The Italian’s Rightful Bride

CHAPTER NINE

JOANNA managed to get three first-class tickets to Rome, landing at seven o’clock that evening.

‘I called Billy and said I’d be there tonight,’ she told Gustavo as they flew over France later that day.

‘Did you weaken after all, and tell him his father’s coming?’

‘No, I don’t want to spoil the surprise. But he’ll be thrilled. They’re just kids together. My only fear is that Billy’s growing up so fast that he’s soon going to find his father a little young for him. But he’s so kind-hearted that I expect he’ll hide that.’

‘Freddy’s a lucky man. Tell me something-has Billy ever blamed you for Freddy’s disappearance?’

‘You mean in the way Renata blames you? No. But then Freddy hasn’t actually disappeared. They’re in touch all the time, either talking or texting.’

Gustavo sighed. ‘Yes, that’s it, isn’t it?’

‘Do you hear from Crystal?’

‘I believe she’s in Paris right now, with her gigolo. She’s sent Renata some postcards, mostly talking about the wonderful time she’s having.’

She squeezed his hand sympathetically, and he squeezed in return. But she knew it wasn’t the moment to try to draw him back to the mood that had been shattered last night, especially with Freddy sitting just across the gangway.

At Rome they went through the formalities of entry. As they came out of Customs Joanna, who was walking first, saw Carlo with Billy. She made frantic signs for the boy to look behind her, then stepped aside, giving him a good view of Freddy. The next moment the child’s shriek and the man’s yell split the air.

‘Dad!’

‘Billy!’

Then they were in each other’s arms, hugging tightly, swinging around and around, while people passing by stopped to stare and smile at such happiness.

Laughing with pleasure, Joanna turned to see Gustavo, also watching them, and the look on his face broke her heart. There was no child here to greet him.

‘Renata’s in bed,’ Carlo said quickly. ‘She didn’t sleep well last night, so Laura thought-you know-’

‘Of course,’ Gustavo said in a toneless voice. ‘I’m sure Laura knows best.’

Getting everyone into the car was a tight squeeze.

‘I didn’t know there was going to be a third person,’ Carlo explained apologetically.

‘No matter,’ Gustavo said. ‘You all go ahead, I’ll get a taxi.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ Joanna said.

‘No, go with your son.’

‘Are you kidding? He’s got his father; he doesn’t need me right now.’

But Billy called to her, ‘Come on, Mum. Come in here with Dad and me.’

‘Go on,’ Gustavo said quietly and walked away without waiting for an answer.

Billy came and grabbed her by the hand, pulling her to the car. ‘It’s gonna be great, all being together,’ he said.

‘Of course it is, darling,’ she said cheerfully, not wanting to spoil it for him.

But inwardly her heart ached for Gustavo, returning to his home alone because there was nobody there who wanted him.

At the palazzo Joanna was greeted by the housekeeper with the news that her new room was ready.

‘My new room?’ she queried.

‘His Excellency telephoned me with instructions that Signor Manton was to be put in the Julius Caesar room and move you to a suite on the next corridor.’

‘I thought it would be nice for him to be next to Billy,’ Gustavo said when she went to find him. ‘I was sure you’d feel the same, since you are so anxious for them to enjoy each other’s company. I don’t think you’ll have any complaints about your new accommodation.’

It was certainly magnificent, and it seemed as though nothing could be more genial than Gustavo’s concern for his new guest, although she suspected him of a hidden agenda.

Freddy, popping along to see her, whistled at the sight, and immediately pinpointed her suspicion.

‘He’s taken care to put you a long way away from me, hasn’t he?’

‘Nonsense. He was thinking of you.’

‘Sure, and I’m very glad to be next to Billy. But why did he move you as far away as this?’

‘Freddy, I’ll get cross with you in a minute.’

‘That’s right, darling, you do that. I always knew when I’d hit the nail on the head, because it made you so mad.’

He laughed and went off to find Billy, leaving Joanna wishing she knew what to think.

Almost at once she was plunged back into work. The team descended on her, eager to bring her up-to-date, and for days she hardly left the dig.

She felt as if she was floating in limbo. She had shared with Gustavo a moment of incredible sweetness, spoiled by Freddy’s untimely arrival. Now she longed to reach out and catch once more at the whispering shadows of that moment, perhaps even reclaim it entirely. But somehow the time was never right. Freddy’s presence in the house was an inhibition, and Gustavo himself seemed content to let things remain like this, not going out of his way to be with her. Sometimes she almost wondered if she had imagined everything.

But then she would look up and catch an unguarded expression in his eyes. She hadn’t imagined anything. What she’d sensed that night was still there, but he was trying to deny it.

He seemed to have withdrawn, not just from herself, but from everyone. He no longer tried to reach out to Renata, as though finally accepting her rejection and unwilling to risk a further snub.

To make matters worse Renata had an instant rapport with Freddy. He and Billy had quickly admitted her as a third to their mutual-adoration society and she knew no greater joy than to help Billy show his father around.

Freddy even knew enough basic Italian to get by with his son’s help. Although academically useless he had a good ear and could muddle his way through a conversation, making up anything he didn’t know, and reducing both children to giggles.

Sometimes the three of them came out to the dig. Renata had warmed to Joanna, evidently feeling that Billy’s mother must be all right. She was there on the day Hal discovered an unusual decorative tile that caused everyone to become excited.

‘This pinpoints it,’ Joanna said. ‘They used this style of decoration at the start of the fifth century, which means-’

She wasn’t sure how much the children understood, but they joined in the cheers. In the middle of the commotion Joanna looked up to see Gustavo standing there, watching, isolated, and her heart ached for him.

That night he was missing from the evening meal, but as Joanna was about to go upstairs he opened his study door and beckoned her in.

‘Do you remember Pietro and Maria Faloni?’

‘Yes, they came to dinner when I was here before. They were-very elegant.’

She couldn’t have spoken of them more warmly than that. They had been a newly married couple, pleasant company, but rather too socially conscious to appeal to Joanna. She was sure Maria thought her dowdy.

‘They want to give a party in your honour,’ Gustavo said.

‘Really? My stock must have risen in the world.’

‘You’re a celebrity. I warn you Maria collects celebrities and she’ll give me no peace until I take you.’

‘I’ll need some new clothes. I take it this will be formal.’

‘Extremely. White tie and tails.’

Her eyes twinkled. ‘I don’t look good in white tie and tails.’

He had to think for a moment. ‘Oh, yes, I see.’

‘It was a joke,’ she told him sadly.

‘Of course. I’m sorry. I guess Crystal was right.’

‘About what?’

‘She always said I was too stuffy for any woman to put up with.’

‘She didn’t know what she was talking about,’ Joanna said angrily.

‘Maybe. I’m afraid my capacity for jokes has rather left me these days.’

‘Don’t take any notice of Crystal. Much she knows! Now let’s forget her. I want to dress up and have fun.’

It felt good to be going to a glamorous party again, to have an excuse to buy a couture dress that made the best of her height, tiny waist and long legs.

Poor Aunt Lilian, she thought. You said most girls would give their eye-teeth to be my size, and I was so ungrateful. I’m not ungrateful any more.

The dress was black silk, narrow in the waist and low in the front, revealing a bosom that was more generous since Billy’s birth. The side was slashed to just above the knee.

There was just time to have her hair cut and styled the way she wanted it. With dainty silver sandals on her feet and diamonds in her ears her appearance was complete. She returned to the estate with a pile of boxes, feeling like a pirate who’d just come back from a raid, and hid her booty in her room.

True to his word, Gustavo appeared in white tie and tails and she was taken aback by how well they suited him. With his height and breadth of shoulder, he might have been born for formal clothes.

He waited for her in the study and she entered casually, refusing to let him see she was eager for his reaction.

When it came it lived up to all her hopes. He said nothing, simply looking at her in silence for a long time. Then smiling.

‘Will I do?’ she asked lightly.

He nodded, and she sensed him struggling for words.

‘You’ll do.’

Detecting a shadow in his manner, she asked, ‘Is anything wrong?’

‘No,’ he said a little too quickly. ‘Let’s go.’

She didn’t press the point, but she noticed that he hastily locked a paper away in his desk drawer before turning back to her with a smile.

The chauffeured limousine was waiting outside. Gustavo offered her his arm and they went out together. Throughout the journey he sat turned towards her, his eyes resting on her. He didn’t speak, but he didn’t need to.

The Falonis lived in a palatial apartment on the Via Veneto. When the limousine had dropped them they went up three floors in the elevator to be received eagerly by Pietro and Maria.

Maria clasped Joanna in her arms then stepped back to take in her whole appearance, and give a little nod of satisfaction.

‘I wouldn’t have known you,’ she said.

‘Thank you,’ Joanna said.

They understood each other.

‘I am so excited,’ Maria confided as she ushered Joanna inside. ‘Everyone’s been dying to entertain you, but I swore I’d get you first.’

‘Really? Why?’

‘Don’t be modest, my dear. You’re the catch of the season. Everyone’s talking about you and that discovery, but you hide yourself away like a mystery woman. My friends are going to be so annoyed that I got you first.’

Joanna enjoyed Maria’s company more now than before. She was so blatant in her snobbery that it became amusing, and she showed off her guest of honour with a pride that gave a fillip to Joanna’s ego, resist it how she might.

The Falonis lived at the top of Roman society, and the people Maria could gather was staggering. There were two government ministers and a film star, causing Joanna to doubt that she could really be the guest of honour. But this was Italy, a country with a vibrant interest in its own past. Everyone had met the other celebrities before.

There was even a well-connected journalist who wrote a waspish gossip column for the society pages. When he simpered and asked Joanna if the Montegiano site was really the find of the century, everyone held their breath.

But Joanna was equal to the challenge.

‘Considering that this century is only a few years old, I think I can say definitely yes. If you’d asked me about the last century I’d have to be more cautious.’

Everybody laughed and there was a smattering of applause for the adroit way she’d avoided the trap. Even the man who’d tried to bait her raised his glass in salute, and a few minutes later he engaged her in a serious discussion that was at variance with his former manner.

The others began to crowd around, and soon she realised that she was practically giving a lecture.

Gustavo tried to stay in the background. He had a strange feeling of watching Joanna at a distance. The perspective seemed to change every moment, both confusing and delighting him.

He’d seen her in shabby old clothes, bustling around the dig, giving orders to her team, laughing with them but always very much the boss.

In England she’d been the comforting friend, offering her arms to hold him and her gentle wisdom to help him. Then he’d seen her as a bride again, and moved closer to an unknown land that he now realised had been haunting him for years. It was still there, tantalisingly just out of reach.

But watching her now, at ease in these surroundings, dominating the crowd with her beauty, wit and expertise, he saw a new Joanna. Marrying her would be like marrying at least four women.

He tried to shut his thoughts off there, but they persisted in straying into forbidden territory.

With sudden decisiveness he rose from his chair and went over to her. The ‘lecture’ was over and she was flirting with three men at once.

‘If you’re tired we could go home,’ he suggested.

There was a roar of disapproval and cries of ‘Spoil-sport’. Joanna looked at him, her eyes glinting with fun.

‘Am I tired?’ she teased.

He laid his hand persuasively on her arm.

‘I think you might be,’ he said softly.

‘In that case-’

She stopped because a man behind her had given a sharp intake of breath. Gustavo too had seen something that filled him with dismay. Turning her head, Joanna saw Crystal standing in the doorway, as beautiful as the fairy on the tree.

In that frozen moment only one thought pervaded Joanna’s mind.

Dammit! She would have to be wearing black too!

It was ludicrous, but for a moment it would serve as a shield between herself and the full wretchedness of the situation.

Like Joanna, Crystal had gained from the years. She was as dainty as ever, her hair as perfectly blonde, but experience had added a knowingness to her face.

It was true that, like Joanna, she wore black, but there the similarity stopped. Her dress was very tight and very short, revealing a pair of stunning legs.

For a long moment she stood still in the doorway, allowing her effect to sink in. Then she smiled and came forward to Maria, arms outstretched.

‘Dear Maria, I’m positively in sackcloth and ashes. It’s dreadful of me to gatecrash your party, isn’t it?’

Since the only possible response to this was a denial, Maria obliged, embracing Crystal with apparent warmth, although her eyes flickered nervously to Gustavo and Joanna. But both had recovered themselves sufficiently to appear untroubled.

Crystal turned her big guns on to Joanna.

‘Jo, darling, how lovely to see you after all this time. And so famous now! I’m really honoured to be allowed into your presence.’

She enveloped her in an embrace, which gave Joanna the chance to mutter in her ear, ‘Don’t be an idiot, Crystal. It’s a good act but you’re overdoing it. Actually, you always did.’

Crystal drew back just enough to smile into her face and murmur, ‘I know, darling, but when time is short, overdoing it can be very useful.’

She surveyed Joanna fully.

‘My, you have improved! Everything they say about you is true.’

Not for the world would Joanna have asked what ‘they’ said about her. She merely raised her eyebrows satirically and replied, ‘Is that so? I doubt if the same could be said about you.’

She saw with satisfaction that Crystal wasn’t sure how to take this. She turned away and began working the room, managing to draw the ministers and film star into her web at the same time, not seeming to notice Gustavo, whose face was very pale.

The party, which had briefly paused, began to swirl around them again. Joanna saw Gustavo turn away and take a few deep breaths. The sight dismayed her. Perhaps she’d been wrong about everything if Crystal could still affect him like this.

He came to her side.

‘What the devil is she doing here?’ he muttered. ‘She’s supposed to be in Paris.’

‘You didn’t have any warning of this?’

‘Good God, no!’ he said violently. ‘Do you think I’d have brought you here if I’d known?’

‘Shall we leave?’

‘I think that would be a good idea. Let’s find our hostess.’

But the next moment Crystal laid a hand on his arm.

‘Gustavo, my dear, you surely aren’t avoiding me, are you?’

‘I was being tactful, Crystal. People are watching us with interest.’

‘I know. Isn’t it fun?’

‘I don’t find it fun to be stared at.’

‘No, you never did know how to enjoy yourself.’

‘Our ideas about enjoyment were always different,’ he growled.

‘Darling, our ideas about everything were different. Let’s not go over that old ground again. The thing is that I do need to talk to you privately. Joanna won’t mind, I know. Let’s go out onto the balcony.’

Gustavo turned to Joanna, stiff with awkwardness at the scene Crystal had forced on him.

‘If you’ll excuse me for a moment.’

‘Of course,’ she said, sounding as cheerful as possible, trying to make him feel easier. ‘You two go and talk.’

‘And you go back to your admirers,’ Crystal said, making Joanna wonder just how long she’d been there. ‘My, what a success you’ve had! Tomorrow, all Rome will be talking about you even more than they already are.’

She went straight out of the glass door leading to the balcony.

‘Go on,’ Joanna urged him. ‘Of course you two need to talk. I’ll be fine.’

‘With your admirers?’ he echoed edgily.

‘Of course. The more the better. Go and talk to her.’

But he stood looking at her, an unaccustomed fierceness in his eyes. A rush of something-jealousy? cunning?-made her say, ‘If you can cosy up to Crystal I can cosy up to whoever I please.’

‘I am not cosying up to her and you know it,’ he said furiously.

‘Better ask what her plans are.’

He ground his teeth. ‘You’re the one who’s urging me to follow her out there.’

‘Yes, so go.’

‘Joanna-’

‘Go!’

Glowering, he went out onto the balcony. Joanna watched him leave, wondering what had come over her. It had been a stupid, irrational spat that made no sense at all.

And she felt a thousand times better for it.

One of her flirts approached her, offering champagne.

‘No, thank you,’ she said kindly. ‘What I’d really like is a nice cup of tea.’

Outside, in the cool air of the balcony, Gustavo stood regarding Crystal.

‘I thought you were in Paris,’ he said. ‘That was your last excuse for not coming to see your daughter.’

‘I got home from Paris last week. How is poor little Renata?’

‘Very unhappy. And she wouldn’t be “poor little Renata” if you gave her some of your attention. When are you coming to see her?’

‘When I can. I’ve so much to see to just now. I’m buying an apartment in Rome and it’s taking up all my time.’

‘Well, at least if you’re living in Rome you’ll be able to see Renata a good deal.’

‘I wish you wouldn’t keep harping on about that,’ Crystal said fretfully. ‘It’s much better for her to be with you. My life wouldn’t suit her at all.’

‘I’m not talking about her living with you, but visiting you, once you’re living in Rome. She’ll be able to visit you a lot now, won’t she?’

‘Well, I expect we’ll sort something out,’ Crystal said vaguely. ‘But that’s not what I brought you out here to talk about. Have you had a letter from my lawyer yet?’

‘Yes, it came this morning.’

‘Well?’

‘What do you expect me to say, Crystal? You know I can’t find a sum like that at a moment’s notice.’

‘Hardly a moment’s notice. It’s months since I left. You’ve had plenty of warning.’

‘Yes, but our agreement was that the rest of what I owed you could be paid next year.’

‘I know, I know, but I need it now. Things have changed. I want to get on with my life.’

‘Where’s your boyfriend? He doesn’t seem to be here tonight.’

‘Oh, him,’ she said dismissively. ‘That’s all over.’

‘So soon?’

She shrugged. ‘He was all right for a while. He had certain-talents.’

‘Yes, you mentioned that at the time,’ he said coldly. ‘I gather his talents weren’t enough in the long run.’

‘I got bored with him,’ she admitted. ‘He wanted us to settle permanently in Naples and have lots and lots of bambini.’

‘No, I remember that lots and lots of bambini never did fit into your schedule, did they?’ Gustavo said drily.

‘Well, anyway, we’re not together now,’ Crystal said, adroitly sliding away from the subject. ‘There was no way I was going to bury myself in Naples, bambini or no bambini. So I left him.’

‘Despite his remarkable talents?’

She shrugged. ‘There are other talented men in the world. I’m ready to start again, and I want the rest of my money.’

‘Crystal, for pity’s sake, I’m doing my best, but I can’t produce it just like that. Surely you can be patient a little longer?’

‘It seems that I’m going to have to be. Just don’t make me wait too long. After all, you’ve got that huge estate. You can borrow against it.’

‘Have you any idea how much I had to borrow to pay you the first half of the money? Of course not.’

‘How could I? In any case, I’ve never understood much about money unless it was in large, simple amounts.’

‘Well, we’re talking about a large, simple amount now, and it’s more than I can raise so quickly.’

‘Oh, really, darling, don’t be silly. Of course you can raise it. There’s always Joanna.’

His face tightened. ‘And what exactly do you mean by that?’

‘She’s worth far more than I ever was. People say you and she are as thick as thieves these days. So it’s easy. All you have to do is marry her.’