him.
‘Like Douglas Fairbanks, you said. When I got back to my hotel that night, I went online and checked him out. You were right, I was always a show-off. I never impressed you, though, did I?’
‘Don’t put yourself down. If you were just a show-off, you wouldn’t have got under my skin so much. But there were times when it was good. Do you remember that night we talked about freedom?’
‘Yes, I do. I’d have liked to talk to you for hours because-’
He stopped as though the next words were difficult, and Mandy held her breath.
‘Because I felt I could trust you,’ Renzo finished.
She was disappointed, but only for a moment. Trust was a step forward.
‘I’m surprised you liked talking to me,’ she said lightly, ‘since you say I kept digging my claws in.’
‘You were always interesting. I never knew where the next attack was going to come from. Mind you, the first night you said something unforgivable.
‘Yes, I really hit home with that one, didn’t I?’
He managed a laugh, then immediately winced and wished he hadn’t.
‘You’re feeling bad,’ Mandy said. ‘Can I get you something?’
‘Thanks. My pills are over there.’
‘After all you’ve had-’
‘They’ve worn off, believe me.’
She fetched the pills and poured water from a carafe beside the bed. Renzo took them thankfully, sitting up to do so and moving his shoulders cautiously.
‘My spine seems to have a life of its own,’ he said. ‘The doctors put it right and then it thinks of something else.’
‘Perhaps you need Dr Renzo’s All Purpose Linctus? I can really recommend it.’
‘I must admit there wasn’t much in that stuff. I had other motives-disgraceful ones.’
He gave her a cautious glance to see how she was affected by this confession, but she only smiled, saying, ‘So it was just the massage that made me feel so much better?’
‘I guess it was.’
After a moment she said hesitantly, ‘Then perhaps you should let me return the favour-unless you think I might do some damage.’
‘You won’t do me any damage,’ he said quietly. ‘I told you I trusted you, and I do-with my life.’
‘Lie down.’
When he was face down on the bed, she could see the marks more clearly. As he’d said, they were healed now, and the rest of him looked as strong and well developed as before. But the savage scars told their story of pain and suffering that would always be with him.
Mandy closed her eyes for a moment, struggling to keep her anguished feelings to herself. She had lain with him in the secret darkness, shared with him the knowledge of approaching death, and given him her heart in exchange for his. Now he’d come to this.
‘I hope I’m not hurting you,’ she said, beginning to rub her hands gently over his back.
‘No, don’t stop.’
She drew a sharp breath. She’d thought she had command of herself, but these words, an echo of the night they had made love, transfixed her. She had touched him then, so tenderly and passionately that he had cried out for more.
Last night they’d come close to finding each other again, and only bad luck had got in the way. But they had taken a step forward and there would be other times. For the moment all he asked of her was friendship and comfort.
For now she would give them to him, but some day soon the moment would come again. On that she was determined.
Patience, she told herself. But it was hard to be patient when she thought of Danny, the little boy waiting for her at home, who might do so much for his father, and the father who might do so much for him.
She fell into a rhythm, massaging back and forth, while Renzo lay silent, relaxing under her hands until at last his eyes closed.
‘How does that feel?’ she asked.
When there was no reply she looked at him more closely and saw that he was asleep again, frowning slightly. Slowly, she reached out a tentative hand and laid it against his cheek. He didn’t move, but it seemed to her that the frown faded. Holding her breath, she let her fingers drift to his hair, brushing it back from his brow.
She should leave now, but she couldn’t make herself do it. Holding her breath, she leaned down and laid her lips against his cheek. He didn’t move but she was sure she sensed him relax, grow content. Or perhaps she’d only imagined it from the depths of her longing.
If only he would turn over, open his eyes, smile and welcome her into his arms. But he didn’t move. If anything, he seemed more deeply asleep.
Gently, she drew the duvet up over his shoulders, turned out the bedside lamp and backed out of the room.
In some far corner of his consciousness Renzo heard the soft closing of the door, but it didn’t disturb the sensuous dream in which he was drifting. Hands caressed him softly and a voice from long ago whispered, ‘I love you.’
‘Who are you?’ he begged. ‘Let me see your face.’
‘You don’t need to see my face,’ she whispered. ‘You know me.’
But he didn’t know her. He reached out, seeking vainly for something that would clear the clouds that had shrouded his mind for the last two years.
But she was gone again, as she always was.
Mandy slept later than she’d meant to, and when she went downstairs Ferrini was already there with Renzo. He rose to greet her, beaming.
‘Your hotel told me you hadn’t returned last night, so I came here. I know that your arrival will be the best thing for my friend Renzo, as it will be for me.’
‘Signor Ferrini, I must tell you that I know why you invited me last night. Renzo asked you to.’
‘I don’t deny it, but I still need your professional help. All we have to do is discuss money. Renzo says that you can leave the hotel and live here-’
‘So it’s all settled,’ Renzo said, regarding her with a knowing look.
‘It most certainly is not,’ Mandy said indignantly.
‘I’m afraid I took the liberty of informing the hotel that you would be checking out today,’ he said in a regretful tone that didn’t fool her for a second. ‘They were very grateful as they have a waiting list. They ask that you clear out your things before midday.’
‘Deception last night and bullying this morning,’ she seethed. ‘So this is how you get your own way.’
‘It’s the quickest method,’ he said, the picture of innocence.
And just for one moment there was a gleam of the old mischief, a hint of teasing challenge in his look. It vanished quickly, as though he’d suppressed it, but she forgave him everything in return for that glimpse of hope.
Since there was nothing else to do, she gave in and returned to the hotel, where she found he’d gone one further and paid her bill. His car ferried her back to his house, a ludicrous waste considering the short distance, but by now she had the picture. He was keeping her where he could see her, just as he’d done the night before.
Now, she told herself, she was nearing the moment when she could tell him about Danny. Perhaps even today.
But she returned to find him deep in a business call. She concentrated on settling into the delightful room Teresa had prepared for her. It had an enormously wide bed that looked at least two hundred years old, and its own bathroom. The windows were traditional, with wooden shutters on the outside that could be drawn to shut out the most determined sunlight.
Ferrini’s car collected her again and she spent the rest of the day in his library, returning with a stack of books and papers.
Teresa explained that Renzo would be detained all evening by a business meeting. Mandy was becoming used
