Everyone knew what she meant. It might be now or never.
‘Can it be arranged so quickly?’ Ferne asked.
‘Leave it with me,’ Hope said.
She had contacts all over Naples, and it was no surprise when after a few phone calls she announced that an emergency service could be arranged for the next day. The wedding would be in the afternoon, and Dante would enter the hospital straight afterwards.
It was all achieved in double-quick time, and Ferne was left worried that Dante felt he was being hustled into marriage. Her fear increased when he was quiet on the way home.
‘Dante?’
‘Hush, don’t speak until you’ve heard what I have to say. Wait here.’
He went into the bedroom and searched a drawer, returning a few moments later with two small boxes. Inside one, Ferne saw two wedding-rings, large and small. Inside the other was an engagement ring of diamonds and sapphires.
‘They belonged to my parents,’ he said, taking out the engagement ring. ‘I never thought the day would come when I’d give this to any woman. But then, you’re not any woman. You’re the one I’ve been waiting for all this time.’
He slipped it onto her finger, dropped his head and kissed the spot. Ferne couldn’t speak. She was weeping.
‘And these,’ he said, turning to the other box, ‘are the rings they exchanged on their wedding day. They loved each other very much. He got up to mad tricks, and she tried to stick with him whenever she could. She was afraid that he’d vanish without her.
‘I used to blame her for that. I felt resentful that she took risks without thinking of me, left behind. But I understand now. I’ve come to understand a lot of things that were hidden from me before.’
His voice shook so much that he could barely say the last words. He bent his head quickly, but not quickly enough to hide the fact that his cheeks were wet. Ferne held him tightly, fiercely glad that in her arms he felt free to weep, and that she too had come to understand many things.
That night they made love as if for the first time. He touched her gently, as though afraid to do her harm. She responded to him with passionate tenderness, and always the thought lay between them: perhaps never again; perhaps this was all there would be to last a lifetime. When their lovemaking was over, they held each other tenderly.
Next morning a lawyer called with papers for Dante to sign, and also some for Ferne.
‘They’re in Italian. I don’t understand a word,’ she said.
‘Just sign them,’ he told her. ‘If I become unable to manage my own affairs, this will give you complete control.’
She was a little puzzled, since surely as his wife her control would be automatic? But perhaps Italian law was more complicated. She signed briefly, and returned to her preparations.
There was no lavish bridal-gown, just a silk, peach-coloured dress that she already knew he liked. In a dark, formal suit, he looked as handsome as she’d ever seen him. Standing side by side, looking in the mirror together, they made a handsome couple.
Both of them tried not to look at the suitcase he would take with him, which contained his things so that he could go on to the hospital when the wedding was over.
At last the lawyer departed and they were alone, waiting for the taxi.
‘I think it’s here,’ she said, looking out of the window. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Just a moment.’ He detained her.
‘What is it?’
‘Just one more thing I have to know before we go ahead,’ he said quietly. ‘I want to marry you more than anything on earth, but I can’t face the thought of being a burden in your life. Will you give me your word to put me in a home if I become like Uncle Leo?’
‘How can I do that?’ she asked, aghast. ‘It would be a betrayal.’
‘I can’t marry you to become a burden on you. If you don’t give me your word, the wedding’s off.’
‘Dante…’
‘Understand me, I mean it. One way or another, I’ll leave you free.’
‘And your child?’
‘We just signed papers that will give you complete control, whether we’re married or not. So you’ll have everything that’s mine to support you and our child.’
‘Did you think I was talking about money?’ she asked with a touch of anger.
‘No, I know you weren’t, but you have to know that my arrangements will look after you both, even without a wedding.’
She sighed. Even now he was setting her at a little distance.
‘Do I have your word,’ he asked again, ‘that if I become
‘Hush,’ she said, unable to endure any more.
‘I don’t want people to see me and pity me. I don’t want my child to grow up regarding me with contempt. Do I have your word that if this goes wrong you’ll put me away?’ He took her hand in his. ‘Swear it, or I can’t marry you.’
‘I’ll call it off right now if you don’t give me your word. I can’t go through with it unless I’m sure. You’ve never really understood what that dread means to me, have you? And I’ve never been able to make you.’
‘I know it means more to you than I do!’ she said wildly.
This should have been their most perfect moment, when they could be happy in their love despite all the problems. But she was saddened at his intransigence.
Perhaps he saw this, because his voice became gentler.
‘Nothing means more to me than you,’ he said. ‘But try to understand, my love; you’ve done so much for me. I beg you to do this one thing more, to give me peace.’
‘All right,’ she said sadly. ‘I swear it.’
‘Promise on everything you hold dear and sacred, on the life of our child, on whatever love you have for me-
‘I promise. If it comes to that-’ she paused, and a tremor went through her ‘-I’ll do as you wish.’
‘Thank you.’
The wedding was in the hospital chapel. All the Rinuccis who lived in Naples were there. The women of the family lined up to be the bride’s attendants. The men scrapped for the privilege of waiting on Dante.
Toni gave her away, escorting her down the aisle with pride. Dante watched her approach with a look that took her breath away, and that she knew she would remember all her life. As she reached him and laid her hand in his, the problems seemed to melt away. Even the promise he’d imposed on her could not spoil this moment. She was marrying the man she loved, and who loved her. There was nothing else in the world.
Holding Dante’s hand in hers, she declared, ‘I, Ferne, take you, Dante, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.’
She knew he wasn’t quite ready to understand that. She could only pray for the miracle that would give her the chance to show him.
Then they exchanged rings, the ones that had belonged to his parents, who’d chosen never to be parted. One after the other they recited the ritual wedding-vows, but then the priest looked a silent question, asking if they wished to add anything of their own. Dante nodded, took her hand and spoke in a clear voice for everyone to hear.
‘I give you my life for whatever it’s worth-not much, perhaps, but there’s no part of it that isn’t yours. Do with it whatever you will.’
It took her a moment to fight back the tears, but then she said in a shaking voice, ‘Everything I am belongs to you. Everything I will ever be belongs to you, now and always-whatever life may bring.’
She said the last words with special significance, hoping he would understand, and she felt him grow still for a
