The Venetian Playboy’s Bride

said!’

There was a silence.

‘I didn’t exactly live up to that, did I?’ he asked wryly.

‘The first time you met a real woman with guts enough to play you at your own game you took fright.’ Liza addressed the heavens in exasperation. ‘And these are our lords and masters!’

If Guido had been less bemused he might have noticed that Liza was speaking to him with far less than her usual respect. It wouldn’t have bothered him, but he would have wondered about it. Now his attention was fully occupied trying to keep up with her.

‘She’s too good for you,’ Liza went on. ‘And she was quite right to leave you. Such a pity that she’ll come back.’

‘You think so?’ Guido asked hopefully.

‘You two are fated to get married. And serve you right.’

‘What?’

‘Oh, she’ll lead you a merry dance,’ Liza said with relish. ‘You won’t know whether it’s today or tomorrow.’

Guido gave her a strange look. ‘I won’t, will I?’

‘It’ll never be peaceful.’

‘It’ll never be dull,’ he murmured.

‘Whatever you expect her to do, she’ll do the opposite.’

‘She’ll keep me guessing.’

‘And you’ll come by your just deserts.’

‘Yes,’ he breathed. ‘I will.’ The next moment he’d leapt up, planted a huge kiss on her cheek and headed out of the garden at a run.

‘Signore, where are you going?’

‘To get my just deserts,’ he yelled over his shoulder. ‘Thanks, Liza.’

He tore down to the landing stage, yelling for the boatman, who came running. Marco and Leo were in the garden. Seeing Guido speed past they exchanged puzzled glances and immediately went after him, catching up by the water.

‘Where’s the fire?’ Marco demanded.

‘No time to explain. Claudio-’ this to the boatman ‘-the Hotel Vittorio.’

He got in and the other two joined him.

‘You’re not leaving our sight,’ Marco said. ‘You’ve dragged us into this stunt you’re pulling tonight, and you’re not vanishing, leaving us holding the baby.’

As the engine roared into life they took up position each side of him like a pair of guard dogs.

Guido slapped his back pocket. ‘I’ve left my phone behind!’

‘Use mine,’ said Marco, who was never careless about these things.

Guido hurriedly dialled the hotel and was put through to the suite, but it was Jenny who answered.

‘I need to speak to Dulcie urgently,’ he said.

‘But, Guido, she’s gone.’

‘Gone how? Where?’

‘Left Venice. Just packed her bags and went. At least, she didn’t pack all her bags because she said that stuff didn’t really belong to her.’

‘Didn’t she leave any word for me?’

‘No, she said you wouldn’t want to hear anything from her.’

‘The silly woman!’ he yelled. ‘Of course I want to hear from her. I love her.’

‘Well, don’t blame me. I’m not the one who’s been pig-headed.’

‘No, I have. But Jenny, help me put it right. What flight is she getting?’

‘She’s not. The flights were all booked so she’s going by train. Twelve o’clock.’

‘But that’s only five minutes away.’ He clapped Claudio on the shoulder. ‘The railway station, fast.’

Soon the broad steps came into sight. The boat was still a foot away when Guido leapt out. The platform for the noon train was straight ahead and he ran as though his life depended on it. He could see the train still there. Another few feet…

It began to move.

In despair he urged his legs faster and just made it onto the platform, but he couldn’t catch up.

‘Dulcie!’ he roared. It was a wonder that his lungs still had any breath, but he managed to send the sound echoing down the length of the moving train.

Somewhere in the distance a head appeared through a window of one of the carriages. He couldn’t see clearly but he would have known her at any distance.

‘I love you,’ he yelled. ‘Don’t leave me.’

But then the head withdrew. The train was gathering speed. She was going away, and he couldn’t tell if she’d heard him. Then the last carriage clattered out of sight and he was left alone on the platform, gasping and in despair.

‘Let her go,’ Marco advised, catching up with him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

‘No way,’ Guido said at once. ‘I’ve got to get her back.’

‘Phone her,’ Leo said.

‘Great idea.’

He called Dulcie’s mobile. The train’s first stop was just a few minutes away in Mestre, on the other side of the causeway. She could be back with him in half an hour.

The next moment there came the click of an answer.

‘Carissima,’ he said urgently, ‘I love you. I can’t live without you. I’ve been a pig- headed idiot but don’t hold that against me. Let me spend my life making it up to you. Get off the train in Mestre, and take the next one back to Venice. I’ll be waiting right here on the platform. Just say that you forgive me and come back. Please, please darling, come back. Ti prego mia dolcissima Dulcie.’

There was a silence.

‘Hello?’ said Jenny’s voice.

‘What?’ Guido whispered, in shock. ‘Jenny?’

‘Yes. Dulcie forgot her phone. I found it under a cushion.’

Guido managed a polite thank you, and hung up. ‘She’s gone,’ he groaned. ‘I’ve lost her. There’s got to be a flight, if not from here then from Milan-’

‘No!’ Leo and Marco spoke as one man.

‘Think of Fede and Jenny, depending on you,’ Leo pointed out.

‘Besides,’ Marco added practically, ‘the train to England takes twenty-four hours. You can do what you have to at the ball tonight, catch the first flight tomorrow, and still get there ahead of her. You can even meet her at the station.’

‘That’s right,’ Guido said, calming down. Then he clutched his head in despair. ‘But how am I going to get through the next few hours?’

‘Because we’re going to be there to make sure you do,’ Leo said firmly.

CHAPTER TWELVE

AS ALWAYS Count Calvani made sure nobody outshone him at his own ball. His long flowing robes glittered with gold thread, and on his head he wore the distinctive cap, plain at the front, raised at the rear, that said he was a Doge, one of the great men who had ruled Venice in the old days. His mask was an elaborate creation in scarlet satin, sporting tiny red and gold feathers.

He made a grand entrance into Guido’s room, where his three nephews had congregated, and stood, tall and splendid, for them to admire him. When they had done so to his satisfaction he gave his opinion of their attire.