One day Regina would observe too closely and learn the truth, that she and Lucca were only playacting. Though her brother was in love with another woman, he had to walk a fine line in order to convince everyone his marriage to Alex was built on solid ground. For the moment she had to respond like a woman in love, yet already she was worn-out with the strain of it and longed to be alone to think.
When it came her turn to climb out of the helicopter with Lucca’s assistance, she noticed a swarm of staff from the palace descending on them. The crown prince and favorite son had come home at last.
No sooner did that thought fill her mind than Regina put a hand on Alex’s arm. “Now that we’ve arrived, my brother’s life won’t be his own. Come on. I’ll show you to your suite. After a transatlantic flight I’m always exhausted, even if I’ve slept.” Regina understood a great deal.
Lucca stood behind her and gave her waist a surreptitious squeeze, melting her insides. “Go with my sister,” he whispered before kissing her temple. “I’ll ring you later in the day when you’ve had a chance to rest.” It was clear there’d be no introductions to anyone until she’d been presented to his parents.
Alex nodded without looking at him and followed Regina’s lead, but with each stride that took her away from him, she felt the keen loss of his presence.
Better get used to it, Alex. Lucca is only a figurehead in your life. Concentrate on obtaining your goals, then you won’t be a pathetic creature who listens for his every footstep and hangs like a heavy millstone around his neck. Focus on your surroundings.
Her surroundings …
She paused midway to the north portico at the rear of the sprawling Renaissance palace. It was perched on the lower part of a steep hillside. In the late-morning sun the ornate, three-story structure gleamed like a dazzling white jewel against a backdrop of an impossibly blue sea and sky.
Her gaze lifted to the stunning flag with a white cross on a red field designating the House of Savoy. Below it was a flag with a crown and shield of the reigning Vittorio family coat-of-arms. She’d seen the same insignia emblazoned on the jet’s exterior.
Everywhere her eyes traveled she discovered fruit and palm trees. Flower gardens with too many varieties to name dotted the fluid carpet of velvety green. The marvelous scent of roses mixed with lemon and orange filled her lungs.
Southern California had its share of fabulous estates, but nothing she’d ever seen came close to this. Regina walked back to her. “It’s breathtaking to me, too, and I’ve lived here all my life.”
“No ordinary gardener created this paradise. It’s been done by a master planner. I’m staggered by so much beauty.”
Regina’s heart-shaped mouth curved into a smile that lit her warm brown eyes. “I’ll tell Dizo what you said.”
“Who’s that?”
“His real name is Dinozzo. He’s the oldest son of Guido Fornese, the head gardener, but between you and me Dizo is the genius. I’d never say that to anyone else because I wouldn’t want to hurt Guido’s feelings.”
“I’ll never tell,” Alex assured her.
The younger woman stared at her. “You’re nice.”
“So are you, Regina.” She had a sweetness in her. Though they were only a year apart in age, their life’s experience had been so different Alex felt much older.
“Wait till you see the view of the front from your bedroom balcony.”
Alex put a hand to her breast. “Do you think my heart can take it?” she teased to cover her emotions spilling all over the place.
In that lovely face raised to her she saw traces of the charismatic man who’d cast a spell over her. Otherwise why would she be standing in this Garden of Eden instead of a cubicle on the studio lot in Culver City building a nose for Cyrano de Bergerac.
Gentle laughter broke from Regina. “I’m still alive if that means anything.”
“It means a lot.”
“There’s another reason why Lucca wants you in the blue suite.”
“What is that?” Alex asked quietly.
“I’d better not tell. You’ll find out soon enough.” The comment made her feel giddy with curiosity. “Come on, before he gets after me for not taking the proper care of you.”
The palace had a staff of a small army of people, two of whom opened the doors for her and Regina. Alex stepped onto a checkerboard floor of deep rose and white marble. Across the grand foyer rose an exquisitely carved marble staircase. The walls and niches were filled with statuary and gold-framed paintings of immense size.
When Regina noticed Alex’s interest in everything, she said, “The core of the present palazzo dates from 1467 and was originally the town residence of an ambitious Capriccio banker. The ruling family of the House of Savoy liked the location and bought it in 1498. The families that came after began to build on to it, filling it with great treasures until it looks the way it does today.”
“You’re surrounded by history,” Alex marveled. “The palace is absolutely beautiful inside and out.”
“I think so, too. Some of the most precious items have been moved to the museum so visitors can see them.” They started up the stairs to the second floor.
“Lucca told me the family jewels are kept there.”
“Yes, including the Ligurian diamond. Did you happen to see it on display in New York?”
“Only a glimpse, but during the flight here he let me hold it up to the light so I could see into its heart,” she explained as they curved around to the next story.
Regina paused on the top step to study her for a moment. Alex had no way of deciphering the other woman’s thoughts before following her down the spacious corridor. Everywhere she looked the ceilings and walls were a masterpiece of frescoes and gilt cornices forming frames around them.
When Regina opened the double doors halfway down the east wing, Alex let out a cry of delight. The large apartment with its ornate white woodwork was a vision of blue and white stripes against a smaller blue-and-white pattern on the walls.
Through one set of double doors was a den with a computer and every possible accoutrement for her comfort.
“Lucca will have ordered a lunch tray for you. He wants you to relax and enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you for everything, Regina.”
“You’re welcome. If you need anything, pick up the phone and dial 1 for housekeeping. Dial 2 for Lucca, 3 for me and 0 for an outside line. Talk to you later.”
Dial 2 for Lucca …
Regina shut the doors behind her, leaving Alex, who was charmed by her new world. A fabulous blue-and-white Persian rug covered the gleaming white, marble floors of the sitting room. She walked across it to the bedroom. Alex saw that her suitcase had already been placed at the end of the king-size bed. At the opposite end of the room was a fireplace framed by hand-painted blue-and-white tiles. Exquisite.
Tall French doors had been opened to reveal Capriccio’s curved bay with its myriad of yachts. Drawn to the balcony, she looked down on the terraced grounds where she saw a long, blue rectangular pool graced by ornamental flowering trees and statuary. Exotic plants delineated the borders of each terrace. Steps led down to the private beach. Between the view and the warm, sweetly scented air, the whole ambience was out of a dream and left her speechless.
“After your fright on the helicopter, I didn’t think you’d make it any further than the bed.”
Lucca’s deep male voice jarred her out of her trance. She turned around but couldn’t see him.
“Look up.”
Surprised, she lifted her head and discovered him staring down at her from a balcony on the third floor, one suite over.
“I put you in there so I could keep an eye on you without an audience.”
She assumed he meant the bodyguards. Minus his suit jacket, he was leaning on his forearms, giving her the impression he’d been out there for several minutes and was happy to be home after being away so long. Knowing there were no secrets between the two of them had to make this the
supreme moment of his life.
Alex wished she could feel happier about it. “I thought you’d be with your parents.”
“I spoke to them from the plane. They’re expecting me at five this evening after Papa’s nap.”
“So they still don’t know about me?”
“No. I’ll come for you at ten to five. We’ll make our entrance together. In the meantime I have business I must attend to. Enjoy your meal. It happens to be one of my favorites.”
Alex couldn’t fault him for anything.
As he turned away, she glimpsed the play of muscle in those masculine shoulders covered by his silk shirt. His well-honed physique was proof he kept fit. Not wanting to think where his personal business might take him this afternoon, she went back inside the apartment to eat. One of the maids had set the tray on the oval table in the sitting room.
Though the scallops and pasta were delicious, she ate with little enthusiasm, leaving most of it to start making phone calls home. Michelle was her first priority. Alex glanced at her watch. Her boss would be up and getting ready for work by now. Once she arrived on the lot, pure chaos reigned. Now would be the best time to catch her.
Alex hadn’t been looking forward to telling her she wouldn’t be coming back to work. For the moment all she would say was that while she was in New York, she realized she needed a complete break from her life in California. For the time being she was looking into attending medical school and would get in touch with her when her plans solidified.
As for her apartment, she would phone her landlord and arrange through him to get her belongings packed and shipped to Castelmare. Her used car could be dealt with through the car dealership where she’d purchased it.
Her last call would be to Mr. Watkins who’d be shocked about the faux diamonds. For the moment, all he needed to know was that she wouldn’t be returning to California for a while.
Later on she would tell him the truth. He alone would understand why she was ready to do anything to pay off her mother’s debt, even to being a stand-in consort for an equally desperate prince. But kind as Mr. Watkins was, he wouldn’t fail to remind her that two wrongs still made a wrong.
Deep in her psyche Alex knew what she was doing was wrong, but it was far too late to back out now. She was more her mother’s daughter than she wanted to admit.
CHAPTER FIVE
AT QUARTER to five Alex stood in front of the bathroom mirror wearing the newly cleaned and pressed outfit she’d worn to the jewelry store yesterday. The maid who’d taken her lunch tray away had seen to it. Naturally it had to have been on Lucca’s suggestion since he knew Alex only had two outfits with her.
She brushed her freshly washed hair into some semblance of order. It would cooperate for all of five minutes, then the natural curl would take on a life of its own and become unruly once more. In deference to meeting his parents, she applied a soft pink lipstick.
Since talking with her boss and Mr. Watkins, both of whom had been surprisingly understanding and supportive of her plans, she’d tried to sleep, but it never came. No matter how much she rationalized it, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to forget she and Lucca were about to perpetrate a great fraud on his family.
When she heard a knock on the door of the suite, she jumped. Her nerves were frayed to the point she wanted to hide.
“Alexandra? I’m coming in.” The next thing she knew Lucca was striding over the threshold, his hard-muscled legs covered in casual stone-colored trousers.
Her stunned gaze lifted to the navy cotton crew-neck pullover stretched across his powerful frame with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows. With his black wavy hair and striking aquiline features, his looks transcended every known superlative in her vocabulary.
He’d purposely worn an outfit that would make her comfortable in hers. Everything he did was for her welfare, causing her to care a little more for him when she didn’t want to.
They met halfway across the sitting room. To her dismay she was out of breath. His dark eyes searched hers with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. “Only one thing is missing. Stand still while I pin this on you.”
He reached in his trouser pocket and pulled something out. She assumed it was a family heirloom of some kind, but almost fainted when she glimpsed the unmistakable Ligurian diamond suspended beneath a small gold crown. In one deft move he’d attached it to the draped part of her blouse covering her right shoulder.
How could he have had the jewel fashioned into a pin this fast?
She pressed her hand against it, as shaken by the brush of his fingers against her skin through the thin material as anything else. “What have you done?” she cried in panic. “I can’t wear this!”
“Why not?” came his mellow query. “It’s mine to give and was meant to be worn by a woman of your height and looks. No one else could carry it off.”
Heat scorched her cheeks. “I’m not my mother!”
“That’s true. You’re your own self with a little of her thrown in.”
“You know what I meant. This is a mockery.”
“Only in your mind.”
She tried to remove it, but Lucca prevented it, shaking his dark head with a determination that sent shivers down her spine. “This is my signature. The sight of it will convince my father I’m happy with my choice of bride and am ready at last to relieve him of his burdens.”
He had an answer for everything. It stopped her every time. “You should have given this to the woman you love.” Her voice trembled. “She alone has the right.”
Lucca gave an unconscious shrug of his broad shoulders. “You’re going to be my wife. It’s expected that you wear a family jewel. Nothing in the museum would suit you better than this. Are you ready?”
No, she wanted to scream, but she didn’t dare. On the ride to the airport a century ago she’d agreed to marry him and she had no right to question what he felt was necessary to make his parents happy.
After reaching for her purse, she followed him to the door of her suite. As she moved past him their bodies touched. She might as well have come in contact with a current of electricity and rushed into the hall ahead of him.
Carlo stood a short distance away. He probably saw her reaction. Great. Lucca never went anywhere without him. His permanent shadow. The bodyguard probably pitied Alex who was going to be nothing more than a token wife. Alex didn’t want his pity. The thought sickened her.
“Is everything all right?” Lucca asked with concern. “My parents are waiting for me in the sitting room of their apartment, but if you need more time …”
Me, he’d said. Not us. She shuddered.
She flashed him a little smile. “Not time, just courage.”
“I promise you they’re wonderful people.”
“They would have to be in order to raise a man like you … and Regina,” she added as an afterthought so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea. Already she was letting things slip he could misinterpret.
“She likes you, Alexandra, not simply for my sake.” When Alex shook her head he said, “Believe it or not, that’s what she told me a little while ago. My sister’s a good judge of character. I’m glad you’re going to get along.”
If he was glad, she was, too. He dictated their pace down the hall toward the west end. He had to know she’d never been this nervous in her life. Though he pointed out various murals from his family history in an effort to put her at ease, she wasn’t in a mood to appreciate his anecdotes, amusing as they were.
They could have been out for a leisurely stroll on the palace grounds instead of inside its walls walking the plank. That’s what it felt like to Alex.
When they neared the double doors where more palace personnel were on guard, Lucca reached for her hand. His hooded eyes flicked to hers. “Your presence is going to add a year, maybe even several to my father’s life. For that you have my undying gratitude.” With another disturbing kiss to her palm, he opened both doors.
By tacit agreement they mov
ed inside the sumptuously decorated room, yet it showed signs of modernization with several comfortable-looking couches and chairs with ottomans. Lucca left her side long enough to kiss his parents, who were casually dressed in pants and shirts. Both sat in front of a television set.
While they conversed in Italian, she hung back where she could study his attractive mother. She was small-framed with stylishly short dark hair, an older version of Regina both in coloring and features. Alex sobered, however, at the sight of his thin father, who shut off the TV with the remote. It sounded as if they’d been watching a golf match.
No doubt the recent loss of weight and hair was due to his chemo treatments, but she could tell he’d been a very handsome man when he’d been healthy, just like his son. An oxygen tank with tubes rested against the side of his chair. This was a sight the public would never be allowed to see. The significance of it weighed on her.
Lucca stood up and turned to her, motioning her forward. In English he said, “Mama? Papa? I brought someone home from America with me. Please speak in English until she learns our language.”
“Don’t get up,” Alex begged when they both started to rise.
His mother’s brown eyes caught sight of the diamond pin, and she let out a surprised cry. “Look, Rudy!”
“I see it, Betta,” her husband’s voice shook. He sounded shocked and upset. “What does this mean, figlio mio?”
In a lightning move Lucca reached for Alex and put his arm around her waist, drawing her breathtakingly close to his side. “It means there’s going to be a wedding.” He smiled down at her, kissing the side of her cheek. “Who knew my gorgeous bride-to-be has been waiting in the States all this time for me to find her. If I’d known about her sooner, we would have been married ages ago and would probably have had a child or two by now.”
Oh, please don’t make the lie any worse than it is, Lucca.
“May I introduce you to your future daughter-in-law, Princess Alexandra Carlisle Grigory.”
Diamonds Are Forever: The Royal Marriage ArrangementThe Diamond BrideThe Diamond Dad Page 7
