The Wedding Arrangement

yourself.’

Minnie eyed her with wry affection. ‘So this is all about my happiness, is it?’ she challenged.

Netta shrugged expressively. ‘He’s rich. You marry him, we won’t have to pay rent ever again.’

‘Netta, you don’t know what you’re playing with. This isn’t a game where you can move people around the board like pawns. I-I don’t want him here. I think he should stay in hospital a little longer.’

‘If he’s here he’s in your power and that’s what you want.’

‘Really? So now you’re an expert in what I want?’

‘Sure. You want a man.’

‘Not this man,’ Minnie said stubbornly.

‘Yes, this man. He’s the one. I, your Mamma, tell you so.’

‘Will you keep your voice down?’ Minnie asked frantically.

‘Then be a good girl and do as you’re told. You want him here where you can work on him, like any clever woman.’

‘Well, maybe I’m not a clever woman.’

‘That’s true. You’re a very clever lawyer, cara, but a stupid woman.’

‘Thanks,’ Minnie said crossly.

‘Don’t sulk,’ Netta advised her. ‘Mamma knows best.’

‘She’s right,’ Tomaso said, looking into the kitchen. ‘You listen to Netta. She’s got it all worked out.’

‘You should be ashamed of yourselves, the lot of you,’ Minnie said, but she spoke without anger.

Their affection warmed her even while she told herself that they were scoundrels conniving for their own benefit. That was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth. Their schemes were survival ploys, and their love for her was genuine. So, as often before, she allowed herself to be seduced by the comfort of their embrace. The fact that she disapproved of them did not make that embrace one whit less comforting.

She was in court the following day and so missed seeing Luke’s triumphant return to the Residenza. Coming home late, she saw Netta’s lights on, and Charlie keeping watch on the stairs to waylay her.

‘She’s here,’ she heard him call inside.

They swarmed out to engulf her and sweep her inside, where Luke rose to greet her. He was smiling and composed but she sensed an air of strain. When Netta ordered her to sit down and eat, Luke insisted on bringing some of her supper from the kitchen and helping to serve her.

‘You look as if you should be in bed,’ she told him quietly as he poured her coffee.

‘I’m a bit tired, but Netta’s looking after me wonderfully, and they’re making me feel like one of the family.’

‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ she said softly. ‘They’re lovely people, but-’

‘But exhausting. I know. Don’t worry. Netta says she’s going to be like a mother to me. Tomorrow I have strict orders to stay in bed until the nurse comes to change my dressing. Then I’ll get up and go up to look at what’s left of my home.’

‘Don’t overdo it. You need all your energy for getting well. Is your room comfortable?’

‘Yes, I’ve got Charlie’s room. He’s kindly moved into a tiny place that looks like a box cupboard.’

‘It would have been better if you’d had that one.’

‘Thanks,’ he said, surprised.

‘No, I mean it’s down the end of the corridor and fairly quiet. Charlie’s room is in the centre, and always noisy.’

‘Well, it’s still kind of them, and I won’t be here for long.’

Before she left, Minnie took Netta aside.

‘He looks very tired,’ she said.

Netta sighed and nodded. ‘Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea. With so many of the family around and the others dropping in, he can’t rest properly.’ Suddenly she brightened and seemed to think of something. ‘I know, why don’t you put him in your spare room?’

Minnie groaned. ‘This is what you’ve been planning all the time, isn’t it? Netta, you are unspeakable, you are shameless, you are-ooh, I wish I could think of something bad enough.’

‘I know,’ Netta said penitently. ‘I’m very bad. But you will take him, won’t you?’

‘I will not. I refuse to be a party to your schemes, do you hear? I don’t know how you have the nerve to-of all the-Goodnight!’

She grabbed her bag and got out of the apartment while she could still control herself, leaving Netta to explain to Luke that there had been an urgent call from a client.

Minnie meant to stay away for the next few days, but the memory of Luke’s strained face haunted her.

Part of her wanted to take him in, care for him and enjoy doing so. But part of her shied away. Being honest, she didn’t hide from the reason. It was connected to the minutes when he’d lain in her arms, burned, bleeding, helpless.

His nakedness had left no doubt of what she’d often suspected, that he was magnificently built with broad shoulders and strong thighs, designed for power. Suddenly the power had gone, leaving him vulnerable, his eyes closed, his head slumped against her. The desire to protect him at all costs had been overpowering, and that was what she feared now-to be overpowered, not by him, but by the strength of her own feelings.

She’d stroked back his hair, caressed his face and shoulders, held him against her heart, weeping frantically. And for a few blinding minutes she’d cared for nothing and nobody else on earth.

Now, despite her resolve to stay away from danger, she knew he wasn’t well, and she had an uneasy feeling that she’d abandoned him when he needed her. So she called the following evening, meaning to stay just a few minutes.

She found the place in uproar and Netta weeping.

‘I meant everything to be all right,’ she wailed, ‘and now everything is all wrong, and I don’t know what to do.’

‘But what’s happened?’

‘My sister Euphrania and her husband Alberto are on their way here to visit us. They will arrive tomorrow and expect to stay here but we have no room. Oh, what am I going to do?’

Suppressing a desire to murmur, ‘Stop overacting,’ Minnie drew Netta firmly aside.

‘This is another of your schemes,’ she said, ‘but it isn’t going to work. He’s not coming to my place.’

Netta gave her a pathetic look. ‘What will become of him?’

‘You’ll have to pass on to Plan C, won’t you?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Yesterday was Plan A and it didn’t work, this is Plan B, and it’s not working either.’

Netta’s eyes gleamed. ‘The day isn’t over, cara.’

‘Your day will be over for good if you don’t stop this,’ Minnie threatened. ‘I won’t have him at any price.’

Netta giggled. The sound infuriated Minnie.

‘I will not invite him, Netta. Understand me once and for all, the answer is no!’ She added, more in hope than conviction, ‘And that is final!’

She stormed away so fast that she collided with Luke coming along the corridor, and he winced before he could stop himself. In the brief harsh close-up view of his face, she saw that he was at the end of his tether.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you.’

‘I’m fine,’ he lied. ‘Minnie, is there a good hotel near here?’

She hesitated, seeing a malign fate draw closer, ready to suck her in, and there was no way to avoid it without kicking him when he was down.

‘Not a hotel,’ she said. ‘Not among strangers.’

‘I’m a grown man. I can take care of myself. Netta, there you are. I was just wondering about a hotel.’

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ Minnie said reluctantly.

‘But of course it is,’ Netta cried, to her astonishment. She named a hotel. ‘It’s a lovely place. You’ll be very comfortable there.’

‘He will not,’ Minnie said hotly. ‘It’s a dump run by swindlers.’

Netta became an avenging angel. ‘The night porter is my cousin’s uncle’s brother.’

‘I rest my case. Swindlers who fleece the guests and provide bad food. Luke could die in his room and not be