The Italian's Passionate Revenge

was sightseeing. She’d simply waited for Mario to drive away, then gone to her real destination-wherever that was and whoever she was meeting.

It meant nothing, he told himself. She was teasing him, playing one of her tricks in their private war. At any moment now she would walk in and all would be well.

But the memory intruded of her and Carlo Vansini dancing, sitting with their heads together, smiling with some private understanding.

When she returned-if she returned-she would shrug and refuse to admit that she’d been with him.

And he would murder her.

‘Sorry, Mamma, what did you say?’ he asked, pulling himself back to reality with an effort.

‘I said here she is. I just saw a taxi pull up outside.’

He strode out in time to see her pay the driver. She turned and waved to him, smiling. In a searing moment he took in how beautiful she was, how perfectly presented, how suspiciously content.

‘There’s been a misunderstanding,’ he said coldly. ‘Mario said you were going to call him.’

‘I was, but a taxi was passing and it was simpler to just get in.’

‘Have you had a good afternoon?’

‘Wonderful, thank you,’ she said with a sigh of happiness.

He took her arm in a firm grip, escorted her inside and drew her into an ante-room.

‘I want to know where you’ve been,’ he said through gritted teeth.

‘Boy, you really come out of the nineteenth century, don’t you! Yes, my lord and master. No, my lord and master.’

‘I said I want to know where you’ve been-and who with.’

She gave him a look that, if he hadn’t been so wrought up, he might have recognised as pity.

‘I’ve spent the afternoon in my apartment,’ she said.

‘Alone?’

‘No, with Carlo Vansini.’

His face grew hard. ‘You dare to stand there and admit it in that brazen way?’ he snapped.

‘What’s brazen about it?’ she asked innocently. ‘Selling property is a perfectly respectable occupation.’

‘Selling-?’

‘Oh, Vincente, if you could only see your face! I’ve sold Carlo my apartment. It was exactly what he was looking for. He told me last night he wanted a place where he could have a private life. He finds living with his mother a bit inhibiting.’

Vincente couldn’t speak. Something had caught in his throat.

‘I told him I had a place for sale,’ she went on, ‘and we agreed to meet there this afternoon. He loved it at once.’

‘That’s where you’ve been?’ he asked.

‘Of course. What’s the matter?’

‘You never thought to tell me first?’

‘Why should I? I don’t need your permission.’

But that wasn’t why and they both knew it. She’d put him through hell for the fun of it, or perhaps to make a point.

‘Besides, I didn’t want to risk you putting off another buyer,’ she added.

‘Why should I do that? I know I did last time, but things are different now.’

‘Not really. You’re still trying to control me. The money I’ll get is my independence, and I’m going to have that, make no mistake. Carlo and I went to the agent and told him to put the sale through fast. He’s anxious to take possession at once, so the money should be through in a week. Then I’ll be able to pay off all my debts, including my debts to you.’

‘You owe me nothing.’

‘That’s not true. After that, I went to the lawyer, and he let slip about all the bills Ben left outstanding, that you’ve been paying. That’s very kind of you-’ but she didn’t sound as if she really considered it kind ‘-but you’ll get every last penny back, with interest. I’ll still have enough left to start my own business when I’ve finished my fashion course.’

‘Business? When I can buy you everything you want?’

She met his eyes and said softly, ‘The thing I want most is something you can’t buy me, Vincente. Don’t you know that by now?’

That silenced him.

She moved away, saying, ‘I want my independence, my freedom. I’ll still be here. You’ll have your wife and your child, but I’ll be free.’

He didn’t answer. He seemed to be considering.

To soften the atmosphere, she said, ‘How could you think-what you were thinking?’

‘Because I don’t know you,’ he said simply. ‘I don’t know who you are any more.’

‘You never did. At least now you recognise it. By the way, the estate agent asked me to give you a message. He thinks he has a buyer for your own flat.’

‘Good.’

‘So now we’re even. You didn’t tell me that you were selling, either.’

‘Tell you? And have you crow over me?’ He managed to say this with a very faint glimmer of humour. Inwardly, relief was sending him slightly crazy.

‘I wouldn’t do that. When did you put it on the market?’

‘The day you agreed to marry me.’

‘There was no need for you to sell, if it was because of a foolish joke I once made-’

‘About the legions of women I could entertain there? I haven’t the slightest wish to do that.’ In a voice heavy with irony he added, ‘I’m a devoted family man now.’

‘Ah, yes! Ruthless entrepreneur, man about town, the complete many-sided image. But it’s a good idea to adjust one of the sides now and then. I congratulate you.’

His face darkened. ‘You know better than that.’

‘Do I?’

‘Unless you’re very stupid, and I never thought you were. Not before this. All I want now is you and our child.’

‘And you’ve acquired us very thoroughly. Well done.’

It was like trying to argue with steel, he thought grimly. But who could he blame but himself?

Both sales went through quickly. At her insistence Vincente accepted the money she owed him, but there was still enough left to make her feel that she could have a life of her own.

Life at the Palazzo was more pleasant than she had feared, chiefly because her mother-in-law adored her. When she had a giddy spell it was Elise she clung to until the doctor appeared and ordered her to bed. And it was Elise who promised faithfully not to disturb Vincente, and then promptly broke a promise she’d never intended to keep by calling him at the office.

Luckily he was there, and able to return home at once. Mamma chided Elise for her disobedience, but her eyes shone with affection.

Later that night Vincente knocked on her door. ‘May I come in for a few minutes?’

She’d already undressed for bed and was wearing a silk nightdress and robe, but he showed no awareness of this as she stood back to let him pass, and even seemed to avoid looking at her.

‘I just wanted to thank you for taking care of Mamma,’ he said.

‘No need. I thought being here would be difficult but she’s easy to love.’

‘Yes, she makes a lot of things tolerable,’ he agreed, changing her meaning slightly, knowing she would understand.

‘Elise,’ he said suddenly, ‘have you looked ahead, down the years, to the kind of marriage we’re going to have?’

‘You’ll be a good father, I know that. You do everything efficiently once you’ve set your mind to it.’

He looked at her, wearing the soft silk that seemed to conceal her body while actually suggesting so much, and