The Millionaire Tycoon's English Rose

CHAPTER FIVE

‘I’VE decided to invite Celia to have dinner with the family,’ Hope declared three days later. ‘I would like to know her better.’

Francesco forced himself to smile.

‘That’s nice of you, Mamma, but I don’t think she’ll accept.’

‘Why ever not? She likes going out. She told me so. Anyway, she’s already accepted. I noted her cellphone number when she was here, and called her last night.’

Francesco had the feeling that a tank was rolling over him. It was a sensation familiar to all Hope’s sons, but for once he tried to rebel.

‘Mamma-’

‘She agreed in principle, but we still have to set a date. Kindly ask her if Saturday would suit, or if she would prefer another date.’

‘Why don’t you do that yourself, since you get on so well?’

‘Because I want her to understand that the invitation comes from you also. Besides, surely you know her better than I?’

‘I’m not sure,’ he said wryly.

‘Oh, you’re being difficult today. Very well, I’ll send her an e-mail.’

‘You have her e-mail address?’

‘Oh, yes, and she told me how it works. When she opens her e-mails the computer turns them to speech. She listens, then replies into the microphone, and it reaches me in the normal way. Didn’t you know that?’

‘Yes, I knew that. I just didn’t realise you and she had exchanged so much information.’

‘You’d be amazed at how much I know, my son.’ Then, seeing his darkened eyes, she added gently, ‘But Celia was also discreet about many things.’

He relaxed slightly.

His first thought had been to rebel against this dinner invitation. He’d had no sign of Celia since the day she’d visited the villa. He hadn’t contacted her, and although he braced himself whenever the phone rang it was never her.

Now he was becoming used to the situation, and he told himself that his mother’s idea might be a good one, establishing for both of them that they could still be friends, in a civilised manner.

Besides, he missed her damnably.

Celia accepted for Saturday, and the word went out to as many of the family as could make it. Primo and Olympia accepted at once, so did Carlo and his wife, Della, and also Ruggiero, whose marriage to Polly three months earlier had provided Francesco with his excuse for a sudden return. Luke and his wife, Minnie, made a special trip from Rome.

Only Justin was missing-Hope’s eldest son, who lived in England with his wife and three children. But in a phone call he promised to bring his whole family ‘for the wedding.’ Francesco had spent so much time abroad that his love-life had been a closed book to them for too long. Now everyone was curious about his lady.

‘Giulio and Teresa are coming,’ Toni informed Hope, mentioning his elder brother and his wife, who lived just outside Naples.

‘Excellent.’

‘Also Teresa’s sister, Angelica,’ Toni said, in the tone of one making a confession. ‘Cara, I know you don’t like her-’

‘I don’t dislike her. I just wish she’d shut up sometimes and let someone else speak,’ Hope said frankly. ‘And she’s horribly tactless.’

‘I know, but she’s visiting them just now, so she had to be included.’

‘You’ll have to take care of her, Poppa,’ said Carlo, who happened to be there at that moment. ‘Keep her attention occupied.’

‘How?’ Toni demanded plaintively.

‘You must flirt with her,’ Hope declared calmly. ‘She’s quite attractive for her age, so you should have no trouble.’

‘You wouldn’t mind my flirting with her?’ Toni asked his wife faintly.

‘We must all do whatever is necessary, caro.’

She kissed him and departed from the breakfast table, humming, leaving her menfolk aghast.

‘You’ll have to take firm action, Poppa,’ Francesco said, grinning.

‘How?’ his much-tried father repeated.

‘Strike a blow for all men. Really flirt with Aunt Angelica. Make Mamma so jealous that she’ll be careful what she tells you to do in future.’

‘But my heart wouldn’t be in it.’ Toni sighed. ‘And your mother knows that.’

‘Of course, or she’d never have suggested it,’ Carlo said. ‘She knows she’s got you on a string.’

Toni nodded. ‘Always,’ he said. ‘Right from the moment I first set eyes on her.’

On Friday Hope informed Francesco that he was to collect Celia the next day and bring her to the villa.

‘Perhaps she’d rather get here without my help,’ he observed.

‘No, she’s fine about that,’ Hope informed him. ‘She said she’d prefer you to a taxi.’

‘I see that the two of you have decided everything,’ he observed.

‘Of course. No point in waiting for you. Make sure you look your best tomorrow.’

‘Any minute you’ll be telling me to wash behind my ears,’ he said wrathfully.

‘Don’t forget to do that, either,’ Hope instructed him.

He might complain that his mother still treated him like a kid, but the next day he was on the road to Celia’s apartment, elegantly turned out and wondering what kind of reception he would receive. Whatever it was, he decided that his best course was to keep back emotionally and stay safe. Somehow he would endure the evening, although he couldn’t think how.

Celia was sitting by the window as he drew the car up, her head turned slightly in an attitude of listening. By the time he reached the door she was already opening it.

She was beautiful, in a long dress of honey-coloured silk which brought out the soft glow of her skin and the blue of her eyes. Diamonds sparkled in her ears and about her neck. They were tiny. It was Celia’s way never to overdo things. But they announced that she was putting the flags out tonight.

‘You’re lovely,’ he said, instantly forgetting his resolution to be distant.

‘Will I do you credit?’

‘You don’t need to ask that. You know exactly what you look like. Don’t ask me how, but you do know.’

She laughed delightedly. ‘Yes, I do. I chose this colour because I know you like it.’

‘Well, I guess you know my tastes well enough by now to be able to pick the colours in the-Hell!’ He caught himself up, horrified at what he’d nearly said.

Had there ever been another woman like this one? he wondered. Celia laughed and laughed until he thought she would collapse.

‘In the dark!’ she choked. ‘You were going to say in the dark.’

‘All right, I’m sorry,’ he growled. ‘I forgot-’

‘Of course you did. Oh, darling, that’s wonderful. I begin to think you’re human after all.’

He stared at her, feeling all at sea-not for the first time.

‘You’re not upset? I didn’t mean to-’

‘I know. You didn’t mean to make a joke about my blindness but you did-well, you almost did. It’s a start. I’ll teach you yet.’

‘Will I ever understand you?’

‘Probably not. Never mind. Give me a kiss.’

He opened his arms and would have drawn her against him, but she brushed her lips faintly against his and slipped away at once. He followed into her front room, where a dark gold velvet jacket lay over a chair. Beside it sat Jacko, wearing his harness.

‘Ready?’ she asked him, reaching for the jacket.

‘We don’t need to take him, surely?’ Francesco asked, taking the jacket and holding it up to receive her arms. ‘I’ll be with you all the time.’

‘I can’t leave him behind,’ she said firmly. ‘It would be like telling him he’s useless when he needs reassurance. He hasn’t quite settled with me yet. Jacko!’

The dog came to stand obediently in front of her.

‘Andiamo!’ she said.

As soon as he heard the Italian for let’s go! Jacko turned so that she could take hold of the long handle.

‘We’re ready,’ Celia said. ‘If you’ll just open the door and lead the way?’

He did so, escorting them to the car, showing Jacko into the back and Celia into the front.

‘I’d better warn you that there’s going to be a big crowd tonight,’ he said. ‘My family all want to meet you. Including,’ he added in a hollow voice, ‘Aunt Angelica.’

‘Is she the one who puts her foot in it?’

‘Good grief, you mean, I’ve told you about her before?’

‘Not at all,’ Celia reassured him. ‘But every family has one.’

‘Well, you’re right-she’s ours.’

She gave a chuckle. ‘I’ll remember.’

Everyone was waiting when the car pulled up at the villa. They stood on the terrace, watching as Celia climbed the steps, guided by Jacko, but holding Francesco’s arm on the other side. One of the men-nobody was ever quite sure which-gave an appreciative wolf whistle, and Celia beamed in equal appreciation.

Uncle Giulio and Aunt Teresa were introduced. Then came Aunt Angelica, full of words, most of them inappropriate.

‘I’ve heard so much about you-all exaggerated, I’m sure. But there, that can’t be helped, can it?’

‘Can’t it?’ Celia asked.

‘Well, people don’t understand, do they? But I pride myself on realising things that are hidden from the rest of the world.’

‘Let’s start the evening with a glass of wine,’ Hope said quickly, appearing with a tray of glasses. ‘Celia, cara, what would you like to drink?’ She named two excellent wines, one white, one red.

‘Oh, do have the white!’ Angelica exclaimed at once. ‘Then if you should spill it on that lovely dress it won’t stain. These things happen so easily, but I assure you we’ll all understand. You and I must have a nice little talk-’

There was a swift intake of breath from the family, and Francesco cast a horrified glance at Celia. She had pressed her lips tightly together, as though controlling some response or other, but exactly what it was impossible to say.

‘But you promised to talk to me,’ Toni hurried to tell Angelica. ‘I’d counted on having all your attention.’

He put an arm firmly around her waist, swept her off as gallantly as a young man, pressed a glass of wine into her hand, and everyone breathed again.

‘What’s happening now?’ Celia asked Francesco.

‘Poppa’s flirting madly with Aunt Angelica, gazing deep into her eyes until she forgets everything but him, so she won’t drop any clangers-for a while, anyway.’

‘Doesn’t your mother mind him doing that?’

‘Mind? She told him to.’

Celia chuckled. ‘I knew I was going to like your mother.’

‘It’s mutual,’ Hope assured her. ‘What wine would you like?’

‘White,’ Celia said at once. ‘Just in case I have an accident, you know.’

‘Nonsense!’ Hope said robustly. ‘I don’t suppose you can remember the last time you had an accident.’

‘I do believe you’re right,’ Celia replied impishly, and everyone relaxed.

From the first moment she was a great success. Her beauty, her merry laugh, her complete ease with who and what she was won everyone over. Standing back a little, Francesco knew a glow of pride in her accomplishments and her courage. They were regarding him with envy, he realised: the man who had won the prize.

If only they knew how far away from the prize he really was!

At his mother’s command he had racked his brain to recall Celia’s favourite dishes, and now they were served up with a flourish that made it clear she was the guest of honour. She obviously understood and enjoyed this, for she tried everything set before her and was unstinting in her praise.

They admired her for her proficiency in Italian, and competed to teach her words from the Neapolitan dialect.

‘All the best words come from Napoli,’ Primo told her. ‘Take sfizio!’ Only Naples could have produced that word.’

‘But I thought that was Italian,’ Celia objected. ‘It’s one of my favourite words.’

‘You know what it means, then?’ Primo asked with a grin.

‘It’s the pleasure you get from doing something for the sheer, beautiful, stupid sake of it,’ Celia replied, in a voice that held a touch of ecstasy.

Francesco saw his family exchange glances of pleasure, sharing the same thought. If she knew that, she belonged among them.

‘It’s not really Italian,’ Carlo explained. ‘It’s a Neapolitan word that the rest of the country hijacked because they don’t have a word that describes that feeling. You have to be one of us to understand.’

Primo said, ‘Francesco must have taught you well for you know about sfizio.’

Now they were all regarding Francesco with approval, and he felt awkward-for he hadn’t taught her that word. He hadn’t even known she knew it. She must have concealed her discovery, knowing that, of all things, it was her love of sfizio that he feared most. It had driven her to dive in deep water. It had driven her to cast him out of her life.

But Celia was mistress of the situation.

‘I think the English hijacked it, as well,’ she said. ‘Think of the English word fizzy. It means bubbling and sparkling, and if you were sfizio you’d probably feel fizzy.’ She reached for her wineglass, located it at once and raised it in salute.

‘All the best words started in Naples,’ she cried.

‘Si,’ they all answered with one voice.

‘So here’s to being fizzy. May life have an endless supply of fizz.’

They all raised their glasses and joined the toast. Francesco did the same, but only so that they wouldn’t notice how uneasy he was.

The meal over, they went into the next room, which led onto the terrace. With the doors wide-open and the huge windows pulled back, the party could spill out into the night air.

Celia was enthroned on the sofa, and it seemed to Francesco that people were queuing up to speak to her.

‘She’s touting for business,’ Primo said with a grin. He owned a factory in Naples which Olympia, his wife, ran for him. It was Olympia who sat head to head with Celia now.

‘They’re discussing modifications to be made so that we can employ more partially sighted people,’ Primo said. ‘I only overheard a little. I fled when it began to sound expensive.’

As they neared, Olympia hailed them.

‘Celia’s agreed to come to the factory and suggest some improvements so that we can draw our employees from a wider source,’ she said. ‘I thought tomorrow would be a good day.’

‘That’s-that’s excellent,’ Primo said.

Celia laughed. ‘Don’t worry. It won’t cost as much as you’re afraid of. And you can tell everyone that I’m efficient and not expensive, so I’ll get plenty more business.’

‘You can have mine,’ Francesco said suddenly. ‘The factory’s just starting up, so we ought to begin as we mean to go on. When you’ve finished with Olympia perhaps you’d fit me into your diary somewhere?’

‘Certainly,’ she said, and immediately dictated a brief message into a small recording machine.

‘That’s what I call style,’ Carlo observed. He’d been watching the whole performance with admiration. ‘You’ve been keeping her a secret, Francesco,’ he said, in a low voice so that only the two of them could hear.

‘You’ve all got the wrong end of the stick,’ Francesco replied in the same voice. ‘We’re friends, no more. Until recently we hadn’t seen each other for months.’

‘But you’re back together now? Hmm!’

‘Mio dio! You’re as bad as Mamma.’

‘Nobody’s as bad as Mamma,’ Carlo said with feeling.

‘Some more wine?’ Hope asked, tapping him on the shoulder.

‘Mamma-fancy you being there!’ Carlo exclaimed, the picture of innocence. ‘I had no idea.’

‘Indeed! Well, the last time I believed anything you said you were six. Or was it five?’

‘Four?’ Carlo said helpfully.

‘Anyway, don’t start planning the wedding, either of you,’ Francesco said firmly.

Carlo gave him a humorously jeering look, but it faded when he saw his brother’s set expression.

‘Like he’d woken up to find himself in a dungeon,’ he told his brothers later.

From somewhere behind them they heard Angelica’s shrill laugh-only now it had an extra unfortunate edge. Toni was making his way nervously towards them.

‘How much wine has she drunk?’ Hope asked him.

‘It was the only way I could obey you and keep her occupied,’ Toni pleaded.

‘I said flirt with her, not ply her with drink.’ Then a sweet reminiscent smile came over Hope’s face. ‘You didn’t always need wine to turn a woman’s head.’

‘That was different, carissima,’ he said. ‘That was you.’

The others watched them fondly, delighted by this sudden flicker of late romance as only a family could be. But the spell was soon broken.

‘Angelica’s coming this way!’ Francesco said, aghast.

Clearly emergency action was called for. Carlo dived for the music centre, and in another moment music filled the air.

‘Let’s dance,’ he said, seeing Della, his wife, nearby, and taking her in his arms.

‘Let’s dance,’ Toni said, turning to his wife.

‘Is anyone dancing with me?’ Celia asked.

‘Yes, I am,’ Francesco said, drawing her to her feet. ‘Before anyone else gets near you.’

‘What was going on there?’ she demanded, smiling as they moved slowly around the floor. ‘The air was thrumming.’

‘How much did you hear?’ he asked, wondering if she’d heard the remarks about weddings.

‘It started with a laugh in the background that could have cracked glass.’

‘Aunt Angelica. She’s a bit squiffy because Poppa’s been plying her with wine.’

‘Did your mother tell him to do that, as well as flirt?’

‘No, I think he was just running out of ideas. He doesn’t care about anyone but Mamma, so making eyes at another woman comes very hard to him.’

‘She must be very sure of him.’

‘Totally sure. I don’t think he even knows other women exist.’

‘How charming!’

‘Yes, it’s lovely to see a couple so devoted at their age. They’ll be celebrating their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary soon.’

‘Let me try to get this straight. You’re not Toni’s son, are you?’

‘No, Mamma already had me before she met him.’

‘So your father was her first husband?’

‘It’s a bit complicated. Hold on to me tight, because I’m going to move fast. Angelica’s headed for us.’

He turned sharply and managed to spin her the length of the room, out of danger. Celia clung to him, loving every minute and distracted from the way he’d changed the subject-as he had meant her to be.

‘Safe now?’ she teased as they slowed.

‘Quite safe,’ he said.

It wasn’t really true. He’d spun out of one kind of danger right into another. This had been a mistake. His resolve to hold himself aloof was being set at naught by the closeness of her body and the warm perfume wafting from her.

Memories of a hundred nights came back to him: pure, vigorous sex for the sake of it, love spiced with exquisite tenderness, sometimes one followed by the other. The silk dress might not have been there for all the protection it gave her from his fevered thoughts.

‘Am I a credit to you?’ she asked lightly. ‘I did my best.’

‘You look glorious, but-’

‘What is it?’ She’d felt him stiffen.

‘Are you wearing anything under this dress?’

‘Of course not. It’s tight-fitting satin. I wouldn’t want any awkward lines showing.’

He took a deep, ragged breath. ‘I’d forgotten what a shocking flirt you are.’

‘You don’t really mean flirt. You mean something much more extreme.’

‘Whatever I meant, you’re driving me crazy.’

‘Of course. It’s one of the great pleasures of life. You wouldn’t expect me to give it up, would you?’

‘You’ll never give up any chance to torment me,’ he growled. ‘I know that.’

‘I never tormented you-not on purpose.’

‘Are you saying you didn’t realise you were doing it? I find that hard to believe.’

‘Does that mean you’re doubting my word?’ she asked lightly.

‘It means I know you. You could always tell what was going on, whether you seemed to or not. That was the joke you always had at my expense.’

‘But I couldn’t always tell,’ she mused. ‘When we were together there were times when you might have been exchanging lingering glances with every girl in the room. How would I have known?’

‘You’d have known,’ he said softly. ‘Because my attention was always on you, every second of every minute of every day, and you’d have sensed the moment it was taken away. But you knew it never would be. Didn’t you?’

‘Yes.’ She sighed. ‘I did know.’

‘It was one of the things about me that you found unendurable, wasn’t it?’

‘Don’t say that,’ she urged quickly. ‘Unendurable is a terrible word.’

He wanted to say that it described his life without her, but he controlled himself, refusing to admit the truth. He still had his dignity.

But it was hard to think of dignity-or at least to think that it mattered-when the feel of her body gliding against him reminded him of a hundred lovings. Why had she come here to torture him?

‘What do you look like?’ she whispered. ‘If I could see, what would I find in your eyes?’

‘The same look that’s always been there,’ he said softly. ‘You never really doubted that, did you?’

‘I don’t know. Everything became so confused. You gave me so much. It’s just that-’

‘I gave the wrong things.’ With a sudden rush of sadness he added, ‘And I always would, wouldn’t I? A man can’t change himself that much-’

‘Don’t, Francesco. I didn’t mean-’

‘Celia, my dear girl!’

Angelica was descending on them, full of a booming bonhomie that would not be denied. She enveloped Celia in a vast bear hug, while Francesco gave an inner groan, knowing how she would hate this.

‘I’ve been searching for you all evening for our get-together,’ Angelica informed the world. ‘I’ve been watching you, and I want to tell you how much I admire you. I just can’t believe how well you manage to cope with life.’

There was a brief silence. Francesco clenched his hands, knowing that this was the worst thing to say to Celia. Even the others, who didn’t know her so well, picked up the tension.

‘But what is there to cope with?’ Celia asked, smiling. ‘I live life just as you do.’

‘Not exactly, surely?’ Angelica cooed. ‘There must be so many things you don’t know about-’

‘And many things she knows about that we don’t,’ Francesco said. ‘Celia’s world is different to ours, but not worse.’

‘But surely,’ Angelica persisted, ‘it must make life very difficult, having so much less than other people-’

Hope and Toni exchanged alarmed glances, but it was Celia who saved the situation by bursting into laughter. Someone suggested more coffee and there was a cheer. Toni took over Angelica again, demanding that she come out and see the stars with him.

‘Phew!’ Francesco breathed close to Celia’s ear.

‘She didn’t mean any harm,’ Celia said, still laughing.

‘If I’d said anything like that you’d have hung me out to dry,’ he said wryly.

‘But you don’t say things like that any more. And thank you for what you did say.’

‘Well, as you said earlier, I guess I’m learning,’ he said lightly.

She turned her face to him with an odd expression, as though she was thinking something important. Suddenly his heart was beating with hope.

But before she could speak they heard the sound of her cellphone coming from inside her bag.

‘I’m sorry. I should have turned it off,’ she said, hastily reaching for it.

‘No problem. We’ll leave you in peace,’ Hope said.

She shooed everyone away, including Francesco, although he lingered long enough to hear Celia say, ‘Ciao, Sandro.’

He could have cursed. Just when things were going well that buffone had to intrude.

‘Come away,’ Hope said, chivvying him. ‘Let her be private.’

‘There’s no need,’ Celia said quickly. ‘I’ll just tell him I can’t talk now.’

She did so, shutting off the phone almost at once, but, still, Hope drew Francesco away some distance to ask furiously, ‘What were you thinking of to let that wonderful creature slip through your fingers?’

‘It wasn’t quite like that, Mamma.’

‘That’s a matter of opinion. And who is Sandro?’

‘A vulgar nobody,’ Francesco snapped, ‘who pushes in where he isn’t wanted.’

‘I see,’ Hope mused. ‘As dangerous as that?’