Rinaldo’s Inherited Bride

face was pale beneath his tan, and she could see the tension about his mouth

She longed to say something that would ease his pain, but she knew he would never let her get so close, and would resent her for even trying.

He didn’t sit down, but snatched up a coffee in one hand and a roll in the other, eating on his feet as though longing to be gone.

Gino came into the kitchen, looking worried.

‘I’ve just been to the barn. Brutus has gone.’

Rinaldo shrugged. ‘So?’

‘I thought we might bury him properly.’

‘What for?’ Rinaldo asked coldly.

‘What for? You loved him. I did too, but you and he were so close-’

‘He was a dog, Gino. Dogs come and go.’

‘But-’

‘I’ve already disposed of him.’

‘Disposed of him?’ Gino echoed, aghast. ‘Like a piece of rubbish? That was Brutus! How can you be so callous?’

‘He was dead,’ Rinaldo said, his voice on the edge of exasperation. ‘There was nothing more to say or do. He was dead.’

‘So you just threw him out. No grave, no-’

‘I advise you to grow up and stop being sentimental,’ Rinaldo said coldly.

He drained his cup and walked out quickly before his brother could speak again.

‘Well, I’ll be-!’ Gino almost tore his hair. ‘He was supposed to love that dog. Some kind of love!’

‘People have their own way of showing their feelings,’ Alex suggested.

‘Always supposing that they have any feelings. Brutus is dead. Chuck him out! That’s how Rinaldo sees it. He didn’t even cry when the poor old fellow died.’

‘You don’t know. We weren’t there.’

‘You saw his face when he came out of the barn. Blank.’

‘But that doesn’t mean anything,’ Alex protested, thinking about the tell-tale gleam she’d seen the night before, as Rinaldo laid his face against the lifeless dog. ‘He wouldn’t let anyone see. He’d probably think it was weakness.’

‘Rinaldo thinks having feelings is weakness, never mind showing them. That’s why he cuts them right out.’

For the first time she found herself irritated by Gino.

‘I’ll bet you don’t know half as much as you think you do,’ she said. ‘Maybe a stranger can pick up more-’

‘Oh ho! Here comes woman’s intuition!’

‘Here comes the coffee to pour over your head if you talk like that.’

He grinned and hopped nimbly out of the way.

‘Pax! I take it back. But trust me on this. I understand Rinaldo as you never will.’

And I, she thought, am beginning to understand him in way that nobody else does.

She didn’t know what else to say. She longed to make Gino see the truth about his brother, but it was Rinaldo’s secret and she had no right to betray it.

CHAPTER SEVEN

FRUSTRATED, she went out into the yard. A movement from the barn drew her steps there, and she found Rinaldo.

‘Have you come to tell me what a heartless monster I am, too?’ he asked ironically. ‘Because if so, don’t.’

‘No, I won’t say that. After last night, I know better.’

He shot her a sharp glance. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I saw you bury Brutus.’

For a moment he was quite still. Then he said curtly, ‘Nonsense.’

‘It isn’t. I noticed something moving in the trees and went down. I was there while you dug the grave and put him in it. I saw-everything.’

‘You have a vivid imagination, I’ll say that for you. You and Gino make a good pair.’

Anger at his rebuff made her snap, ‘You think Gino would be interested in what I saw? Let’s try.’

She turned to go but he was beside her in a flash, seizing her arms in a fierce grip.

‘Don’t dare to tell him anything,’ he growled. ‘What concern is it of yours what I do?’

‘But it’s true, isn’t it? Losing him broke your heart. Why deny it?’

‘Because it’s nobody else’s business!’

‘But he’s your brother. Don’t you think he’d feel for you?’

‘I don’t ask him to feel for me. Nor do I ask you.’

‘Who do you ask?’ she said quietly. ‘Now Brutus is dead, who do you share your feelings with?’

‘There’s a lot to be said for a dog,’ he snapped. ‘They keep quiet and they don’t fret about things that are none of their business. Why did you have to come Belluna and interfere?’

‘You more or less forced me to come.’

‘And it was the worst day’s work I ever did.’

‘You said I needed to learn about this place and the things that went on in it. That’s just what I’m doing. I’m learning that nothing is ever quite what it seems.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘You, for instance. You work hard at being one thing and seeming another. I wonder why.’

‘It keeps me safe from snoopers.’

‘Does that include Gino? Because you hide from him too. You don’t let anyone in, do you? Except Brutus.’

His fingers tightened on her shoulders, giving her a tiny shake.

‘Will you stop?’ he asked fiercely. ‘Will you stop?’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said gently after a moment. ‘I know it isn’t really my business. But now I can’t help getting involved. Where do I draw the line?’

‘Right here,’ he said, still holding her. ‘You’ve reached the boundary. Stay on your side of it, and we’ll manage.’

Suddenly she realised that he was shaking. Through the contact of his fingers on her bare arms she could sense his whole body vibrating.

In her turn she reached up to take hold of his arms.

‘Rinaldo,’ she said. ‘Don’t shut me out. Let me help.’

‘I don’t need your help.’

But she refused to be snubbed. ‘After last night it’s too late,’ she said quietly. ‘I know what I know.’

She knew she was treading on dangerous ground and for a moment she thought he would lose his temper. But instead he sighed and the anger went out of his face.

‘How can you possibly help?’ he asked heavily.

‘You mean I’m the last person who ever could. Because I caused all the trouble, didn’t I?’

Hearing his own accusation put so bluntly seemed to do something to Rinaldo. She saw his eyes full of shock as he realised that he was still holding her. He dropped his hands from her arms.

There was an ache inside her that had something to do with his misery. She wanted to assuage it and ease the hurt for them both.

He sat down on a bale of hay, leaning back against a post of the barn, his hands hanging loose as though he’d lost the will to fight.

‘No, it’s not your fault,’ he said tiredly. ‘I know I said that at first, but in truth I know better. It wasn’t you who created the situation.’

He took a long breath. His face was livid.