Rinaldo’s Inherited Bride

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE whole area around Florence seemed to be one great harvest festival. Every night there was a party somewhere or other.

On the evening when the neighbours gathered at Belluna the air was brilliant with good cheer. Coloured lights hung from the trees, heavily laden trestle-tables were spread out in the open. All day Teresa, Celia and Franca had worked to lay on the best party in the district.

‘You’re beautiful,’ Rinaldo told Alex as she emerged from her room in a floaty blue and white dress and white sandals. ‘I want to tell everyone that you’re mine. I wish we could do it tonight.’

‘So do I, but we must tell Gino first, and I can’t seem to catch him.’

Rinaldo nodded. ‘Ever since Varsi agreed to repay the money, and we found that it covers our debt to you, he’s been on a high. What is it?’

He spoke anxiously because a shadow had crossed Alex’s face.

‘What am I going to do with all that money?’ she asked. ‘I don’t want cash, I want to be part of Belluna.’

‘But as my wife, you will be a part of it.’

‘I know, it’s just that-’

But Rinaldo was growing in understanding.

‘If that’s not enough,’ he said, ‘you can pay for next year’s fertiliser, and the repairs to the machinery, and the new barns. That will save us having to borrow from the bank as we normally have to. Then you’ll have the financial stake that you want.’

‘That’s better,’ she said.

‘Don’t look so cheerful. Do you know what fertiliser costs?’

‘After all the accounts I’ve read? Of course I do. It’s a wonderful idea.’

‘And when we can pin Gino down we’ll clear it with him,’ Rinaldo said. ‘After all, it’s his farm too, and I shouldn’t be making financial decisions without consulting him.’

‘I’ll bet he’s not used to being consulted about anything,’ Alex teased.

‘You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?’

‘Yes, and you’d better get used to it.’

‘You must teach me. Now I suppose we should go downstairs and be ready for our guests. Where the devil is Gino?’

‘These last few days he’s always passing through, and I haven’t even seen him today.’

‘Yes, he told me he had some important business in Florence but he won’t say what. It’s been taking him to town on and off for days.’

‘He must have a girlfriend,’ Alex said triumphantly. ‘And maybe he’s going to bring her to the party tonight. Perhaps he’s collecting her now, that’s why he’s late.’

The first cars were arriving as they went down and they were immediately engulfed in festivities. Within half an hour there were a hundred people, laughing, eating, sipping the best Chianti.

Alex looked around, feeling joyously at home at last. Just one more hurdle to go. If only Gino were here.

And then, suddenly, he was. They saw the lights of his car approaching, and the next moment he’d parked, leapt out and was being greeted with riotous enthusiasm by every guest. Gino was deservedly popular.

He went right round the party, kissing every woman there, even the oldest, leaving smiles behind him, until at last he presented himself to his brother and Alex.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said penitently.

‘So you should be,’ Rinaldo growled. ‘This is Alex’s first party here, and she’s put a lot of work into it.’

‘Alex will forgive me when she hears what I have to say,’ Gino said, looking at her with a light in his eyes.

Seeing that light, Alex knew a sudden sense of alarm.

‘Gino, dear, why don’t you have a drink?’

‘Let that wait. There’s something I must say to you that’s far more important. I’ve waited until now, but oh, carissima I can’t wait any longer. I love you. I want to marry you.’

‘Gino-’

‘Hush, don’t say anything. Let me show you this.’

He pulled a little box from his pocket and opened it. Inside glittered a ring that she could see was antique. It was exquisite, studded with diamonds and sapphires.

‘I saw this in the shop window ages ago,’ Gino said. ‘And I thought then how I should like to give it to you on the day I asked you to be my wife. But when I went back for it they’d sold it to someone else, and it’s taken me a long time to track him down and buy it. But it’s mine now, which means it’s yours.’

‘Gino-’ she whispered, devastated by what was happening, yet unable to stop it.

‘Don’t look so surprised, carissima. You’ve always known how I felt about you. Even when I was playing the fool, my heart was all yours. Or perhaps you didn’t suspect how deep my love is. Maybe this will convince you.’

Before the whole party Gino went down on one knee, took Alex’s hand in his and said, ‘Alex, my love, will you please marry me? Will you be my wife?’

Alex felt as though she were moving through a nightmare. She should have silenced him but shock had held her transfixed.

In the silence, Gino took her hand and slipped the ring onto it.

Alex stared at the ring, her eyes full of tears as she thought how she must hurt him. How had she let this take her by surprise? she thought wretchedly.

But she knew the answer. Rinaldo had filled her thoughts to the exclusion of all else. Gino had existed only on the periphery.

Gino was still smiling up at her, not yet understanding her silence. Behind him she could see Rinaldo, his face pale and shocked. Imperceptibly she shook her head at him. What had to be done, she must do alone.

‘Gino,’ she said hesitantly. ‘Please get up. Don’t let’s talk about this now.’

‘What is there to talk about, darling?’ he asked softly, rising to his feet and looking at her with eyes full of love.

‘No,’ she said, removing the ring and putting it back into his hand. ‘Gino, I’m sorry-I can’t-’

She saw the joy and certainty drain out of his face, leaving behind not disillusion but bafflement. He’d convinced himself of her feelings, and now couldn’t believe otherwise.

Alex pulled herself together. ‘Come with me,’ she said, seizing his hand and drawing him away from the crowd.

Cheers followed them. Only a few heard had heard their exchange. The others saw them as lovers who wanted to be alone.

Gino thought so too, for as soon as they were through the trees he tried to take her into his arms.

‘I’m sorry carissima, I shouldn’t have done that in public.’

‘Gino-’

‘I know you’ll forgive me when I tell you how much I love you. But surely you already know that?’

‘No-no, I didn’t. At first you seemed to be playing at flirtation, and since I came back from England you’ve stayed away from me.’

‘I’ve hardly done that, but I’ve tried to show respect for your feelings. I knew how the breakup with your fiancé must have hurt you, and that you’d need time to get over him. I’m not an insensitive oaf, darling.’

‘No, you’re not,’ she said. ‘You’re a sweet, kind boy-’

‘I’m not a boy,’ Gino said firmly. ‘I may look like one sometimes next to Rinaldo, because I think he was born old. But I’m man enough to know that I love you with my whole heart and soul, enough to wait for you to be ready. Darling, must I wait longer? You know now how much I love you? Can’t you love me now?’

‘Oh, no,’ she said softly, already in pain for him. ‘Gino, I didn’t understand, you always made such a joke of it.’

‘Yes, I did in the beginning. I don’t think I fully realised what my feelings were until you went away. It was unbearable without you, and I began to understand how deep it went with me. If you hadn’t come back when you did, I would have followed you to England.’

She gave a gasp as she heard those words, so similar to the ones Rinaldo had spoken.

‘I’d have followed you because I knew you were the one,’ Gino said, ‘the only one, different from every other woman I’ve fooled around with and loved for five minutes. It’s not five minutes this time, but all my life and beyond-’

‘No!’ she cried, distraught. ‘Don’t say that. It mustn’t be true. It can’t be.’

A shadow crossed his face. ‘Why can’t it be true?’

‘Because I’m not in love with you.’

He looked at her, almost as though the words conveyed no meaning to him.

‘You’re still in love with that man in England,’ he said at last. ‘I spoke too soon.’

‘No, no, it’s not him, it’s-’

But she checked herself. This was no time to tell him about Rinaldo. Not here and now, in the middle of a party.

‘Please don’t say any more,’ she begged. ‘We’ll talk about it later.’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Later. I did it the wrong way, didn’t I? I rushed you. I can wait.’

He gave her a brief smile and walked away back to the party.

She watched him, bitterly blaming herself for not seeing this coming. It was as Gino had said. He was no longer a boy but a man, with a sensitivity to her feelings that she had not suspected. It had misled her into thinking he didn’t care.

As if to prove his new-found maturity Gino did not storm off alone, or sulk, but became the life and soul of the party. He danced every dance, flirted without end, and generally exerted himself to make things go with a swing.

The general opinion among the guests was that he must have attained his heart’s desire, because he presented the picture of a supremely happy man. Only a few people noticed that he and Alex never went near each other for the rest of the evening.

At last the guests began to drift away. There were crowing goodbyes, songs yodelled up to the moon, and an air of happy satiety.

‘Where’s Gino?’ Rinaldo asked Alex when they were alone.

‘I last saw him half an hour ago. Oh, Rinaldo-’

‘I know. It’s terrible. He’ll understand in the end, but he’s bound to be sore after he declared himself so openly, in front of all those people.’

‘He’s been marvellous since then,’ Alex observed. ‘It must have been very difficult for him to be so bright and cheerful after what I said to him.’

‘How much did you say?’

‘Only that I didn’t love him. It wasn’t the right time to tell him the rest.’

She approached Teresa who was clearing away with the girls, and gave them some help. Later she found Rinaldo.

‘Teresa says she saw Gino driving away,’ she said.

‘I guess he wants to think for a while. He’ll feel better afterward.’

But despite his confident words he stood on the porch for half an hour, staring into the darkness.

‘Don’t let him come back and find you watching out for him,’ Alex suggested gently. ‘He’s not a kid any more.’

‘You’re right. I can’t get out of the habit of thinking of myself as a kind of second father. I’ll have to now, won’t I? But it’s going to be hard, telling him.’

‘Do you think perhaps-we shouldn’t?’ she asked unhappily.

But he shook his head.

‘I can’t give you up for any reason. Not just because I love you, but because you’re necessary to me, as air and water are necessary. I love my brother, but even for him I can’t do without you. Come inside with me now, for I need, very much, to be alone with you.’

In the darkness they climbed the stairs. Almost before they reached the top she was in his arms, kissing and being kissed with a determined purpose that thrilled her.

Rinaldo put out his hand and opened the first door he came to, which was his own room.

‘I can’t wait to get to yours,’ he murmured, drawing her inside and shutting the door. He was already removing her clothes with urgent hands.

She helped him, stripping him even as he stripped her until they lay on the bed together and he took her into his arms for a long kiss that was part affirmation, part exploration. She loved this moment, when his tongue teased the inside of her mouth, rousing her gently and expertly to the pitch of desire that only he could create.

When he withdrew his mouth she could see that his face held the brooding expression that excited her so much. His great hand drifted over her breasts, enclosed one, caressing it with subtlety so that she was flooded with warmth.

For this above all she loved him, for revealing her own sensuality to her, showing her that the woman of desks and good order was only one facet, and not the truest one. The real Alex was a woman who lived for the primitive force that united them, and could relinquish herself totally to the man she loved.

For so harsh a man Rinaldo was an unexpectedly gentle and skilful lover. He waited for her to be ready, but he didn’t have to wait long. She wanted him, wanted more of the shattering sensation that pervaded her, wanted everything.

When her moment came Alex drove back against him, urging him on with all her strength until they reached fulfilment together. She saw his face in that instant, and wondered at its mixture of awe and surrender.

He fell asleep first, and she propped herself up on her elbow, watching him with eyes that were passionately protective, but also curious. The chance to study him unaware did not come often.

His face was scarcely softer in sleep than in waking. The chin was still stubborn, the nose too strong for comfort. They would still fight. He’d warned her of that, and the starkness of his face told her that it was true. But that was all right. Fighting wouldn’t suit everyone, but to them it would merely be an aspect of their love. And she could give as good as she got.

But she would be careful, because deep instinct warned her that he was more vulnerable than she, more easily hurt, less able to show it, and therefore more at risk.

His mouth intrigued her the most. It was not, at first glance, a sensual mouth; too firm, too wary, even in repose.

But she was no longer fooled by the look. She had kissed that mouth and felt it soften against hers. She had shared passion with that big, lanky body with its longs legs, powerful arms and skilful hands. No woman who had experienced that sensation could mistake his essential nature. He was a man who could love with every part of him, mind, soul and body.

After a long while she lay down, gazing into the darkness, looking back along the road that had brought her here.

Since coming to Italy she had discovered that the country had two faces. There was Italy of the smile and the song, of the rich colours, flowing wine and bright laughter. This was romantic Italy. This was Gino.

And there was another country whose past had been steeped in blood and vengeance, a dark, sombre place, full of sullen shadows, deadly feuds, anger, bitterness, danger. This was Rinaldo.

If a woman had once been delighted by the smile and the vibrant youth, why should she turn away from that to the other land, where a man with a face like granite and a soul to match offered only his darkness, and his need?

Why? Because she could not help herself. That was why.

She raised herself again and touched his face with her fingertips. Then she kissed him so softly that he did not awaken. He was hers, to have and to hold, to love and cherish. Because he needed her. And that was all there was to be said.

Rinaldo was in a mysterious place, one where he’d been before, but which had no name. He knew that he was waiting for something, but he did not know what.

His father was there again, looking at him with troubled eyes. But this was the moment when he always awoke, and the message was never delivered.

With a shudder he sat up in bed, his eyes open and staring. His whole body was shaking.

‘What is it?’ Alex said from beside him. ‘Rinaldo, wake up.’

She shook him gently. At first she thought he was too far lost in his unquiet dream for her to reach him, but at last, to her relief, she felt him relax.

Still she could not be certain that he was awake, although his eyes were open. She touched his face gently.

‘Rinaldo,’ she whispered, ‘talk to me.’

At last he seemed to focus on her. He looked drained, and when she put her arms about him he clung to her.

‘Was it a bad dream?’ she asked.

‘No. Something came back to me at last. It’s been there all this time, hovering just out of sight. I’ve tried so often to remember-’

‘And now you have?’

‘Yes. It was the day my father died. I got to the hospital before Gino and I had a few moments alone with him.

‘When he saw me, he tried to say something. His face was swollen and he couldn’t get the words out-just the words, “Sorry”. He said that over and over. I can still see his eyes-they were desperate. He wanted so much to tell me something, but he couldn’t manage it.

‘I kept waiting for him to tell me, but then I realised that it wasn’t possible. So I took his hand between mine and told him everything was going to be all right. He seemed quieter. And then he died.’

‘What do you think he wanted to say?’

‘I think it was the mortgage. He knew what was going to happen, and he was trying to tell me that he was sorry.’

Rinaldo shook his head as though trying to clear it.

‘I don’t know how I could have forgotten that,’ he said. ‘It was as though my mind just blanked it out.’

Alex took him in her arms, speaking gently.

‘With all that happened that day, and the state you must have been in, it’s not surprising. You needed to be ready to remember.’

‘And I’m ready now, here in your arms. All this time-I blamed him-but he did try to warn me.’

‘He never meant you to find out the way you did,’ she said.

‘That’s right. He didn’t just abandon us without a word, the way I felt he had. That might have been unreasonable, but it was how I felt. Now it’s different. It’s as though I’d got my father back again. You did that.’

Her heart sang at his praise, but she said, ‘It would have happened anyway.’

‘No, it happened because I found peace with you. That peace had to come first, before I could be reconciled with him. Now I am. He’s in my heart once more, and I’ll never lose him again-because of you.’

Suddenly he clung to her. ‘Don’t leave me,’ he said desperately.

‘Never in life. As long as you need me, I’ll be here.’

‘I’ll always need you. There was no warmth or light before you came.’ He rested his head against her. ‘Suppose you’d never come here, and we’d never met?’

‘But we did,’ she murmured. ‘Maybe we were always bound to meet. Do you remember that first day?’

‘At Poppa’s funeral? Yes.’

‘I think I knew then that you were going to be something important in my life. I didn’t know what, but I knew it wasn’t going to be indifference.’

‘No, we could never have been indifferent to each other,’ he murmured.

‘And in those days it looked like we’d be enemies.’

‘Is that what we were?’ he whispered.

‘Oh, yes.’ She smiled tenderly. ‘We had to be enemies first before we could be anything else. It’s not a bad way of getting acquainted.’

‘Yes, we did that,’ he agreed with a faint smile. ‘Now we have to get to know each other in another way.’

‘You think we don’t know each other?’ she asked softly.

He didn’t answer at once, but he raised his head and their eyes held, full of deep, shared knowledge. They knew each other.

‘I’m looking forward to the rest,’ he said. ‘Being with you every day, learning all about you, the things you like, dislike. Growing old with you, becoming part of you, making you part of me.’

‘I am part of you,’ she said. ‘I always will be.’

‘I feel as though I’ve spent the last years wandering in a desert. And you’ve brought me home.’

She kissed him repeatedly, not in passion but in tenderness. There had been passion and there would be passion again, but for now their embrace was an assertion of profound peace and trust between them. At last they slept again, still holding each other.

When Alex found herself drifting back to the surface she wasn’t sure whether it was happening naturally or because of some other reason. Despite her feeling of fulfilment she was pervaded by an uneasy awareness of something wrong.

Slowly she opened her eyes.

Gino was standing at the end of the bed, staring at them both with a face full of shock and disillusion.