The Wedding Arrangement

‘You’ve seen the state the place is in?’

‘Yes, and I don’t think repairs are any more than sticking plaster. What that building needs is to be renovated from top to bottom. It’s not just a case of flaking plaster, but rotten woodwork needing to be ripped out and replaced.’

‘Your tenants will be very glad.’

‘Minnie-’

‘I think signora would be more appropriate,’ she interrupted, looking not at him but at the computer screen.

His temper began to rise. If she wanted to play tough, OK. Fine!

‘Very well, signora, let me make my position plain. My tenants are paying about half the going rate for property in that area, which is perhaps why my predecessor got into financial difficulties.’

‘Trastevere isn’t the wealthy part of Rome-’

‘It’s coming up in the world. I’ve researched the area, and I know that Trastevere has been growing more popular over the last few years. People who couldn’t afford the high prices in the rest of Rome started moving in and doing the place up. So then Trastevere prices started to rise. It’s actually becoming fashionable to live there.’

‘I see where this is leading. You’ve had an offer from a developer and you’re planning to sell us out. Forget it. Your predecessor tried that, but I stopped him by proving that the tenants are protected. They can’t be got out for at least ten years. That scares the developers off, except that some try bullying tactics. But even they can be made to wish they hadn’t started anything, as you’ll find out if you tangle with me.’

‘Can I get a word in edgeways?’ Luke snapped. ‘Whatever needs to be done at the Residenza I want to do it myself, and I want the rest of you to help me. As for bullying tactics-if that’s what you think of me, I don’t know why we’re even bothering to talk. To hell with you for thinking such things!’

He threw down his papers and strode across to the window, staring at the view without seeing it. All he could see was the turmoil in his own mind, where she had the power to cause such havoc. Her opinion of him shouldn’t matter, yet her contempt seemed to shrivel him.

‘I apologise,’ she said, behind him. ‘I shouldn’t have spoken so strongly. I don’t like being taken by surprise, and you surprise me all the time. So I-I go on to the attack.’

‘I really am sorry about the other day,’ he risked saying. ‘I didn’t mean to spy. It was an accident.’

‘I know. It’s just that there are times when I don’t like to be looked at.’

‘I think that’s most of the time,’ he suggested gently.

‘Well-never mind that.’

‘But I-damn!’

The telephone had rung. She snatched it up and spoke to her secretary, finishing with, ‘All right, put him through.’

She made a placating signal to Luke and spoke into the phone for ten minutes.

When she’d finished he asked, ‘Could you block your calls until we’ve finished?’

‘Not really. I have some important stuff coming through this morning-’

‘And it gives you a convenient escape from me, right?’

Before she could answer, the phone rang again. Moving fast, Luke lifted the receiver and slammed it back down. Then he grasped Minnie’s hand and began to walk out of the room, forcing her to go with him.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ she seethed, trying to pull free.

‘Taking you to where there’s no escape,’ he said, not loosening his grip.

On the way through the outer office they passed the secretary, whose curious gaze forced Minnie to look cheerful.

‘Just take messages until I’m back,’ she called.

‘But when will that be?’

‘I have no idea,’ she managed to say before the door closed behind her.

‘What kind of man are you?’ she demanded as they went down in the lift.

‘A man with a short fuse, a man who doesn’t like being messed about, a man who believes in direct action.’

‘So your answer is to take me prisoner? Where are you going to put me? In a dungeon?’

‘Wait and see.’

But he grinned as he said it and there was something in the sight that sent a sudden frisson through her. It was confusing not to know what he had in mind, but also strangely intriguing. His unpredictability should be maddening-it was maddening, she hastily corrected herself. But right now she was intensely curious.

After all, it might actually turn out to be a dungeon.

The ride to the ‘dungeon’ was by one of the horse-drawn carriages that travelled the streets of Rome.

‘Borghese Gardens, the lake,’ Luke called to the driver as they got in and seated themselves.

‘You’re going to throw me in?’ she asked.

‘Don’t tempt me,’ he growled.

She decided to wait and see before taking any hasty action. Not that there was much action she could have taken with her hand firmly clasped in his.

New York had Central Park, London had Hyde Park, Rome had the glorious Borghese Gardens, known as the ‘green lung’ of the city, a hundred and fifty acres of trees, lawns, shaded wandering paths and cool water.

At the top of the Via Veneto the driver turned his horse into the gardens, and soon they were trotting beneath trees through which the sun slanted, until the lake burst on them, its water glistening, the artificial temple on the other side white and gleaming in the glow of summer.

Leaving the carriage, Luke led her to the place where boats could be hired, but suddenly a tremor shook her and she tried to pull away from him.

‘Not here, Luke.’

‘Yes, here,’ he said firmly, keeping tight hold on her hand. ‘We’re going to take a boat and relax and talk and forget everything except that it’s a beautiful day.’

‘But-’

‘Hush,’ he said, raising the hand that was holding hers so that she could see the tight clasp as well as feel it. ‘I told you there was no escape and I meant it. Today, Signora Avvocato, you’re going to do as you’re told-for once.’

Not releasing her, he took a small rowing boat, and indicated with his head for her to get in. She did so, and he silently congratulated himself. Evidently the odd display of ‘male authority’ could be risked, even in this day and age.

She settled in the stern, watching him as he took the oars and headed out into the middle of the lake.

‘You were right,’ she mused. ‘There’s no escape.’

He had a mysterious feeling that she meant something else, but she fell silent.

‘Do you mind?’ he asked cautiously. ‘I’m sorry I got pushy.’

So much for male authority, he thought.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, and again he had the sensation that she wasn’t really talking to him. ‘It had to happen. I suppose I was being silly.’

‘I seem to see a new you all the time,’ he observed. ‘In party mood, mother hen, the stern lawyer today-’

‘You’ve seen me as a lawyer before,’ she reminded him. ‘Think of our first meeting.’

‘That was different. That court was your stage. You commanded it. But I haven’t seen you before like you are today, holding yourself in and fighting the world. Or is it only me?’

‘No,’ she said after a moment. ‘As you say-the world.’

‘You do a lot of fighting inside yourself, that nobody knows about, don’t you?’

She nodded.

‘Or perhaps Gianni knows?’

He knew it was a risk but, instead of trying to jump out of the boat, she shook her head.

‘Did he ever know?’

‘When he was alive there was nothing to fight,’ she said simply.