‘I used to think you weren’t,’ she said softly. ‘But I guess I’m not as good a judge of character as I thought. You’d better go now.’
He looked at her for a long moment. Then he walked out.
Elise guessed it wasn’t coincidence that he was away for the next few days. She was grateful to him for his tact. It gave her time to come to terms with her confusion. Lying alone in the silence of the night, she finally admitted that she had fallen in love with him. She wasn’t sure when, but it was some time ago, and too late now. She’d denied it to herself, but now there could be no more denial.
She had given her heart to a man who’d hated and despised her from the first moment, who’d pursued her with the fixed intention of destroying and humiliating her, and who had done it very thoroughly.
In fact, she thought wretchedly, he had no idea just how successful he’d been. At all costs he mustn’t realise that she’d been foolish enough to love him, because that would be his final revenge, the most bitter one of all.
But killing her love should be easy. She just had to be strong-minded about it and remember what he’d done. It would take time, but she would work at it. She could be as strong-minded as he.
And he would help deaden her feelings, for there was no reason to expect now that he would be faithful. No doubt from now on he would be spending more time in his bachelor flat, on the pretext of catching up with work.
But there she was wrong. Although he was sometimes late returning to the Palazzo, he never stayed away overnight unless he had to. His manner towards herself was always solicitous and concerned, just as it was to his mother, whose health was frail.
To Elise’s relief, her own health and strength returned swiftly. She began to feel equal to anything, even the party that was being planned to celebrate the wedding.
‘The whole of Rome is longing to see you,’ Mamma told her ecstatically.
‘Surely not.’ Elise laughed.
‘The whole of Rome might be an exaggeration,’ Vincente admitted, ‘but you’ve aroused much interest among my friends and associates.’
He gave her a couple of names. One, he had to explain, was the chairman of Italy’s most important bank, but she recognised the other.
‘Attilo Vansini?’ she echoed, stunned. ‘But he’s…’
He was a figure of enormous political power, always close to the president of the country, whoever the president happened to be. Elections came and went but Vansini maintained his influence, through a combination of wealth, shrewd dealings and corruption, so it was said.
Scandal followed him as dogs followed a scent: women, money, he welcomed it all.
‘He said not to forget to invite him to the party,’ Vincente told her. ‘At that stage I hadn’t thought about a party, so this is his way of saying he expects one.’
‘You must have a gown made for you by Menotti,’ Mamma said, naming the most exclusive couturier in Rome.
Elise would have liked to design her own gown, but realised that it was probably a little soon for that and allowed herself to be swept off to the Via dei Condotti. There they entered a tiny establishment, so unpretentious that it almost seemed to be cowed by the rest of the expensive street.
But inside everything was different. Luisa Menotti was the best, and everything in her salon whispered discreet, luxurious elegance. She took personal charge, exclaiming over Elise’s still-slim figure, admiring her fair colouring, and pronouncing, ‘Black. Nothing else will do.’
Since Elise had made the same decision, it was a successful visit. The gown that resulted was black silk, low- cut, but no more than modesty allowed, fitting snugly over her hips and sweeping the floor.
She had often entertained lavishly for Ben and was prepared to play a part in the preparations of the Palazzo, but she soon realised that the best thing she could do was to keep out until she understood the Palazzo better.
A hundred in-house servants were mobilised, a hundred more brought in from the Farnese estate in the country. Every inch of the building was cleaned. The extensive grounds were trimmed and prepared, for the party would spill out into the open. Fairy lights hung from the trees, leading far into the distance, creating a mysterious, glowing path.
The Palazzo boasted three kitchens, only one of which was normally used. But during the last two days before the party all three were hard at work.
Deliveries were made from nearby shops so that every guest would have a gift. Elise gasped as she realised what some of them must have cost. Could Vincente really afford all this?
‘Why not?’ he asked with a shrug when she mentioned it.
They were in the office that he used when working at home, and he had to look up from his desk.
‘Well, I know it’s important to impress people,’ she said. ‘Ben used to-’
‘Forget Ben. This is a different universe from the one where he operated.’
‘Only in the sense that it’s bigger,’ she retorted. ‘When we walk out there together you’ll be showing off your trophy in exactly the same way that he did. And I’ll walk down those marble steps very slowly and carefully, so that everyone gets a good look at your latest purchase, and tries to calculate whether you were cheated.’
‘They can think what they like. If I’ve been cheated I’ll know for myself, without asking anyone else’s opinion.’
‘And what’s your opinion so far?’ she challenged. ‘Am I worth it?’
He thrust back his chair, rising sharply to his feet and looking her up and down with cool eyes. ‘Not yet,’ he said at last. ‘But I intend that you shall be.’
She gasped. ‘Of all the-’
‘You started this conversation. If this is how you wish to regard our marriage, then fine, I’ll go along with it. I’ll give you an accounting now and then to let you know if your value has gone up. If it’s gone down I’ll tell you why and expect you to put matters right without delay. Anything less would make a fool of me in front of people whose respect I need, and that I won’t tolerate. Am I making myself clear?’
‘You bastard,’ she whispered.
‘It was your choice, so we’ll play it your way. I want the best from you, especially when I show off my acquisition to an admiring audience.’
‘Yes, we wouldn’t want them to think you were losing your grip,’ she said satirically.
‘Exactly; I’m glad you understand. So this would be a good moment to make sure you’re properly arrayed. Mamma says your gown is excellent, so all you need now is appropriate jewellery.’
‘I’ll go shopping tomorrow.’
‘No need, I have it here.’
Vincente turned to a well-armoured safe, keyed in the combination and took out several boxes, which he laid on the desk and opened.
Elise’s eyes opened wide as the sight of the most magnificent diamonds she had ever seen. There was a fabulous tiara, a large riviere to go about her neck, a heavy bracelet, long ear drops. Each stone was dazzling in its beauty. The effect of them all together was awesome.
‘I hope you feel these make a suitable wedding gift,’ Vincente said smoothly. ‘I’d have given them earlier but they were only delivered today. Turn around.’
Elise did so and he took up the riviere and draped it around her neck. His fingers brushed her gently as he fastened it, and she braced herself against the pleasure of being touched exactly there. Vincente seemed oblivious, which was almost as much of a relief as it was annoying.
‘I chose well,’ he said. ‘They suit you perfectly.’
‘But when did you choose them?’
‘Last week. I told the shop what I wanted and they did a good job.’
‘
‘Are you saying you don’t like them?’
‘No, they’re beautiful, but I would have liked a say in the choice.’
‘I know what suits your style, and I know what my wife will be expected to wear on such an occasion. You look magnificent. You’ll be a credit to me.’
A credit to him, she noted. There was no hint of giving pleasure to her.
