A Proposal from the Italian Count

by Lucy Gordon

  He made a face, but said nothing.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to pry. Your love life is none of my business.’ She added cheekily, ‘But perhaps you don’t have one. Perhaps you live on a pinnacle of lofty indifference.’

  ‘If only I did. There was one woman who taught me to be careful, and it was a strong lesson that I’ve never forgotten.’

  ‘Was she after your title?’

  ‘She was. But at first she played her role so convincingly that I didn’t realise the truth. I was completely taken in—until the day I found her in bed with another man.’

  ‘What? How could she?’

  ‘The man was heir to a dukedom. His social standing and personal fortune were therefore much greater than my own. That told me everything I needed to know. Her fine words and loving behaviour towards me had been because she wanted my title. When a better title came along I ceased to exist as far as she was concerned.’

  ‘She pretended to love you—?’

  ‘It was a good act. Fooled me.’

  ‘And you loved her?’

  He hesitated, and she could tell that he found this hard to answer.

  ‘I thought I did. But it was a useful lesson. I’ve never been deceived again. I keep my suspicious side working.’

  His words were cool, but she had a sense that they concealed feelings he didn’t want to admit. This deceitful woman had caused him a lot of pain—some of which had never completely abated.

  ‘What a dreadful thing to happen,’ she said. ‘Can you ever trust anyone again?’

  ‘Probably not. But it’s safer that way. What about you? After this guy you sent away—has there been anyone since?’

  ‘No, I’ve had too much to think about. First my father died, and after that I set my heart on saving up enough money to escape my miserable existence, start a new life.’

  ‘But you could be doing that now, by taking the money I offered you. Why did you turn it down?’

  ‘For Daddy’s sake. It would have felt like insulting him—saying that his suffering didn’t matter as long as I gained the money.’

  ‘But he wouldn’t know.’

  ‘Maybe—maybe not. But I still value his opinion. What he would’ve thought about things is of paramount importance to me. What about you and your father’s wishes? Don’t you take his views into account when you make decisions? Isn’t that what you were doing in trying to give me that money?’

  Jackie was exactly right, he realised. His father was still there in his mind and his heart. At times it was as if he could hear his voice in his ear. And clearly the same was true of her. It was almost alarming.

  ‘And do you feel that he would know whether you’ve managed it or not?’ she asked.

  ‘I don’t know, of course,’ he said quietly. ‘But I will know.’

  ‘And so will I. That’s why I can’t give in and take your money. I feel that it would break his heart.’

  ‘And I have to keep my word to my father. If I don’t, that would break his heart.’

  ‘If only they could have talked to each other while they were still alive,’ she said wistfully. ‘They could’ve sorted it out without us.’

  He took her hand between his. ‘Instead we must honour their memories and do right by them both.’

  ‘Yes. I’m glad of that.’

  He squeezed her hand. ‘So am I.’

  A waiter approached, making him release her quickly.

  When he’d ordered some coffee he said, ‘Let’s discuss the store. You said it needed more stuff from England. Tell me exactly what you mean...’

  After lunch they were soon in the car, heading back through the country to the Castello Martelli. As darkness fell she saw the building’s lights from a distance, and marvelled again at its magnificence and beauty.

  Tania was waiting in the hall.

  ‘Shall I get you some supper?’ she asked.

  ‘No need—we’ve enjoyed a late lunch,’ Vittorio told her cheerfully. ‘And now we have something to celebrate. This way, Jackie.’

  His arm around her waist, he guided her into his office. Tania regarded them wryly. After a moment she went to the office door and stood watching while Jackie worked on the computer, accessing one English website after another while showing Vittorio her ideas for supplying his stores.

  ‘Can you go back to the last one?’ Vittorio said. ‘I like those metal ornaments. Yes, that’s it. Zoom in on that one. Great. Yes, I’ll have that.’

  He became aware of Tania stood in the doorway.

  ‘Come and look, Aunt. Jackie’s doing a wonderful job for us.’

  ‘So I see,’ Tania said, coming forward, smiling. ‘You really seem very knowledgeable, signorina.’

  ‘Please call me Jackie.’

  ‘Jackie. Yes. Now, if my nephew is going to work you to death can I get you some coffee—or tea? A glass of wine?’

  ‘I’m okay—thank you, Tania.’

  ‘I will take a wine, please, Aunt Tania,’ said Vittorio.

  The other woman smiled at them both and headed to the kitchen. Jackie sensed that Tania was still undecided about her, but her manner was pleasant.

  Once Tania was gone, Jackie’s attention was brought back to the computer screen.

  ‘I want to go back to town tomorrow,’ announced Vittorio, ‘but tonight I want to see some of those websites again.’

  ‘I’ll get started now,’ Jackie said.

  He sat with his attention fixed on what she was doing. Suddenly he said, ‘Let me look at that.’

  She enlarged the picture, which was of a metal vase with elaborate engraving.

  He studied it for several minutes before saying, ‘Fine. I’ll buy some of those.’

  He purchased the items online, studied more websites and purchased several more things. By the time they were finished he’d spent a thousand euros and was in good spirits.

  ‘Fantastic job!’ he said. I’d never have found that stuff without you. And tomorrow there’ll be more. We must make an early start.’

  ‘Then I’ll have an early night,’ Jackie said, rising.

  He rose too, but she signalled for him to sit down. Tania had just returned to the office with Vittorio’s drink, and Jackie got the sense that she wanted to talk with her nephew privately.

  Vittorio nodded, gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, and let her go.

  When they were alone Tania poured him a glass of wine. ‘It’s been a good evening,’ she said.

  ‘Yes. I knew bringing Jackie here would be brilliant. She really knows her stuff.’

  ‘And she makes sure you realise it,’ Tania observed lightly.

  ‘You sound suspicious. I thought you liked her?’

  ‘In a way, I do. That’s what makes it confusing. I want to believe in her but—’ She sighed.

  ‘But what?’

  ‘What exactly is she after?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Oh, my dear boy, be realistic. Every young woman you meet is after something. Usually money.’

  ‘No, that’s one thing I can be sure of. She’s not after my money. I offered her money and she refused it.’

  ‘Obviously it wasn’t enough.’

  ‘I offered her in excess of a million English pounds.’

  ‘A million—? Are you out of your mind?’

  ‘In a way, yes. I’ve been partly out of my mind since Papà admitted on his deathbed that he’d cheated Jackie’s father out of a million years ago.’

  Tania gasped. ‘No, that’s not possible. You’ve imagined it.’

  ‘It’s true. He told me he and George Benton both placed a bet. Benton’s paid off, but Papà stole the winnings before Benton knew. I’ve been desperate to put it right by payi
ng back the money. I was going to give it to George Benton, but he’s dead. So I offered it to Jackie and she turned me down.’

  Tania gasped. ‘She actually refused to take a sum like that? I don’t believe it.’

  ‘It’s true. I’m not lying.’

  ‘No, I mean I don’t believe her refusal was genuine. She wants you to think her honest so that you’ll be lured in further—perhaps even marry her.’

  ‘I don’t believe that.’

  ‘No, because you’ve formed a high opinion of her—exactly as you were meant to.’

  ‘So you don’t really like her after all?’

  Tania hesitated before saying carefully, ‘I’m not sure. She makes me cautious. But she’s so clever and sharp-witted I wonder if she might be the right woman for you, because she could be the one who could make you stop your nonsense.’

  This seemed to strike him. He considered thoughtfully before saying, ‘My nonsense? I think you two must be in cahoots.’

  ‘Why? Has she called you out on your nonsense too?’

  ‘Not outright, but she implies it every time she opens her mouth.’

  ‘Good for her.’

  ‘Today she called me Prince Charmless.’

  ‘Indeed? She actually said that?’

  ‘Without any hesitation.’

  Tania chuckled. ‘Now I’m really beginning to like her.’

  ‘I like her too,’ Vittorio admitted. ‘In some ways. But not in others. It comes and goes, and the feelings get intertwined.’

  ‘You mean you have opposite feelings at the same time?’

  ‘Yes—it’s hard to know what to think of a woman with several different aspects.’

  ‘That can be the best kind of woman,’ Tania observed.

  ‘Certainly the most interesting,’ Vittorio murmured. ‘And now I think I’ll have an early night myself.’

  ‘I hope you’re not going to go knocking on her door.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of it. She and I are just friends. We’ve both made that very plain.’

  ‘As long as you’re both realists.’

  ‘Not a doubt of it. Goodnight, Aunt.’ He gave her a friendly peck on the cheek and departed.

  * * *

  Despite retiring early, Vittorio found that his need for sleep deserted him as soon as he went to bed. After tossing and turning for a while he rose, pulled on some jeans and a T-shirt, and went downstairs, then out into the garden.

  He couldn’t be certain what had disturbed him. Although he knew his aunt’s words had touched a nerve, he was unwilling to admit how that touch had agitated him.

  We’re just friends. We’ve both made that very plain.

  Was that being realistic? Despite her lack of conventional beauty, Jackie held an attraction for him that was unsettling—all the more so because he doubted if she felt the same way.

  He walked for a long time before returning to his room and going back to bed. But still sleep evaded him, and he lay there restlessly for several hours until he nodded off just before it was time to get up.

  Bad news was waiting for him when he went down for breakfast. Leo, the permanent driver he employed, was feeling poorly.

  ‘He can’t drive you to Rome,’ Tania told him. ‘He isn’t well enough.’

  ‘No matter. I’ll drive.’ But he said it reluctantly. His disturbed night had left him feeling less than his best. But the trip was necessary, and he was sure he could be strong.

  He reckoned it was the right decision as he observed Jackie on their journey. She had clearly done some research and knew where she wanted to visit.

  ‘I’d like to see some more of the smaller shops,’ she said after a few miles. ‘The department stores are impressive, but a little shop can sometimes take you by surprise.’

  ‘Yes, it can,’ he said. ‘I remember a little shop in London that took me completely by surprise. It was being run by a really prickly woman who trampled me underfoot, chucked me out and called me all kinds of names. And a few days later I was fool enough to bring her home with me. I can’t think why...’

  ‘I guess you just like being ill-treated,’ she teased.

  ‘That’s right. And I’m sure she’s got some more up her sleeve.’

  ‘Never mind. If you fight back she’ll probably make a run for it.’

  ‘Don’t you dare! Now I’ve got you here I’m going to keep you. You’re my prisoner. Don’t forget it.’

  They laughed. And then they were in town, travelling the back streets where Vittorio discovered small businesses that impressed him in unfamiliar ways.

  He watched as Jackie examined them, made notes, and drew his attention to things he hadn’t noticed.

  ‘You really do know your stuff,’ he said at last as they got back into the car. ‘I’m impressed.’ He glanced around and said suddenly, ‘Wait here, I’ll be just a moment.’

  On the far side of the road was a branch of the bank where he’d taken her the day before. He went in, stayed a few minutes, then returned to her.

  ‘I’ve got something for you,’ he said. ‘Here.’ He handed her a bundle of banknotes.

  ‘But what—?’

  ‘Now you’re working for me, and that’s your first commission.’

  She flicked through the notes, astonished at the amount.

  ‘It’s more than I was expecting.’

  ‘You’re doing a good job. It’s ten per cent of what I spent online under your advice.’

  ‘We didn’t actually agree my wages.’

  ‘No, and if I was anything like the last man you worked for I’d cut the amount in half and defy you to challenge me. I wonder how far you’d get...’

  ‘I never got anywhere arguing with Rik until you came and defended me,’ she admitted.

  ‘Right. But you’re my employee now, and I don’t expect you to work for nothing.’

  ‘Well, if you put it like that—’

  ‘You’ve earned that money, Jackie. Now, I’m starving,’ Vittorio said. ‘Just round that corner is a hotel with one of the best restaurants in Rome. Let’s go. Unless you want to be difficult about that too?’

  ‘No, I’ve had enough fun for today. Let’s go.’

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘YOU MEANT THAT about fun, didn’t you? That’s how you get your kicks—driving me mad.’

  ‘Some people are more fun to drive mad than others.’

  ‘You’d better watch out,’ Vittorio said. ‘It might be my turn to have fun.’ He swung into a car park. ‘Here we are.’

  He escorted her inside the hotel and headed for the restaurant. When they were settled inside, Jackie’s eyes widened at the sight of the menu.

  ‘Best Roman cuisine,’ Vittorio said. ‘Does it tempt you?’

  ‘Yes, it looks delicious.’ He summoned the waiter and they ordered their food.

  ‘Would you like wine?’ he asked.

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘Me neither. I’ve got to drive us home. Let’s have sparkling water.’

  When the water arrived he filled both their glasses.

  ‘To a successful business arrangement,’ he said.

  They clinked glasses.

  ‘Here’s the food,’ he said with relief as the waiter approached them.

  The dishes that were laid before her looked delicious, and tasted that way too.

  ‘Lovely!’ she said.

  ‘Good.’

  He paused, and she had a strange feeling that he was summoning up his courage. When he spoke again he sounded uneasy.

  ‘The fact is I wanted us to spend a little time together. Because I feel we need to talk.’

  Jackie stared at him, puzzled. ‘Do we?’ she asked softly. ‘You might say that we’re t
he last people to want to talk.’

  ‘But that’s wrong. We connect because I’m the only person who knows exactly how you feel.’

  ‘I don’t think you do know how I feel. You can’t imagine how all your money and luxury depresses me.’

  ‘Because of your father and what was done to him? I understand how that makes you feel, but I wasn’t the man who did it.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Why do you hate me, Jackie?’

  She gave a brief ironic laugh. ‘I guess it’s because you’re the one who’s available to me. I can’t chastise your father, because he isn’t here. But you are, so I can—’ She gave a slight shrug.

  ‘Well, that’s honest, anyway. So when you kick me in the teeth you just pretend you’re kicking him?’

  ‘I guess you’re right.’ She sighed. ‘I keep telling myself to be reasonable, but then I remember Daddy’s face looking the way I saw it so often. His life was terrible at the end. He’d lost everything.’

  ‘He hadn’t lost you. He had a daughter who cared for him.’

  ‘Yes, but I couldn’t fill all the empty spaces in his life. Even now I’m still trying to do my best by him.’

  Vittorio closed his eyes. ‘I can’t describe hearing how my father had cheated his friend, stolen from him—what that did to me. I’d always admired him, practically worshipped him as a man to be trusted and honoured. Suddenly to discover that there was another truth about him—that he was capable of such a terrible action—’

  Jackie was dismayed to see that he was shaking. She reached out and took his hand. ‘It’s not your fault,’ she said.

  He opened his eyes, gazing straight at her. ‘I never thought to hear you say something like that,’ he said.

  ‘Well, it’s true. You didn’t steal the money.’

  ‘But I lived on it. I grew up in luxury that I had no right to. And when I started out in business my father supported me financially. He couldn’t have done that if he hadn’t had that stolen money. The knowledge tortured me, but I had to keep my feelings to myself. I couldn’t let him know while he was dying. And there’s been nobody else I could talk to. Until now.’

  ‘And talking helps, doesn’t it?’ she murmured. ‘I never thought to say this, but in a strange way your loss has been greater than mine. My father remains in my heart just as he always was—loving, gentle, sweet-natured. That will never change. But you’ve lost the father you loved and admired. He’s vanished and been replaced by another father who horrifies you. I do understand how that must be a miserable loss to you.’