Wedding in Venice

Chapter Thirteen

Guido's cousin Marco arrived from Rome, bringing his English fiancée, Harriet.

Marco was one of the most handsome men Justine had ever seen, but, while perfectly civil, he had a distant air.

"Harriet and Marco are rather cool for an engaged couple," Justine observed to Dulcie. "They're not like you and Guido."

"It's not precisely a love match," Dulcie said. "Harriet is the granddaughter of his mother's oldest friend."

"You mean they're not in love?"

Dulcie chuckled. "They think they aren't."

The last one to arrive was Leo, Guido's half brother, an amiable young giant whom Justine liked immediately. He arrived in Venice direct from Texas, where he'd been visiting a ranching friend, enjoying himself riding and "fooling around" as he put it.

Justine gathered that he'd also met Selena, a rodeo rider who'd made more of an impression on him than he wanted to admit. Dulcie and Harriet promptly settled down to grill him about her, until he grinned sheepishly and escaped.

"I'll swear he was blushing," Justine chuckled.

Dulcie nodded. "I don't think we've heard the last of Selena."

She seemed to be floating to her wedding on a tide of serene happiness. Liza, by contrast, was in a state of nerves, suddenly declaring that she needed help with the food.

"But she wouldn't hear of it the first time," Justine protested.

"I know," said Dulcie, "but she liked Riccardo, so I think it's an excuse to send some more work his way. Also," she added with a significant glance at Justine, "I think she may be doing some matchmaking."

"I can't imagine why," Justine said stiffly.

"Well it's your own fault. If you will hurl yourself into a boat driven by a ludicrously attractive man, spend the night with him -"

"I did not spend the night with him – not the way you mean, anyway."

"Well, you came home with the dawn."

"I bet you were all hanging out of the windows," Justine said wrathfully.

Dulcie chuckled. "Let's just say it's not a secret."

"So he'll be coming here to talk to Liza?" Justine asked, trying to sound indifferent.

"I'll tell Liza you want him," Dulcie said mischievously.

"You do and you're dead!" Justine said quickly.

Her own heart was hidden from her. Did she want to see Riccardo or not? He was dangerous because he wouldn't be pigeonholed, and he wouldn't let her take control of their relationship. But that was the only way that she felt safe.

That day she took her camera and went to explore Venice, thinking that when she returned he would be gone. But suddenly she felt distressed at the thought of missing him, and ran all the way back.

Then, disgusted with herself for shilly-shallying over a man, she refused to go anywhere near the kitchen, where he probably was, and sought the garden.

And there he was, talking and laughing with Guido, Marco and Leo. Worst of all, when the three Calvanis saw her, they immediately vanished with a speed that told her what the palazzo gossip was.

"I had hoped to find you here," he said, when they were alone.

"I have a lot of pictures to take," she said. "I'm hurrying to get everything done before the wedding."

"Of course. I, too, have much work to do, but I couldn't leave without seeing you. Does that make you angry?"

"Of course not. Why should it make me angry?"

He gave his wry smile with the wicked hint of mischief, and she had to work hard not to be melted by it.

"So much that I do seems to annoy you," he said. "I've learned to tread carefully. I'm really very scared of you."

"Don't be absurd," she said, laughing despite herself.

What could you do with a man who talked like this, except smile back at him and feel that the day had become brighter?

To give herself a moment she turned away to lean on the railing overlooking the Grand Canal. Riccardo came to stand close behind her.

"There's something I must tell you," he said quietly.

"What?"

"That I've thought about nothing but you since we said good night."