If or when her mother did come, she would find Ally in a vastly different situation from the one she’d been in with Jim.
“My mama won’t be able to come, either, but I’ll be there,” Sofia assured Ally.
“That’s all I could ask for, darling. How would you like to be my bridesmaid?”
“That’s an excellent idea.” Gino’s black eyes gleamed. “Maybe Anna and Leonora would like to be bridesmaids, too. Ally will take you shopping for dresses when she picks out her wedding dress.”
Suddenly Sofia pushed herself away from the table. “Excuse me for a minute. I have to call Anna and tell her what’s happened!”
After she disappeared from the kitchen, Gino reached across the table to cover Ally’s hand. He squeezed her ring finger especially hard.
“You’ve just seen a miracle before your very eyes. Asking her to be a bridesmaid was inspirational, but then you have all the right instincts.”
Ally hoped that was true because she’d just agreed to take on a lifetime responsibility and didn’t want to fail.
“I hear someone out in the courtyard,” Gino said before removing his hand. “It must be Dizo. I asked him to bring Leonora over again today. Come with me, Ally. I want him to meet my future wife.”
Just hearing Gino say it sent a shiver of delight through her body.
She followed him out the door to the driveway where she saw Leonora and her father get out of a truck.
The two men greeted each other warmly. Then Gino turned to Ally and put his arm around her shoulders. The gesture seemed to come so naturally to him, she could hardly credit it. “Ally? This is my friend and manager, Dizo Rossini. You’ve already met Leonora.”
“How do you, signore.” Ally shook his hand.
His daughter hung on to Gino’s arm. “Is she your new girlfriend, Gino?”
“No.” He ruffled her dark blond hair. “Ally Parker is my fiancée. We’re getting married on Sunday.”
The other man whooped in surprise. “You are a sly fox, Gino. Where have you been keeping this beautiful woman all this time?”
“Why don’t you tell him, bellissima,” Gino said to Ally before giving her a quick kiss on the mouth.
Gino didn’t play fair, so she’d better get used to it.
“He kidnapped me off a train headed for Rome. I’m afraid one thing led to another,” she said poker-faced.
“Ah, Gino. Love has hit you at last. I can see it in your eyes when you look at her.”
Dizo winked at her. “He has had many women chase after him. All kinds,” he chatted like the old friend he was. “Finally he found a woman he had to chase. That is very good.”
Gino grinned. “She didn’t make it easy for me.”
The other man threw back his dark head and laughed. After he sobered, he waved an index finger in front of Gino. “It makes me glad this crazy business about Donata hasn’t stopped you from living your life. It’s your turn to have all those bambinos you’ve wanted to help you run the farm. To think they might all be musicians!” He nudged Gino’s arm.
Ally kept the smile pasted on her face.
She turned to Leonora. “You can go in the house if you want. Sofia should be off the phone by now.”
“Okay.”
As she headed for the house, Sofia ran outside with a joyous smile. The difference in that face from the one Ally had seen for the first time a few nights ago almost made Gino’s niece unrecognizable.
Ally was doing the right thing for Sofia. But nothing could take away the pain in her heart that Gino wasn’t in love with her. It had been too much to ask, and now it was too late to change things. All Ally had to do was look into Sofia’s eyes to realize there could be no going back.
Ally followed them in the house so the two men could be alone.
Sofia was full of excitement about the coming wedding and asked Leonora if she wanted to be a bridesmaid, too. While the three of them were in deep conversation in the living room, Gino entered. His dark eyes sent Ally a private message that he wanted to speak to her alone.
“Excuse me, girls. I’ll be back later.”
“Okay,” Sofia said, but her whole attention was focused on what kind of dresses they would wear.
Gino guided Ally into the study and shut the door. She could hear his mind working.
“Tomorrow we have to meet in my attorney’s office. It will take a good part of the day, so we’re going to have to get a lot accomplished today.”
Before he could say anything else there was a knock on the study door.
“That’ll be Father Angelini,” Gino explained. “Yesterday I phoned and asked him to drop by. Now that you’ve agreed to marry me, he needs to talk to us about the ceremony.
“After he leaves, we’ll drive into Remo for the marriage license. Once that’s done, we can concentrate on shopping and our preparations for the trip to Ischia.”
Ally could hardly keep up with him. One minute she was a widow. The next minute she was engaged to be married to this dynamic man who could move mountains with a snap of his fingers.
The way he was acting, there was no murder case pending that could rip her newfound happiness to shreds. Little did Gino know that his mention of an anteroom where one of them could sleep after they were married had plunged her into despair of a whole new kind. But she would hide it from him if it killed her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“WE’RE almost through, Signora Parker. This is the last document. Sign beneath Gino’s signature, please.”
Ally eyed Mr. Toscano. “What does this one say?”
During the lengthy process, he’d patiently translated everything from Italian to English for her.
This morning she’d thought Gino had brought her to his attorney’s office to talk about the case.
Instead they’d both signed forms giving her power of attorney, not only to act in Gino’s name, but to be Marcello’s and Sofia’s guardian if Gino were absent.
However the greater portion of the time she sat listening to a detailed explanation of the vast assets and holdings of the entire Montefalco family.
“This document will go into effect the minute you become Gino’s wife. It says, ‘In the event of the untimely deaths or mental incapacities of both Gino and Sofia, you will automatically become the Duchess of Montefalco.”
Ally’s gasp permeated the elegant law office. Her fingers shook so hard she couldn’t hold the pen.
Beneath the conference table she felt Gino’s hand slide to her thigh. It sent shock waves through her system. He squeezed gently.
“It’s just a formality,” he whispered.
She jerked her head around. “Is there something you haven’t told me?” she cried. “Marcello’s condition isn’t hereditary is it?”
She couldn’t stop the tremor in her voice.
Gino’s surprised expression should have told her the answer to that question. But the thought of anything being wrong with him had upset her so much, she wasn’t thinking rationally.
“I swear to you there’s not a thing wrong with me or Sofia,” came his solemn declaration.
Though she believed him, she couldn’t prevent the shiver that ran through her body.
“Sign it, Ally, then this part will be over and I’ll finally have peace of mind.”
Knowing how vital it was for him to get his affairs in order at such a precarious time in their lives, she managed to write her name on the dotted line one more time.
When she laid down the pen, a haunting sigh escaped his lips, reminding her this was no game but a life and death situation.
Gino handed the document back to his attorney, then turned to Ally.
“With that out of the way we can enjoy our trip to Ischia.”
“Ischia?” Mr. Toscano questioned.
“That’s where I’m taking the family after the ceremony.”
The older man shook his head.
“I’m afraid it’s out of the question now, Gino. You could be arraigned at y
our farmhouse as early as this afternoon.”
Ally let out a cry. “Surely not this soon—”
“Anything’s possible, signora. If they have to track you to Naples and beyond, it could be ugly for Sofia.”
“I don’t want my niece hurt in any way,” Gino muttered grimly.
“Neither do I,” the attorney said. “But if the prosecutor decides you pose too much of a threat, he can order you brought in anytime he likes.”
“How long will they keep him?” Ally tried without success to keep the alarm out of her voice.
“It could be anywhere from one to three days. Depending on the judge’s findings, a trial date could be set. After that Gino will be released on his own recognizance, but he’ll be under house arrest. That means both of you stay on the farm.”
Ally rubbed her temples where they’d started to ache. “I had no idea it could happen this fast.”
Mr. Toscano eyed her with compassion. “It may not happen today or tomorrow. It might not happen for another week. But I know how this prosecutor works. He’s ambitious and hungry.
“It’s crucial to this case that you two keep your marriage under wraps before he makes his first official move against either of you.
“Since you took out a special license yesterday, I’d advise you to get married right now.”
“You’re reading my mind,” Gino murmured, pulling out his cell phone.
Her adrenaline gushed. “But how can we do that?”
The attorney spread his hands in an expansive gesture.
“Very easily, signora. The Montefalco name opens doors. You’re welcome to use this conference room. Judge Mancini is just across the courtyard. There shouldn’t be a problem of his stepping over here long enough to officiate. Shall I get him on the phone, Gino?”
Gino simply nodded because he was already talking to someone.
While both men were thus occupied, Ally’s thoughts reeled.
The second Gino ended his call, she grasped his arm.
“What about Sofia? She’s going to be devastated if we do this without her.”
“Maybe not.” His black eyes flashed her a searching glance.
“Barring another emergency, Father Angelini has agreed to be available at any time. If I’m not officially served this afternoon, he’ll perform the ceremony at the church this evening.”
“He would do that?”
“Of course. Either way it’s the only plan to stay ahead of the prosecutor.”
“Y-you’re right,” she whispered, but he was already making another call and probably didn’t hear her response.
She tried to school her feelings. Tonight would be their wedding night…
Even if they wouldn’t be sleeping together, Ally’s heart pounded furiously.
After a few minutes of conversation, he hung up and looked at her.
“Provided nothing goes wrong, it’s all arranged with Bianca and the staff for seven o’clock. Sofia and the girls can still wear the new dresses you picked out yesterday,” Gino assured her. “The few people we’ve asked to attend will come just the same.”
“What will you tell everyone is the reason for the change?”
“That I might have to go out of town on business at a moment’s notice, and didn’t want to wait any longer to make you mine. Our guests will understand.”
He leaned over and kissed her warmly on the mouth.
She wished he hadn’t done that. The world might not know the real reason they were getting married, but Mr. Toscano did.
Bemused by the way Gino made her feel every time his hands or mouth touched her, she got to her feet.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to use the powder room.”
The attorney nodded. “It’s down the hall to your right.”
“Thank you.”
Without looking at Gino she left the conference room, but he caught up to her and put a detaining hand on her upper arm. Warmth seeped through the material of her cream suit jacket to her skin.
“What’s wrong, Ally?”
“I’m worried about Sofia’s reaction when we tell her we’ll have to postpone the trip.”
That wasn’t all Ally was thinking about, but her other thoughts were too private to share with him. “She was looking forward to going snorkeling.”
“She understands when business calls. There’ll be other times, Ally. I promise you that.”
If it were humanly possible, Gino would always keep his word. But because someone had intentionally caused Jim and Donata’s accident, the situation was out of their control.
And what if there’d been no accident?
Ally would have lived her whole life not knowing what happened to Jim.
I would never have met Gino…
She couldn’t imagine not knowing him now. Such a possibility was beyond her comprehension.
The very thought of his going to prison when she loved him so desperately— It seemed happiness was going to elude her again.
Gino eyed her with concern, obviously unconvinced she’d told him everything. But she kept on walking, not daring to tell him the truth.
Twenty minutes later the young judge who appeared to be on friendly terms with Mr. Toscano pronounced them man and wife. It was a very brief to the point ceremony because he was in a hurry.
The obligatory kiss Gino gave her was brief but thorough.
“Congratulations, Signora Di Montefalco. It was an honor to officiate for you and the Duc.”
The judge appeared duly impressed by Gino’s title. She supposed Gino was the Duc until Sofia came of age. Incredible.
“May you both be very happy in your new life.
“If you and your beautiful bride will put your signatures across from mine on the wedding certificate, my clerk will file it today.”
Ally didn’t think there was a wedding ceremony on record done with such dispatch.
It took family connections in high places that only someone of Gino’s name and stature could arrange on a moment’s notice.
When she’d signed her name, Gino put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him.
“Thank God for you,” he whispered into her silken gold curls. “I swear on my parents’ grave to do everything in my power to make certain you never regret this decision.”
She lifted tremulous eyes to his. “I promise you the same thing, Gino.”
“Let’s go home,” he murmured.
Home…
He kept his arm around her as they left the building and hurried to the parking area where Paolo was waiting.
He wasn’t alone.
Ally pulled back. “What are those two men doing at your car?”
She heard Gino curse, even though he’d said it in Italian.
“Alberto must have been psychic. They’ve come to escort me to the magistrate’s office for questioning. Poor Bianca must have been forced to tell them where I was.”
No matter how much Ally wanted to scream at this injustice, she couldn’t fall apart now. Gino needed her to be strong for him.
“We knew it was just a matter of time, Gino. I’m glad it happened here instead of the farmhouse.”
“So am I.”
“I’ll take care of everything. We’ll have that church service for Sofia after you return.”
Gino squeezed her hand with so much force she wanted to cry out, but she didn’t because she knew he wasn’t aware of his own strength. Not when he’d just been plunged into hell.
“Ally—” His dark eyes stared straight through to her soul. She knew what he was trying to say.
“Don’t worry about anything. Go with them. The sooner you comply, the sooner you’ll be back.”
“Signore Di Montefalco?” They flashed their identity cards.
“Get in the car now,” he whispered to Ally.
She rushed to do his bidding. The moment she closed the door, Paolo sped away.
She turned to look out the back window. To her horror she saw some paparazzi gathered
on the pavement.
Flashes went off as the man who was bigger than life to her climbed into the back of an unmarked car with both men flanking him.
“Quickly, Paolo. I need to talk to Bianca on the phone.”
“Si, signora.”
He rang the farmhouse, then passed the cell phone to her.
“Bianca?” she cried when the housekeeper answered. “It’s Ally. Listen very carefully.”
She explained about them getting married in the attorney’s office.
“It didn’t happen any too soon. Gino has been arraigned.”
The older woman’s cry echoed her own.
“Whatever you do, don’t tell Sofia anything. I’ll talk to her myself the second I get home.”
“I will say nothing, Ally. She and Anna are playing outside on the terrace with Rudolfo.”
“Good. Keep them there. Thank you for everything. Paolo and I will be home shortly. Then you and I can make the necessary phone calls to Father Angelini and Gino’s friends.”
“Bene. May I say congratulations again, signora. I’m very happy for you and Gino. With you in the house, he won’t be so worried about everything while he’s gone.”
“That’s what I’m hoping. Bless you, Bianca.”
After hanging up, she said, “Paolo? I’ve got lots of ideas to keep Sofia busy, but I’m going to need your help with some of them.”
“I’m at your service.”
“Is there a place in the garage where Sofia and I could separate some lavender into bundles to make small gifts?”
“I’ll clear a place for you.”
“That would be wonderful. On our way home, we need to stop at a store in Remo that sells cellophane paper and ribbon.”
He gave another nod. “I know just the place where Gino has an account.”
“Perfect. We also need to stop at a paint store.”
“Anything you want.”
Maybe it was too much to hope that she could keep Sofia in the dark while Gino was gone.
But with security in place around the farm, and help from the staff, Ally was determined that if at all possible, her new stepniece would be spared any more pain to do with Donata.
To Ally’s relief, Sofia didn’t see her arrive at the farmhouse when they drove in an hour later.
The Princess Bride Page 12
