Husband By Necessity

duvet.

She appeared with coffee, smiling when she saw him awake. He tried to read that smile, to guess what she expected of him. But though friendly, her eyes gave nothing away.

‘Have you rejoined the human race?’ she asked.

What did that mean?

‘I’ve thawed out,’ he said carefully.

‘Good. There was a time I thought that would never happen. Which side do you want your coffee?’

‘Pardon?’

‘You’re in the middle of the bed. Do you want to lean over here or that side?’

‘Over here is fine,’ he said, indicating the side where she was standing, and inching his way over. She sat on the bed and he clutched the duvet.

‘You were like an icicle, when I found you on the road,’ she observed, setting down the coffee.

‘Pretty near a dead icicle,’ he admitted. ‘Thank you, dottore.’

‘Dottore?’ she asked, looking amused.

What, in heaven’s name, had he called her last night? He had an unnerving feeling it hadn’t been dottore.

‘I never thought to hear you say thank you,’ she said with a shake of the head that made her soft hair dance wickedly about her cheeks. She smiled, meeting his eyes significantly, and he drew the duvet a little more firmly around him. ‘You just never know what’s going to happen next, do you?’

‘No,’ he agreed, not taking his eyes from her. ‘Life is full of surprises.’

‘And some things are more of a surprise than others.’

That reply was like a blow over the solar plexus. It was true, then. She really had lain in his arms, offering him all herself, whispering his name in her delight, asking everything, giving everything…

And he couldn’t even remember it properly.

Angie was trying to collect her scattered wits. Her eyes would insist on fixing themselves on his bare chest. She could still feel where his arm had been flung over her, where his head had lain against her and his breath had warmed her. If only she knew whether he’d been aware of that. Had he known when he moved his lips against her and murmured words she couldn’t hear? Did he remember it now? Did he regret it? What ‘surprises’ was he thinking of?

She searched his eyes. They gave nothing away.

‘If you’ll go away for a moment,’ he said, ‘I’ll get up.’

‘Oh, no, you don’t. You’re staying in that bed. You nearly froze to death yesterday and I’m going to take care of you. That’s what a doctor is for.’

He frowned. ‘Did I get a bang on the head?’

‘Not that I know of. Why?’

‘There are gaps in my memory. I’m sure I went to sleep on your sofa.’

How did I get into your bed? At what point, exactly, did I discard my clothes?

‘I found you wandering around in the night. You were half asleep and confused. You thought you were back in your own home. I thought you’d be more comfortable in here.’

‘Is-that all?’

‘That’s all.’

Perhaps he’d imagined her little sigh of regret. Or perhaps he’d only heard it inside himself.

‘It’s time I made you something to eat,’ she said. ‘English breakfast, bacon, eggs, sausage, tomato, fried bread. And you’ll have it in bed.’

By the time she returned with a laden tray he’d retrieved the robe from the floor, tucked it decently around him and was back under the duvet. He’d meant to stride out determinedly and insist on sitting at the table, with dignity. But suddenly it was pleasant to be looked after, and he stayed where he was.

Besides, she looked so pretty with her face flushed from the stove, and her ridiculous hair wafting around it in tendrils. How could a doctor have hair like that?

‘Bernardo,’ she said patiently, trying to get through his glazed expression.

‘What?’ Startled, he came back to reality.

‘I asked you to straighten your knees. I can’t put the tray down.’

‘Sorry.’ He complied and they settled matters efficiently. ‘Aren’t you having anything?’

‘Just getting it.’

She returned and sat on the bed, with a large mug in her hands. It was a child’s mug, covered in cartoon characters, and right this minute she looked little more than a child.

‘Is that all?’

‘This is English tea. It’ll set me up for the day.’

‘Is that what I’ve got?’ he asked with misgiving.

‘No, I made you coffee.’

‘Let me try that.’ He took a sip from her mug, made a face and nearly choked. ‘Good grief!’ he said, reaching hastily for his coffee, and they laughed together.

‘How did the party go?’ she asked.

‘Wonderfully well,’ he said, tucking in and speaking between mouthfuls. ‘Renato has finally made up with Lorenzo. I mean really made up. Before we went down to the guests we had a drink together, and Renato toasted Lorenzo, saying he owed his happiness to him. He said they all knew Heather and Lorenzo’s wedding was a mistake, and Lorenzo was the only one who had the nerve to do anything about it.’

‘Which is true,’ Angie mused.

‘Yes, it is.’ Bernardo gave an ironic grin. ‘If Lorenzo hadn’t been brave enough to be a coward, Heather and Renato wouldn’t be as happy as they are today.’

‘Are they really, do you think?’

‘They’re in love. They belong together but Renato screwed it all up by trying to marry her to Lorenzo.’

‘Why did he do that, I wonder?’

‘Because he was enjoying his life as it was, a string of girlfriends and no commitments. But someone had to marry and provide an heir so he cast Lorenzo as “the sacrificial lamb”-that’s how Lorenzo puts it. But you should see Renato now, the very picture of the happily married man, and-’ Bernardo paused, grinning.

‘No!’ Angie exclaimed. ‘Is Heather-?’

‘There’s no announcement, but Baptista’s certain. She says she can “tell”.’

‘That would be wonderful,’ Angie said with a touch of wistfulness. ‘A baby. They’ll be a real family at last.’

‘Nothing matters as much as family,’ Bernardo agreed. ‘That’s why Baptista likes to have everyone around her on her birthday.’

‘Tell me about the rest of the evening. Did she like my gift?’

‘She loved it. The hall was filled with hothouse flowers that Heather had bought from some fellow who specialises in winter blooms. He was there, and he turned out to be an old friend of hers, from far back in her youth. Federico, I think his name was. She seemed very happy to see him.’

‘I’m glad,’ Angie said sincerely. ‘I love Baptista.’

Bernardo paused, not looking at her. ‘So do I,’ he said after a moment. He looked at her. ‘You should have been there.’

‘If you knew how much I wanted to.’ She chuckled ruefully. ‘And nothing happened. Nobody so much as cut their thumb.’

‘But you were right about the weather,’ he admitted.

‘Why did you try to get back, Bernardo?’

Silly question. The answer was there in his eyes, fixed on her.

‘You’d think I’d have known better,’ he said. ‘But-I didn’t.’

‘Do you have to be wise all the time?’ she asked wistfully.

‘I’m not so very wise, Angie.’

He made a slight movement and the tray tilted, forcing him to grab it just in time. Angie took it hastily and removed everything to the safety of the kitchen.