The Millionaire Tycoon's English Rose

‘Yes, I understand,’ Francesco said hastily.

Before long he was drawing up outside a tall apartment block.

‘Thanks, we’ll manage from here,’ Sandro said. ‘It’s only on the lowest floor. Good evening.’

Francesco replied politely and stayed in the car, watching them go in. He could see the apartment. The only one in the building that was dark. He sat for a moment, waiting for the lights to go on, until it dawned on him that this wouldn’t happen. The two inside had no need of lights. United in confidence and laughter, they were also united in their indifference to darkness.

He pictured them going inside, turning on the computer, listening together, deep in their private world

Sandro would say, Who on earth was that?

And she would reply, Oh, that’s just Francesco. He’s nobody.

I thought he was getting a bit tense.

He’s always tense about something. Forget him!

And they would.

After a while he drove away.

CHAPTER FIVE

‘I’VE decided to invite Celia to have dinner with the family,’ Hope declared three days later. ‘I would like to know her better.’

Francesco forced himself to smile.

‘That’s nice of you, Mamma, but I don’t think she’ll accept.’

‘Why ever not? She likes going out. She told me so. Anyway, she’s already accepted. I noted her cellphone number when she was here, and called her last night.’

Francesco had the feeling that a tank was rolling over him. It was a sensation familiar to all Hope’s sons, but for once he tried to rebel.

‘Mamma-’

‘She agreed in principle, but we still have to set a date. Kindly ask her if Saturday would suit, or if she would prefer another date.’

‘Why don’t you do that yourself, since you get on so well?’

‘Because I want her to understand that the invitation comes from you also. Besides, surely you know her better than I?’

‘I’m not sure,’ he said wryly.

‘Oh, you’re being difficult today. Very well, I’ll send her an e-mail.’

‘You have her e-mail address?’

‘Oh, yes, and she told me how it works. When she opens her e-mails the computer turns them to speech. She listens, then replies into the microphone, and it reaches me in the normal way. Didn’t you know that?’

‘Yes, I knew that. I just didn’t realise you and she had exchanged so much information.’

‘You’d be amazed at how much I know, my son.’ Then, seeing his darkened eyes, she added gently, ‘But Celia was also discreet about many things.’

He relaxed slightly.

His first thought had been to rebel against this dinner invitation. He’d had no sign of Celia since the day she’d visited the villa. He hadn’t contacted her, and although he braced himself whenever the phone rang it was never her.

Now he was becoming used to the situation, and he told himself that his mother’s idea might be a good one, establishing for both of them that they could still be friends, in a civilised manner.

Besides, he missed her damnably.

Celia accepted for Saturday, and the word went out to as many of the family as could make it. Primo and Olympia accepted at once, so did Carlo and his wife, Della, and also Ruggiero, whose marriage to Polly three months earlier had provided Francesco with his excuse for a sudden return. Luke and his wife, Minnie, made a special trip from Rome.

Only Justin was missing-Hope’s eldest son, who lived in England with his wife and three children. But in a phone call he promised to bring his whole family ‘for the wedding.’ Francesco had spent so much time abroad that his love-life had been a closed book to them for too long. Now everyone was curious about his lady.

‘Giulio and Teresa are coming,’ Toni informed Hope, mentioning his elder brother and his wife, who lived just outside Naples.

‘Excellent.’

‘Also Teresa’s sister, Angelica,’ Toni said, in the tone of one making a confession. ‘Cara, I know you don’t like her-’

‘I don’t dislike her. I just wish she’d shut up sometimes and let someone else speak,’ Hope said frankly. ‘And she’s horribly tactless.’

‘I know, but she’s visiting them just now, so she had to be included.’

‘You’ll have to take care of her, Poppa,’ said Carlo, who happened to be there at that moment. ‘Keep her attention occupied.’

‘How?’ Toni demanded plaintively.

‘You must flirt with her,’ Hope declared calmly. ‘She’s quite attractive for her age, so you should have no trouble.’

‘You wouldn’t mind my flirting with her?’ Toni asked his wife faintly.

‘We must all do whatever is necessary, caro.’

She kissed him and departed from the breakfast table, humming, leaving her menfolk aghast.

‘You’ll have to take firm action, Poppa,’ Francesco said, grinning.

‘How?’ his much-tried father repeated.

‘Strike a blow for all men. Really flirt with Aunt Angelica. Make Mamma so jealous that she’ll be careful what she tells you to do in future.’

‘But my heart wouldn’t be in it.’ Toni sighed. ‘And your mother knows that.’

‘Of course, or she’d never have suggested it,’ Carlo said. ‘She knows she’s got you on a string.’

Toni nodded. ‘Always,’ he said. ‘Right from the moment I first set eyes on her.’

On Friday Hope informed Francesco that he was to collect Celia the next day and bring her to the villa.

‘Perhaps she’d rather get here without my help,’ he observed.

‘No, she’s fine about that,’ Hope informed him. ‘She said she’d prefer you to a taxi.’

‘I see that the two of you have decided everything,’ he observed.

‘Of course. No point in waiting for you. Make sure you look your best tomorrow.’

‘Any minute you’ll be telling me to wash behind my ears,’ he said wrathfully.

‘Don’t forget to do that, either,’ Hope instructed him.

He might complain that his mother still treated him like a kid, but the next day he was on the road to Celia’s apartment, elegantly turned out and wondering what kind of reception he would receive. Whatever it was, he decided that his best course was to keep back emotionally and stay safe. Somehow he would endure the evening, although he couldn’t think how.

Celia was sitting by the window as he drew the car up, her head turned slightly in an attitude of listening. By the time he reached the door she was already opening it.

She was beautiful, in a long dress of honey-coloured silk which brought out the soft glow of her skin and the blue of her eyes. Diamonds sparkled in her ears and about her neck. They were tiny. It was Celia’s way never to overdo things. But they announced that she was putting the flags out tonight.

‘You’re lovely,’ he said, instantly forgetting his resolution to be distant.

‘Will I do you credit?’

‘You don’t need to ask that. You know exactly what you look like. Don’t ask me how, but you do know.’

She laughed delightedly. ‘Yes, I do. I chose this colour because I know you like it.’

‘Well, I guess you know my tastes well enough by now to be able to pick the colours in the-Hell!