Accidentally Expecting!

CHAPTER SEVEN

SHE was glad to escape by stretching out and closing her eyes. His words had unnerved her, reminding her that it was she who was supposed to be watching out for him.

She dozed for a while and awoke to find herself alone. Dante was further down the beach, kicking a rubber ball around with some boys. For a while she watched him through half-closed eyes, unwillingly admiring the lines of his body, the athletically graceful way he moved.

She was no green girl; Sandor hadn’t been her first lover. At twenty-eight, she knew her own body well, knew how it could be most totally satisfied, knew exactly what it wanted.

But that could be a problem when it couldn’t have what it wanted.

It would have been easier to observe Dante leaping about the beach if she didn’t have to listen to the voice inside whispering how well he would move in bed, how subtle and knowing his caresses would be.

How fine would his tall body feel held close against her own long body? When she saw him give a mighty kick, she thought of his legs between hers. When he reached for the ball at an impossible angle, she could almost feel his hands against her skin, exploring her tentatively, waiting for her with endless patience, knowing exactly how to…

She sat up, trembling and annoyed with herself. What was the matter with her?

‘Just friendly’. That was the matter.

When Dante returned, he found her fully dressed.

‘I’ve had enough of this,’ she said fretfully. ‘I think I’ll go into town.’

‘Great idea,’ he said. ‘I’ll show you the shops, then we’ll go to dinner.’

She ground her nails into her palm. Why couldn’t he at least show some ill temper, like any other man, thus giving her the chance to feel annoyed with him?

But the wretch wouldn’t even oblige her in that.

Because he wasn’t like any other man.

At least she’d made him put his clothes on.

They spent the rest of the day sedately, buying the odd garment, and also buying computer software. In one shop she discovered a superb programme that she hadn’t expected to be available for another month, and snapped it up. Over dinner, she enthused about it to Dante, who listened with genuine interest. It was the high point of the day.

On reflection, she thought that said it all.

Afterwards he saw her to her door but made no attempt to come in.

‘Goodnight,’ he said. ‘Sleep well.’

She went in, restraining herself with difficulty from slamming the door.

Furiously she thought of the signals he’d sent out that day, signals that had said clearly that he wanted her and was controlling it with difficulty. But the signals had changed. Now he might have been made of ice, and it was obvious why.

He was scheming. He wanted her to be the one to weaken. If either of them was overcome with desire, it must be her. In his dreams, she succumbed to uncontrollable lust, reaching out to entice him.

Hell would freeze over first!

Next day they promised themselves a lazy time in the sun.

‘I could happily stay here for ever,’ Dante said, stretching out luxuriously. ‘Who cares about work?’

It was at that exact moment that a voice nearby called, ‘Ciao, Dante!’

He started up, looked around, then yelled, ‘Gino!’

Ferne saw a man in his fifties, dressed in shirt and shorts, advancing on them with a look of delight on his broad face.

‘Is that…?’

‘Gino Tirelli,’ Dante said, jumping up.

When the two men had clapped each other on the shoulder, Dante introduced Ferne.

‘Always I am pleased to meet English people,’ Gino declared. ‘At this very moment, my house is full of important English people.’

‘So that’s why you asked me to delay my arrival,’ Dante said. ‘Who’ve you got there? Members of the government?’

‘A film company,’ Gino said in an awed voice. ‘They’re making a film of Antony and Cleopatra and shooting some scenes in the ruins in my grounds. The director is staying with me, and of course the big star.’

‘And who is the big star?’ Ferne asked, suitably wide-eyed.

Before Gino could reply there was a squeal from behind them, and they all turned to see a young man of about thirty with curly, fair hair and a perfectly tanned body strolling along the beach in a careless way, suggesting that he was unaware of the sensation he created.

But he was fully aware of it, as Ferne knew. Sandor Jayley always knew exactly what effect he was creating.

‘Oh no!’ she breathed.

‘What is it?’ Dante asked her in a low voice. ‘Good grief, it’s-?’

‘Tommy Wiggs.’

The young man came closer, pulling off a light shirt and tossing it to a companion, revealing a muscular body sculpted to perfection, now wearing only a minuscule pair of trunks. Regarding him grimly, Dante was forced to concede one thing: as Ferne had said, he did have magnificent thighs.

‘I’ve got to get out of here before he sees me,’ she muttered. ‘That’ll really put the cat among the pigeons.’

But it was too late. Sandor had seen his host and was starting up the beach towards him, doing a well-honed performance of bonhomie.

‘Gino,’ he called. Then, as he saw Ferne, his expression changed, became astonished, then delighted. ‘Ferne! My darling girl!’

Arms open wide, he raced across the sand and, before she could get her thoughts together, she found herself enfolded in a passionate embrace.

It was an act, she thought, hearing the cheers around them. For some reason he’d calculated that this would be useful to him so he was taking what he wanted, selfishly indifferent to the effect it might have on her. For she was terrified in case she reacted in the old way, the way she now hated to remember.

Nothing happened. There was no pleasure, no excitement. Nothing. She wanted to shout to the heavens with joy at being free again!

‘Tommy-’

‘Sandor,’ he muttered hastily. Then, aloud, ‘Ferne, how wonderful to see you again!’ He smiled down into her eyes, the picture of tender devotion. ‘It’s been too long,’ he said. ‘I’ve thought of you so often.’

‘I’ve thought a few things about you too,’ she informed him tartly. ‘Now, will you let me go?’

‘How can you ask me to do that when I’ve got you in my arms again? And I owe you so much.’

‘Yes, those pictures didn’t do you any harm, did they? Let me go!’

Reluctantly he did so, switching his attention to Gino.

‘Gino, how do you come to know this wonderful lady?’ he cried.

‘I’ve only just met her,’ Gino said. ‘I didn’t realise that you two were-are…’

‘Let’s say we’re old friends,’ Sandor said. ‘Close friends.’

Ferne became awkwardly aware of Dante standing there, arms folded, regarding them sardonically. After everything she’d told him about Sandor, what must he be thinking?

A little crowd was gathering around them as news went along the beach that the famous Sandor Jayley was among them. Young women sighed and regarded Ferne with envy.

‘Sandor,’ she said, backing away from him, ‘Can I introduce you to my friend, Signor Dante Rinucci?’

‘Why, sure.’ Sandor extended his hand. ‘Any friend of Ferne’s is a friend of mine.’

Dante gave him an unreadable smile.

‘Excellent,’ he said. ‘Then we’re all friends together.’

‘Let’s all sit down.’ Sandor seated himself on her lounger and drew her down beside him.

He was in full flood now, basking in the warm glow of what he took to be admiration, oblivious to the fact that one of his audience was embarrassed and another actively hostile.

‘Just think,’ he sighed. ‘If that house where we were going to shoot had come up to scratch, we’d never have moved to Gino’s palazzo and we-’ he gave Ferne a fond look ‘-would never have found each other again.’

‘There were rats,’ Gino confided. ‘They had to find somewhere else fast, and someone remembered the Palazzo Tirelli.’

‘Why don’t you join us?’ Sandor said suddenly. ‘That’s all right with you, isn’t it, Gino?’ Asking the owner’s permission was clearly an afterthought.

Far from being offended, Gino nearly swooned with delight.

‘And it will give Ferne and me the chance to rekindle our very happy acquaintance,’ Sandor added.

‘Sandor, I don’t think-’ Ferne protested quickly.

‘But we have so much to talk about. You don’t mind if I take Ferne away from you for a few days, do you?’ he asked Dante.

‘You mean Dante isn’t invited too?’ Ferne asked sharply. ‘Then I’m not coming.’

‘Oh, my dear, I’m sure your friend will understand.’

‘He may, I won’t,’ Ferne said firmly. ‘Dante and I are together.’

‘So loyal,’ Sandor cooed in a voice that made Ferne want to kick him in a painful place. ‘Signor Rinucci, you’re invited too, of course.’

‘How kind!’ Dante said in a voice that revealed nothing. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

Ferne turned horrified eyes on him. ‘Dante, you don’t mean that?’ she muttered.

‘Of course I do. Getting really acquainted with the place may help me with the sale.’

‘How? You’ve never needed it before.’

‘Well, perhaps I have my own reasons this time,’ he said, his eyes glinting.

Sandor didn’t hear this exchange. Champagne had arrived and he turned to lift two glasses, one of which he handed to Ferne, saying, ‘It’s all settled, then. Here’s to our reunion!’

A young girl detached herself from the swooning crowd on the beach and asked him for an autograph, handing him her lipstick so that he could write his name on her back. Beaming, he obliged, then gave Ferne a questioning look.

‘No camera today? Not like you.’

‘I left it in the hotel.’

‘You? The lady who never moves without her camera? Well, well.’

His look was heavily significant, clearly meant to recall the last time she had turned her camera on him. She faced him back, her eyes full of anger.

Dante watched them and said nothing.

Having established the scene, Sandor didn’t linger over the champagne. Indicating the crowd, he said modestly, ‘You see how it is-wherever I go. I’ll leave now, and see you at the villa this evening.’

He strode away, pursued by adoring fans, plus Gino.

‘So that’s him,’ Dante said. ‘He’s exactly as you said, except worse.’

‘I don’t know what’s going on here,’ she said wildly. ‘When we last met, he couldn’t find words bad enough for me.’

‘But that was three months ago, and he did pretty well out of it. He’s a bigger star now than he was before, thanks to you. So clearly he wants to shower you with his favours. Tonight you’ll be his honoured companion.’

‘Are you trying to be funny?’ she asked stormily. ‘Do you think that’s what I want?’

He gave a strange smile. ‘Let’s say I’m interested to find out. I didn’t mean to offend you. Let’s get going.’

It was late afternoon when they reached the Palazzo Tirelli, a magnificent edifice. Grander still were the ruins that lay nearby, dating back nearly two-thousand years. Ferne could just make out a film crew looking them over, making notes, rehearsing shots.

Gino came to meet them and show them over the place with its long, wide corridors and stone arches. In every room he was able to describe some notable historical episode, which sounded impressive until she saw Dante shaking his head.

Their rooms turned out to be on different corridors, the only ones left, according to Gino. His manner was awkward, and Ferne guessed he was acting on instruction.

At supper she was seated next to Sandor, with Dante on the opposite side of the table several feet down. There were about fifty people at the long table, most of them film crew and actors. Everyone was dressed up to the nines, making her glad she’d chosen the softly glamorous dress of honey-coloured satin that paid tribute to her curves, yet whose neckline was high enough to be tantalising.

‘Beautiful,’ Sandor murmured. ‘But why aren’t you wearing that gold necklace I gave you? It would go perfectly with that dress.’

‘I’m afraid I’d forgotten it,’ she said.

His self-assured smile made her want to thump him. She glanced down the table to see how Dante was taking it, but he wasn’t looking at her.

He was having a good evening. Dinner jacket and bowtie suited him, as the ladies nearby made clear. Ferne would have signalled her admiration if she’d been able to catch his eye, but he seemed happy with the full-bosomed creature who was laughing so uproariously at his jokes, that her attractions wobbled violently in a way that Ferne thought extremely inappropriate.

For a moment, she was nostalgic for Dante’s jokes; sharing laughter with a man brought a special closeness. It was something she’d never known with Sandor, and it meant that she was always on Dante’s wavelength, always inhabiting his world, even when they were bickering. In fact, the very bickering was a sign of that closeness, because they could always trust each other to understand.

As Dante had predicted, Sandor treated her as his honoured guest.

‘I owe you so much, Ferne. If it hadn’t been for what you did for me, I’d never have got the next step up.’

‘That’s not what you said at the time,’ she observed wryly.

‘I didn’t appreciate your skill in turning a difficult situation into something that would benefit me.’

She stared at him, wondering how she’d ever taken this conceited booby seriously.

‘Sandor, what are you after?’ she demanded.

He regarded her soulfully. ‘Destiny works in mysterious ways. We were fated to meet on that beach. Everyone was staggered by those pictures you took of me. Between us, we produced something of genius, and I think we could be geniuses again.’

She stared at him in outrage. ‘You want me to…?’

‘Take some more, as only you can. We’ll go out to the ruins, and you tell me exactly how you want me to pose. I’ve been working out in the gym.’

‘And I’m sure you’re as fit and perfect as ever.’

‘What did you think when you saw me today?’ he asked eagerly.

It would have been impossible to tell him the truth, which was that he had seemed ‘too much’, because her ideal was now Dante’s lithe frame.

To her relief, the maid appeared to change the plates for the next course. For the rest of the meal she concentrated on the elderly woman on her other side.

Afterwards the great doors were opened onto the garden, where coloured lights hung between the trees. People began to drift out to stroll beneath the moon. Sandor drew Ferne’s arm through his.

The crowd congregated near the ruins, where blazing lights had been switched on, illuminating them up to the sky. The director, an amiable man called Rab Beswick, hailed Sandor.

‘I like this place more every time I see it,’ he said. ‘Just think what we can make of these…’ He indicated several walls, some of which stood at right angles to each other with connecting balconies.

‘Just the right place to make a speech,’ came a voice behind them.

It was Dante, appearing from nowhere.

‘Antony was known for his ability to make the right speech at the right time,’ he said. ‘And his genius for picking the place that would be most effective.’

The director looked at him with awe.

‘Hey, you’re Italian,’ he said, as though nothing could be stranger than finding an Italian in Italy. ‘Are you an expert about this?’

‘I’ve made a particular study of Marc Antony,’ Dante said.

‘Well, I’d be glad of anything you could tell me.’

‘Let’s not get carried away,’ Sandor interrupted peevishly. ‘This film isn’t meant to be an historical treatise.’

‘Certainly not,’ Dante said suavely. ‘Its selling point will be the personal charms of Signor Jayley.’

From somewhere there was a smothered choke. Sandor turned furious eyes in a vain attempt to detect who was making fun of him. Unable to locate a suspect, he turned back to Dante.

Which was what Dante had intended, Ferne thought. Whatever was he up to?

‘Height is always effective,’ Dante continued smoothly. ‘If Antony was to make a great speech up there, silhouetted against the sky-’

‘That’s not in the script,’ Sandor said at once.

‘But it could be written in,’ Dante pointed out. ‘I’m not, of course, suggesting that you yourself should go up there. That would be far too dangerous, and naturally the film company won’t want to risk their star. A double could be used for the long shot.’

Sandor relaxed.

‘But it could look something like this…’ Dante finished.

Before anyone realised what he was doing, he slipped out of sight, and a moment later reappeared on one of the balconies.

‘You see?’ he called down. ‘What a shot this would make!’

‘Great!’ the director called up.

Ferne had to admit that Dante looked magnificent, standing high up, bathed in glittering spotlight. She only prayed that the balcony was strong enough to hold him and wouldn’t start crumbling.

This time she really wished that she’d brought her camera, but one of the production staff had his and was snapping away madly. Sandor was livid, she was fascinated to notice.

‘Come on down and we’ll talk about it,’ Rab called. ‘Hey, be careful.’ Dante was hopping down like a monkey, ending with a long leap to the floor, where he finished with a flourish.

‘You’re right, that’s a great shot. You’ll help us work on it, won’t you?’

‘Sure thing,’ Dante said. ‘I can show Mr Jayley how to-’

‘It’s getting late,’ Sandor said hastily. ‘We should be going inside.’

‘Yes, let’s go and look at the pictures,’ Rab said eagerly. ‘Come on, everyone.’

As the rest of them drifted away, Ferne murmured to Dante, ‘What did you do that for?’

‘You know exactly what I did it for,’ he murmured back. ‘I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for ages. He’s ready to kill me.’

His whole being was flooded with brilliance, as though he’d reached out, taken life by the hand and was loving every moment.

‘Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to repeat a trick?’ she asked severely. ‘Just because you climbed up into that building the other week, doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it. You were just showing off.’

He grinned, and her heart turned over. ‘You won’t insult me by calling me a show-off. Too many have said it before you. As for repeating the trick? Sure, it was the memory of the fire that gave me the idea. It was actually a lot easier to get up there than it looks, but your lover wouldn’t have tried it if you’d offered him an Oscar.’

‘He is not my lover.’

‘He wants to be.’

‘Come on,’ someone yelled from the retreating crowd. ‘They’re going to show the pictures.’

She would have argued further, but he slipped his arm about her, urging her forward irresistibly until they reached the villa, where someone had linked up the camera to a computer and had projected the pictures onto a screen.

There was Dante, high up, splendid, laughing down at them. Whether his triumph lay in making the climb, or in making Sandor look absurd and diminished, only Ferne knew. One thing she was sure of-he’d done it in style.

She looked around for Sandor, wondering how he was taking this.

‘He retired,’ Gino explained. ‘He’s had a long day.’

Translation: he’s sulking like a spoilt child, Ferne thought. Dante had hit the bull’s eye.

Dante himself seemed oblivious to his success. He was deep in conversation with Rab, and by now Ferne was sufficiently in tune with his mind to recognise that this was another move in the game. He wouldn’t say anything in front of an audience. But later…

‘I’ve had a long day too,’ she said. ‘Goodnight.’

She slipped away and hurried up to her room. Sooner or later there was going to be a visitor, and she wanted to be ready.

First she needed a shower to wash the day off her. She turned it on as hard as she could and stood there, head back, arms wide, just letting it happen. It felt good.

She could have laughed aloud when she thought of how Dante had achieved his revenge-an Italian revenge-not violent, but skilled; a lithe, dancing movement, a quick thrust of the stiletto, unseen by anyone but his adversary, who had slunk away, humiliated.

Now she realised that she ought to have feared for Dante’s safety when he’d been up high, but she hadn’t, because she was under the spell he cast. And she was still under his spell, she thought happily.

She finished under the shower, pulled a robe around her and stepped out into the bedroom. But what she found there made her stop sharply.

‘Sandor!’

He was leaning against the door, his arms folded, a look of happy expectation on his face. He’d removed his shirt so that his magnificent chest was presented for her approval in all its naked perfection, smooth, muscular, evenly tanned.

‘What are you doing here?’ She sighed.

‘Oh, come on, sweetie. We both knew this was going to happen.’

‘Tommy, I swear, if you try to touch me I’ll thump you so hard you’ll see stars.’

‘You don’t mean that.’

‘Don’t tell me what I mean. I’m warning you.’

He laughed and sauntered easily over to her, the king claiming his rights.

‘I think I might just put that to the test-Aargh!’

He yelped as her hand struck his face.

‘You bitch!’ he wailed. ‘I could get a swollen lip.’

She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak there was a knock on her door. She darted to open it and found Dante standing there. He was wearing dark-blue pyjamas, and his face had an innocent look that filled her with suspicion almost as great as her relief.

‘I’m so sorry to trouble you,’ he said, ‘but there’s no soap in my bathroom and I wondered if you’d mind-Oh dear, am I disturbing something?’

‘Nothing at all,’ Ferne said. ‘Mr Jayley was just going.’

Dante regarded Sandor with apparent surprise, seeming not to have noticed him before, but Ferne wasn’t fooled. He knew exactly what he was doing. In his own way, he was as much of an actor as Sandor, but a more subtle one.

‘Good evening,’ he said politely. ‘Oh dear, you seem to have suffered an injury. You’re going to have a nasty swollen lip.’

‘Eh!’ Sandor yelped. He tried to make for the bathroom, but Dante was blocking his way so that he was forced to turn away and retreat from the room altogether, slamming the door behind him.

‘That should keep him occupied,’ Dante said with satisfaction.