by Lucy Gordon
‘Poppa said you were coming,’ she confided.
Alysa was touched. At their previous meeting she’d still been tormented by her own dead child, and had been unable to be at ease with the little girl. Yet Tina had seemed oblivious, offering her friendship then, and even more now. Alysa felt shamed by such open-hearted generosity. The smile she gave Tina was warm.
‘Who’s your friend?’ she asked, indicating a doll in an elaborate dress that Tina was carrying.
‘Aunt Leona gave it to me.’
‘She’s very pretty,’ Alysa said politely, but Tina pulled a face.
‘She’s too frilly,’ she complained. ‘I don’t like being frilly.’
‘I know what you mean,’ Alysa said at once. ‘I’ve never been frilly myself. I used to prefer making mud pies.’
They nodded in perfect empathy.
A noise made her turn around to see Drago just coming into the room. The others seized on him at once, giving her a moment to look without being seen in return.
For the first time she saw him dressed formally in a dinner jacket and black bow-tie, whose elegance had the perverse effect of making him seem taller and more powerful than she remembered. Now she could perceive him as other women did-a deeply attractive man, made even more attractive by a touch of harshness-except that she had seen past that veneer and knew how thin it was.
At last Drago looked up and saw her, and a slow smile spread over his face. There was a look of satisfaction in his eyes, as though his best hopes had come true, but there was also an astonished question: this is her?
Seeing that surprised admiration, she knew she’d been secretly hoping for just this. The months apart vanished. He was the same man who had supported her and leaned on her at the same time, and when he came across the floor with his hands outstretched she reached out to him.
‘I was afraid you wouldn’t come,’ he said softly.
‘And miss your moment of glory?’ she teased. ‘Never.’
He didn’t speak, but the pressure on her hands increased slightly.
‘At last you’re here,’ Elena’s voice broke in. ‘I thought you’d never join us.’
Drago released Alysa and turned to smile politely at Elena.
‘A potential client turned up without warning. I had to see him briefly, but I’ve put him off for a few days, so now we can have dinner. Shall we go in?’
‘Of course. You’re sitting next to Leona, and Tina is sitting next to me.’
‘I want to sit next to Alysa,’ Tina said at once, adding in a confiding voice, ‘She’s a guest.’
‘And you are her hostess,’ Drago said at once. ‘So of course you must sit beside her and look after her for me.’
Elena looked displeased but was unable to protest. Tina took Alysa’s hand and led her into the dining room, while Drago went unprotesting with Leona.
A suspicion was growing in Alysa’s mind, which was increased as she saw Leona seated firmly on Drago’s right. Elena regarded them both with the complacency of a match-maker who saw things working out.
She was deluding herself, Alysa thought. There was no sign of the lover in Drago’s manner to Leona. He was charming, considerate, but slightly detached. If Leona claimed his attention, he turned to her with a smile, but he seldom made the first move.
And yet, perhaps Elena knew what she was doing. Drago wasn’t in love, but he wouldn’t have been the first widower to marry a sensible woman to give his child a mother. An old family friend would be a logical choice, and help to keep Tina close to her grandmother.
But not this woman, Alysa mused. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she wasn’t sure that Leona was what he needed.
When the meal was under way, Tina confided, ‘I wanted to ask you about Poppa. You did look after him, didn’t you?’
‘I think I did. I tried. He looked after me too.’
‘Because you both had someone who died?’
‘Yes, just so.’
By the time the meal ended, Tina’s eyes were drooping, and Drago gently suggested that it was time for all the children to go to bed.
‘Leona and I will take care of that,’ Elena said at once. ‘Come, children, upstairs.’
Alysa leaned down so that Tina could give her a peck on the cheek. Then the child was whisked away by Elena.
‘Come with me,’ Drago said, taking Alysa’s arm.
He led her out onto a terrace at the back of the house, overlooking the moonlit garden.
‘Let me look at you,’ he said.
He held her away from him, surveying her, while she did the same-both silently asking how their previous encounter had changed them. Alysa held her breath, wondering what he would say. At last he spoke.
‘You’ve put on weight.’
‘What?’
‘Good. I like it. You were far too skinny before.’
Alysa burst out laughing. Trust him to say something no other man would have said.
‘All right,’ he said hastily. ‘I’m not known for my tact.’
‘You amaze me.’
‘But I mean what I say. You were like a ghost before. Now you’re alive again.’
‘And what about you? Are you alive again?’
‘In some ways, not in all. I have so much to tell you, my dear friend.’
‘And I have things to tell you,’ she said eagerly. ‘You said I looked alive again, and I’m almost there, but there’s still something I need badly and you’re the only person who can help me.’
His eyes grew warmer and he seized her hands.
‘But of course I’ll help you-anything you ask. Who knows you better than I? Tell me now, what it is that you need?’
But before she could speak there was a call of, ‘Drago,’ and they looked back at the house to see Leona waving to him.
‘Elena wants to talk to you,’ she said.
‘Will you be kind enough to tell her that I’ll return in a moment?’ he said.
‘I think she wants you now. She says you’re neglecting your guests.’
Drago groaned softly.
‘You’d better go,’ Alysa said.
‘Yes, I suppose I must, but we must talk before you leave.’
He drew her hand through his arm and they went in together, Leona watching them like a hawk.
For the rest of the evening Alysa stayed in the background. Her moment would come later. At last she murmured to him, ‘I should be going.’
‘Fine, I’ll drive you home,’ Drago said.
Elena started to protest that that was the chauffeur’s job, but Drago silenced her with a deadly smile.
‘I know I can rely on you to be the perfect hostess while I’m gone. Alysa, are you ready?’
When they were on the road, safely away from the house, he said through gritted teeth, ‘My mother-in-law!’ Then, when Alysa gave a soft chuckle, ‘Yes, I suppose you find it funny.’
‘Well, she’s so blatant about it. She’s very determined to marry you to Leona, isn’t she?’
‘You saw that too? I hoped it was just my imagination.’
‘It’s obvious. She’s like a general going into battle, with everything worked out.’
‘How dreadfully true. When I invited her for tomorrow’s ceremony, she somehow turned it into an invitation for Leona too.’
As they reached the outskirts of Florence, he said, ‘Let’s find somewhere to sit down and talk.’
He chose a small café in a side street and settled her in a corner where the light was poor and few people would notice them.
‘Is that why you invited me here?’ she asked. ‘To protect you from Leona?’
‘Not really, I just needed to see you. What happened seems so unreal. I wanted to be sure you really existed. But now you’re here I’m glad, because of Leona too. I don’t know what’s got into Elena.’
‘I suppose for her Leona would be the ideal choice because she wouldn’t try to separate her from Tina as another woman might.’
‘I gather they�
��ve got it all sorted. Don’t I get a say in this arrangement?’
‘Not much. After all, you might well decide to remarry for Tina’s sake.’
‘Never,’ he said fiercely. ‘Not just for Tina’s sake, and not-Well, anyway.’ He sighed. ‘I don’t want them choosing a wife for me. I rely on you to shield me from their intrigues.’
‘Don’t worry,’ she assured him. ‘I’m your best friend, and when the time comes I’ll take a hand in choosing your wife. Tina and I will line up the candidates, put them through a series of tests and mark them one to ten.’
He laughed. ‘Between you and her watching over me like a pair of guardian angels, I know I’ll be safe. As for you being my best friend…’
‘After all we went through together, don’t you think I am?’
‘I think-’ He paused, as if undecided what to say next. ‘I think we have a bond that will never be broken, and I want-Well, let’s leave that for later. I only wish I could spend more time with you during the celebrations.’
‘You have your duty to do, I know that.’
‘But, afterwards, will you come to the mountains with me?’
Her heart leapt. ‘I hoped you’d ask that.’
‘But don’t mention it to anyone else. As far as anyone knows, you’re going back to England.’
‘What do you take me for? I wasn’t going to confide in Elena, was I?’
He grinned. ‘No, I reckon you’re a match for her. By the way, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?’
‘It can wait. I’ll tell you when we’re in the mountains.’
‘Now I’d better get back home, heaven help me. The car will come for you tomorrow.’
Next day a convoy drove the ten miles to the church, where it disgorged a seemingly endless line of distinguished Florentines. Drago escorted them around the building, describing everything that had been done, and received their congratulations with calm pleasure, not seeming to be overwhelmed by them.
He was his own man, Alysa thought. He knew he’d done a fine job, and he needed nobody else to tell him so.
Tina slipped away from her grandmother and attached herself to Alysa, explaining everything like an expert. Elena tried to draw her back to the family group, but the little girl had her father’s stubbornness.
‘I have to look after Alysa,’ she explained firmly. ‘She has nobody of her own.’
She clung to Alysa’s hand until they were apart from the others.
‘You see up there?’ she said, pointing. ‘That’s where Poppa fell. He was terribly angry. He shouted at everyone.’
‘Even you?’
‘No, not me. Just everyone else. But he was better after you called. He told me about it.’
The ceremony was long and impressive. Several people rose to heap praise on Drago, which he received with a blank face that told her he was embarrassed.
Then it was time to return to the hotel so that she could prepare for the grand banquet that night. She had not managed to have a single word with Drago.
As she got into the car, Tina hugged her and asked anxiously, ‘You will come tonight, won’t you?’
Once the feel of those childish arms about her neck would have made her flinch. Now she hugged Tina back warmly.
‘Promise,’ she said.
In a sudden impulse she spent the afternoon shopping for a dress that was more daring than before, a soft-ivory chiffon that clung to her and emphasised her movements.
The villa was ablaze with lights as she joined the crowd streaming in later that evening. Drago stood there, greeting his guests with Elena on one side, and Leona on the other, as though her place in the villa was already assured. She greeted Alysa with lofty assurance, as did Elena, both women studying her attire suspiciously.
Drago studied it too, with a gleam in his eyes that won an answering smile.
Tina too was part of the reception line-up, but she slipped away to join Alysa, which won Drago’s look of warm approval.
‘Look what Poppa bought me,’ she said, showing Alysa a locket around her neck. Inside was a picture of Carlotta.
‘He said it was specially for today, because Mamma would have enjoyed this so much, and we must think of her.’
‘Does he speak of her much?’ Alysa asked.
‘Oh yes, especially when it’s her birthday-that was last week-and on my birthday, because she sends me presents. Well, it’s Poppa really, but he says it’s her, and I pretend to believe him ’cos otherwise he might be hurt.’
‘And you don’t want to hurt him, no matter what you have to do?’
Tina beamed at this understanding. ‘He pretends to be a bully, but he isn’t really. Just a big softy.’
‘And nobody knows him better than you, so I guess you’re right.’
‘Tina!’ It was Leona’s voice. ‘We are sitting down for dinner now. Come along.’
‘But I’ve got lots of things to show Alysa.’
‘Later,’ Alysa said. ‘Never keep your host waiting.’
‘Very true,’ Drago said from somewhere behind Leona, who turned to him.
As soon as her back was turned Tina seized the chance to stick her tongue out at her. Alysa hastily covered the child’s mouth, but not before Drago saw and gave a wide grin.
It was all over in seconds, and then they were marching sedately to the banqueting hall. But it left Alysa feeling exhilarated. Leona might have been seated in the place of honour by Drago, but it was with her that he had the shared understanding.
She saw another side of him that night-assured and businesslike. He even managed to be charming, although she guessed he was carefully negotiating three moves ahead in such unfamiliar territory.
After dinner there was dancing to the accompaniment of an orchestra. Drago danced with Leona, then with a series of wives, mostly indistinguishable from each other, while Alysa entertained herself with several gentlemen who all spoke perfect English and had commercial interests in England. She could therefore assure herself, with a clear conscience, that she was touting for business.
She would have liked to dance with Drago. Something told her that it would be very interesting. But her time would come.
As the evening drew to a close Elena spoke to her from lofty heights.
‘I hope you have really enjoyed your time here, signorina, and that you will return home with happy memories.’
Alysa made the polite response, and Elena immediately followed up with, ‘When exactly do you leave?’
‘I’ll be going tomorrow.’
‘How sad. We’re going to stay here for a few more days. It’s so seldom we can get the whole family together, and we simply must make the most of it.’
‘I’m afraid the family gathering will be without me,’ Drago put in. ‘The man I told you about-the one who turned up last night-wants me to look over a building to see if it’s worth renovating. I have to leave first thing tomorrow morning, and I’ll be gone for several days.’
Elena began to protest, but his smile was implacable.
‘Signora Dennis, let me escort you to the car,’ he said. ‘I only regret I am unable to drive you home myself.’
As she got into the waiting car, she said casually, ‘I wonder where this building is?’
‘You know quite well where it is,’ Drago replied. ‘Or have you forgotten what we agreed?’
‘Not a word. I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow. Now I’d better go quickly, before Elena does something desperate.’
CHAPTER TEN
‘I T’S a pity you only saw the mountains under snow,’ Drago said as they headed out of Florence next morning. ‘I’ve wanted you to see them now, when everywhere is at its best.’
The journey was magical. Their last trip had been made in the chill of winter. Now they climbed higher into the sunlight, the trees glowing around them in the green of summer.
Again they stopped at the village to stock up on groceries, but slowly this time, while he asked her preferences and promised her a whol
e series of dishes to make her rejoice.
‘Does this mean I can help with the cooking?’ she asked as they got back into the car.
‘Not at all. Stay out of my kitchen. A woman’s place is laying the table.’
When they had driven on a little way, she said, ‘Stop the car. I want to look.’
He pulled in just off the road, and they left the car behind to wander among the trees.
‘You’d hardly know it was the same place,’ Alysa said in wonder.
‘Thank you for coming,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ve thought of you all the time. Say it was the same with you.’
‘Oh yes. You were always with me.’
He took her hand and they wandered higher. The trees grew more luxuriantly here, blocking out much of the light so that the sunbeams slanted down like arrows piercing the shadows.
‘Do you recognise this place?’ he asked, stopping suddenly by a tree.
‘I don’t think so.’
‘I guess you wouldn’t. The last time you were here it was dark and snowing.’
‘Is this where you found me that night?’
‘That’s right. You were curled up under this very tree.’
‘I can hardly believe it. It’s so beautiful now, and then it was-’
‘Another world,’ he said.
Leaning against the tree, he raised her hand so that he could brush the back of it against his cheek, hold it there for a moment, then press his lips against it.
‘I’ve been back here often since you went away,’ he said. ‘It’s where I come for peace, and even happiness.’
‘Can there be happiness?’ she asked wistfully.
‘There might be.’
‘It takes time.’
‘Do you know the first lesson a builder has to learn?’ he asked. ‘Not to go too fast. Let things happen in their own time, or you’ll make a mess of the whole project.’
‘And we mustn’t make a mess of the project,’ she agreed.
His smile was fond and warm.
‘Some projects are more important than others,’ he said. ‘Right, let’s go. I’m getting hungry.’
She nodded at his abrupt change of tone. Having moved cautiously to the edge of the precipice, he’d backed off before asking her to look over. And he was right, of course, she thought as they hurried down to the car hand in hand. They had all the time in the world to find out what lay past the precipice.
