Oh—’ Jen’s hand shot to her mouth. She was beyond shocked. She couldn’t believe he’d just blurted it out. Was Luca Tebaldi’s emotionless statement to hide his grief, or to test her?

  ‘He was killed a short time ago,’ Raoul’s brother revealed.

  ‘Killed?’ Jen repeated numbly. A chill gripped her. She couldn’t take it in. She gripped the back of a chair. There were no words. She was devastated. ‘Did he...?’

  ‘Did he suffer? Not as far as I’m aware. He was killed instantly in a head-on crash in Rome.’

  ‘I’m so sorry.’

  Poor, vulnerable Raoul was dead. It didn’t seem possible. Her memories of Luca’s brother were so clear. She knew Raoul had led a complicated life, but she had never imagined it would come to this.

  ‘I should have known. I used to see him every night. I knew he was fragile, but—we used to talk,’ she explained as Luca stared at her.

  ‘Shall I get you a glass of water?’ he enquired.

  She couldn’t speak, she could only gesture with her hands. She was still reeling at the thought that she would never see Raoul again.

  ‘You met my brother in the casino?’ Luca said as he poured her a glass of water.

  ‘Yes. I never saw him anywhere else. We were acquaintances who become friends, I suppose, but Raoul had his own life, and I had mine.’

  ‘What did you find to talk about?’

  He handed her the glass. ‘Anything and everything,’ Jen said honestly, sipping the water. Another young life needlessly lost. Memories of the terrible day when Lyddie had been killed came flooding back. The police had been so kind to Jen, rushing her to the high-dependency unit of the local hospital with their sirens wailing where she’d found Lyddie still breathing. Still alive! Jen had thought, wanting to believe in miracles. Yes, the doctor had confirmed, her sister was still living, but her brain dead, he’d explained gently. Head injuries, he’d said when Jen had stared at him blankly. Irrecoverable brain damage, he’d said, before asking if she would consider donating Lyddie’s organs. Up to then she had fooled herself that Lyddie was asleep and would soon wake up. There hadn’t been a mark on her sister, just a small white bandage taped to her forehead. Jen could spend as long as she liked with Lyddie, the doctor had told her—but not too long, was the unspoken text, because decisions would have to be made—

  ‘Ms Sanderson?’

  ‘Sorry—’ She turned to focus on Luca. He was so like Raoul, though a bigger, stronger version, as if he was the positive imagine and Raoul was the negative. ‘I’m sorry. I keep wandering off in my mind. I’m just so shocked to hear about your brother.’

  ‘Raoul confided in you?’ Luca pressed.

  ‘We used to talk,’ Jen confirmed. Raoul had opened up about a lot of things, but she prided herself on her discretion.

  ‘Did you talk every night?’

  ‘What is this?’ she challenged lightly. ‘I knew your brother, and I liked him very much. We discussed a lot of things.’ She stopped and pressed her lips together, hoping Raoul’s brother would take the hint.

  ‘I apologise if I seem intrusive,’ he said. ‘I’m just trying to fill in the gaps.’

  ‘I understand your sense of loss. I’ve been through something similar.’

  ‘Oh?’ he probed.

  ‘This isn’t the time,’ she said quickly. ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’

  As Luca Tebaldi hummed, she wondered what he wanted her to say. His look was penetrating, and almost suspicious. Did he think she was chanting words of condolence because they were expected? She couldn’t get past the feeling that this was the calm before the storm. If she only had some idea of where the storm was coming from, or what had caused it, she might be able to help him. Luca Tebaldi was looking at her as if she posed a threat of some kind, and he was the white knight who was here to save the day. But who was he saving, and from what?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  MAYBE HE WAS jealous of her relationship with his brother, Jen mused as the antique clock on the carved mahogany mantelpiece ticked away the seconds. She could understand his need to know. When she met people who’d known Lyddie, she had to hold back from grilling them, in an attempt to glean every tiny detail they might remember about her sister. It was as if she had to make a remembrance quilt, and every tiny scrap of information was vital because it might fill a gap.

  Luca had been silent now for quite some time and, thanks to the memories he’d stirred, Jen’s emotions peaked. She had never felt angry with a client before, but it was unfair of him to grill her. Raoul had needed him, and where was Luca Tebaldi then?

  ‘Your brother missed you,’ she said, breaking the tense silence. ‘He talked about you all the time. He said you used to look out for him when he was young, but eventually you went your separate ways—’

  ‘Did he tell you why that was?’ Luca interrupted.

  ‘No.’ But Jen thought she knew. Now she’d had the chance to meet Raoul’s brother, she had seen how different they were. Raoul had been lonely and sensitive, while Luca Tebaldi was steely, driven, and self-assured. With that amount of testosterone on the table, it wouldn’t have been easy for Raoul to admit that he wanted such very different things out of life. Luca had his problems too, she suspected. He’d shut himself off from grief and emotion. She recognised the symptom, having done something very similar herself. That was a bond of sorts between them, she conceded.

  ‘Did my brother ever talk money with you?’

  ‘Money?’ The mention of money cheapened her relationship with Raoul. She might not have much in the way of material things compared to the Tebaldi family, but every little thing she had, she’d earned.

  ‘I lent your brother money once,’ she said, feeling Luca Tebaldi needed to know the truth, or as much of it as she was prepared to tell him. ‘Not much,’ she added in response to Luca’s sharp breath in.

  ‘You lent Raoul money?’

  ‘Yes.’ And she had given Raoul her bag of groceries, Jen remembered. ‘He’d lost everything at the tables. He didn’t even have his cab fare home. It was only a twenty. I’m sorry. I thought you realised how bad things were.’

  Luca’s expression darkened.

  ‘Raoul said he’d pay me back. He said he’d got expectations. I told him I didn’t want his money—expectations or not. I said he should accept my twenty as a gift from a friend.’

  She might as well have slapped him in the face. Of course he knew some of it, but Raoul hadn’t confided in him for a long time. His brother had been on a downward slide for as long as Luca could remember. When he’d paid off Raoul’s debts it had only led to Raoul building up more debts. Bailing Raoul out of jail had become such a regular occurrence, Luca had arranged for one of his legal team to be constantly on call, in case he was out of the country. It hurt to know he hadn’t been there for his brother at the end. They’d been so close at one time, but, having been rebuffed once too often, Luca had switched off his feelings. It had taken this girl to remind him how much he had loved Raoul.

  An aching sense of loss and regret gripped him. He showed nothing. For all he knew, she was just another of Raoul’s disastrous liaisons. His love life was a car crash, Raoul had
told him hauntingly once. But whatever Raoul’s relationship with this girl, she’d been there for his brother when Luca was nowhere to be found.

  ‘Do you mind if I call you Luca?’ she asked, calling him back from the pit of despair. ‘After all, if we’re going to be working together...?’

  ‘Working together?’ he queried, frowning.

  ‘We’ll be working together on your father’s exhibition, won’t we?’

  ‘I’ll be keeping a watching brief, and that’s all,’ he assured her.

  ‘I see,’ she said. ‘Oh, well. At least call me Jennifer—or Jen, if you prefer?’

  ‘Which do you like?’ He’d made her nervous, and that didn’t suit him. With nerves came wariness, and wariness led to silence, and he needed her to talk.

  ‘Jen,’ she said.

  ‘Call me Luca,’ he offered.

  ‘Luca,’ she repeated, staring into his eyes.

  He assessed her frank expression, and the freckled perfection of her heart-shaped face. She didn’t know what to make of him. Her jade-green eyes were shadowed with puzzlement, though her generous mouth and the stubborn tilt of her chin continued to stir him. He recognised his body’s reaction as the primal need to celebrate life in the face of death, which meant sex, though his father’s suggestion to seduce Jen, if he had to, in order to get information out of her, had sickened him back in Sicily, and it sickened him now. If he seduced Jennifer Sanderson, it would be because they both wanted it.

  ‘Jen,’ he murmured, liking the sound of her name on his tongue.

  He was in an agony of lust for a woman in whom he sensed so much potential. This was no mouse. His father’s idea to buy her off was overly simplistic. His plan to keep Jen in Sicily until he could unravel the puzzle of her relationship with Raoul held far more promise.

  He had considered the idea that Jen could lay a long-term plan that would allow her to inherit his brother’s vast wealth, but it didn’t seem likely. Not that she lacked in smarts, but his brother’s death had been an accident, and she couldn’t have planned for that. How would she respond when she realised how wealthy she was about to become? She would be rich enough to buy this auction house and everything in it. Raoul’s legacy could be a fairy tale for a woman of such limited means, or it could become a nightmare, throwing Jen out of the world she knew, into a cold, hard place where money ruled and predators gathered. The least he owed Raoul was to get to know her, so he could understand his brother’s motives—and maybe protect her, if he had to. That was what he would do, he decided as her wildflower scent assailed his senses.