From Venice With Love (6 page)

‘So your mother is still living in Ireland?’

‘Yes. With husband number four.’

‘Good gracious! What was wrong with the first three?’

‘My mother has trouble resisting offers that seem to give her a better opportunity to experience the best that life can give. She is a free spirit, Lady Geraldine, who
is not bothered by what others think. A bit like yourself, I’m guessing?’

Gran actually laughed with delight. If she’d had a fan in her hand, Charlotte thought, she might have smacked Nico’s hand with it. Instead, the old lady gave him an almost shy smile.

‘You can call me Jendi, dear,’ she told him. ‘As my friends do.’

‘I’m honoured…Jendi.’

‘And your father? Is he still living, too?’

‘No.’ Charlotte saw the way Nico laid down his fork as though he had caught the lack of appetite around him. ‘He died some years ago now.’

‘Oh…’ The sound was one of sympathy. ‘Too young. Was it an accident?’

‘A broken heart.’ Nico’s voice was expressionless. He was stating a fact.

Charlotte couldn’t help her eyebrows rising at such a non-medical notion from a man with his training. She didn’t say anything but maybe her breath had escaped with a disparaging sound because Nico flicked a glance in her direction. His words, however, were directed at Lady Geraldine. His new
friend
.

‘They called it a heart attack, of course,’ he said. ‘But his heart broke when my mother left him and on every visit I made back here, I could see his slow decline.’

‘That’s terrible,’ Lady Geraldine declared. She was frowning now. ‘But at least it hasn’t put you off marriage, Nico.’

‘M-marriage?’

The word was so shocked that Charlotte knew the game might be up. Had it not occurred to him that it
was a natural direction for someone’s thoughts to go in when faced by two people who were ‘meant to be together’ and had made the connection at last?

‘Early days, Gran,’ she said in a stage whisper across the table. ‘Don’t frighten the poor man.’

‘Frightened? Me?’ To give him credit, Nico recovered fast. He actually winked at Lady Geraldine. ‘We men like to pick our own time, that’s all. The element of surprise, you understand?’

‘Oh, of course.’ Lady Geraldine beamed at him. ‘I promise I’ll be surprised.’

She wouldn’t be the only one. Nico was only supposed to be posing as her new boyfriend, that’s all. Something that would make Gran happy because it offered hope for her not having a lonely future. This was getting out of hand. He was sharing family secrets as though he was already a prospective grandson-in-law.

How on earth was she going to explain what had happened here tonight if, by some miracle, her grandmother’s treatment was effective and she lived for years after this?

The interruption of formal speeches in praise of the symposium and its organisers filled in the time between courses and prevented any further bonding between her gran and Nico, but it didn’t lessen the increasing tension Charlotte was experiencing. It only got worse as people began to mingle between the tables and Richard Campbell came to say hello.

‘Did you enjoy listening to Charlotte this morning, Lady Geraldine?’

‘Oh, I did. So much. Thank you for arranging things,
Dr Campbell. I am the happiest woman in the world tonight.’

‘So I see.’ It was impossible not to respond to the glow her grandmother was exuding. No one would believe that she could be facing confirmation of a terminal disease within days. And the misty look she was giving the young couple at her table was just as easy to read. Richard’s jaw sagged visibly as he followed her gaze.

‘Charlotte? You and…?’

‘Nico Moretti,’ Nico said, extending his hand.

A new challenge, then. Could he pull off this pretence with the people who worked with Charlotte?

‘Delighted to meet you, Richard. Although I think we met some years ago. At St Margaret’s?’

‘That was where he first met Charlotte,’ Lady Geraldine put in.

‘Mmm.’ Richard was giving Charlotte a strange look and Nico’s heart sank. He remembered that impression he’d had when he’d been listening to her speak this morning. That her playing down her femininity might reveal a sexual preference that didn’t include men. Maybe her closest colleagues were aware of something that was kept strictly private. Something she didn’t want her grandmother to know, either.

Was that what had been hidden beneath that absolute conviction that she would never be fulfilling her grandmother’s dearest wish of settling down and having babies? Suspicion on Jendi’s part might also explain that charged glance directed at her granddaughter, which he’d inadvertently provoked.

Charlotte certainly seemed bothered by something.
As soon as possible after Richard moved on to another table, she excused herself, muttering about needing a bathroom. He saw her ask a waiter for directions and then head out a door that led to a long balcony. Presumably the bathrooms opened off the balcony to one side of the restaurant.

Which meant that Nico could also excuse himself and head in that direction. He could catch Charlotte before she came back into the dining room and just check that he wasn’t causing even more trouble for her, although exactly how to broach the subject of her sexuality in a sensitive manner was entirely beyond him at the moment.

The balcony ran right along the canal side of the restaurant. It was quiet out here with the added darkness that came from the still water of the canal. Nico didn’t need to use the facilities so he paced back and forth, waiting what seemed an interminably long time for Charlotte to reappear. What was she doing in there? Twisting her hair back into some impossibly tight ‘hairdo’? He hoped not.

A gondola drifted past below with just a single light making the ornate brass ornament on the prow of the boat gleam. A couple sat, wrapped in blankets against the cold and silent as they gazed in wonder at the magic of touring this city at night with only the ripple of the boat to disturb the serenity.

The tap of high heels on stone disturbed the moment for Nico. He turned and Charlotte’s step faltered.

‘What are you doing out here?’

‘Waiting for you.’

The only light now that the gondola had passed
came from the fairy lights of the restaurant and a small Christmas tree that was being used to reveal where the door to the bathrooms was. Silver light that made Charlotte’s dress shine and cast a spotlight on the way the fabric clung to her body and revealed noticeable curves. It also caught matching strands in her hair. It would look golden in the sunshine, Nico thought. Chameleon hair. He could imagine her eyes could create that illusion too. Maybe they would take on a blue hue under a summer sky. Or when she was happy?

Right now they were a stormy, slate grey.

‘Why?’

She sounded nervous and added to that impression by pushing her fingers through her hair. The gesture ruffled the loose waves. It was a supremely feminine movement. Confusing, given what Nico was there intending to find out. The reminder made him shake off his focus on how unexpectedly attractive Charlotte was looking. He cleared his throat.

‘I…um…It seems to be going well. Your
nonna
is happy.’

‘Mmm.’ He could see Charlotte swallow. A ripple that ran the length of her elegant neck. ‘Too happy, maybe.’

‘Is there such a thing? Especially at a time like this?’

Charlotte sighed. ‘She
is
happy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so…so contented.’

‘There you go, then. It’s been a good thing to do. A reprieve from thinking about less happy things. One that you may be able to use for some time.’

Charlotte looked away, watching the tail end of the gondola as it turned a corner. ‘But I didn’t think things
through. I thought other people would just think you were sharing our table for dinner.’ Her voice rose and the words sped up a little, revealing how unsettled she was. ‘I didn’t expect to start a rumour that will follow me back to St Margaret’s. I have no idea what I’m going to do about that.’

‘You don’t have to do anything.’ Nico paused, trying to select his words carefully. ‘Unless it’s going to cause personal distress?’

She frowned at him. ‘What kind of personal distress?’

‘Well…you might have someone in your life that wouldn’t be happy to know about this…this illusion you’re creating.’

‘I don’t…’ She was trying to process his meaning. Then she made an impatient sound. ‘I told you I wasn’t in a relationship.’

‘Not with
Mr
Right,’ he murmured.

There was a moment’s dead silence and then Charlotte’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, my God…you think I’m a—’ An incredulous huff broke her words. ‘Are you
serious?’
And then she turned away but not before Nico had seen a fierce sparkle in her eyes.

Oh…Dio…He’d really put his foot in it now, hadn’t he? Was she about to start crying again?

No matter. He had come prepared. He reached for the neatly pressed handkerchief he’d pushed into his jacket pocket just before he’d left his room. He pulled it out and, as he did so, something glinted in the light and bounced on the stones with an audible
ping
.

Charlotte turned her head. ‘What was that?’

‘Nothing important.’ Nico knew what it was. It had
been weighing his pocket down earlier today. But then he’d forgotten all about it after he’d arrived at the symposium. After he’d been swept along by listening to the story Charlotte had told them. Weirdly, it hadn’t occurred to him to think about it again all day. Or remember to take it out of his pocket.

His grandmother’s ring. The one his father had given his mother. The one she’d left behind when she’d broken the marriage and Nico’s true family. Maybe it was better if it got left behind at the bottom of a Venetian canal. Drowned and lost. Like his belief in true love and marriage and happy families for ever had been lost so many years ago.

But no. This ring was the only thing his father had left him as his inheritance. The only link he could touch that went back to his early childhood. It was important. Nico ignored Charlotte and his gaze raked the rough stones as he searched for what he’d dropped. It must have come out of his pocket at speed, propelled by being caught in the folds of the handkerchief. Had it already bounced irretrievably into the waters of the canal?

Like Charlotte’s laptop?

No. There it was, precariously balanced right beside a stone balustrade on the very edge of the balcony. He would have to be careful not to nudge it over the edge, he realised as he stooped. Trying to slow his movement, Nico dropped to one knee and reached for the ring.

‘What on
earth
are you doing?’ Nico could see the ripple of the long, silver dress as Charlotte stepped closer. He sighed and held the object up to show her.

‘It’s my grandmother’s ring,’ he said heavily. ‘It’s a long story…’

He wasn’t going to get a chance to tell her any of it, however. A startling shriek cut through the night air.

‘Charlotte! Nico! Oh, my goodness…’ Lady Geraldine had come out through the restaurant doors and was standing there, her hands clasped in front of her as though in prayer. ‘Is this…? Are you…? Oh…how
romantic
. A proposal. In Venice, of all places…’

It took a long moment for the full horror to sink in but, yes…here he was, on one knee. Kneeling in front of a beautiful woman with a backdrop of a Venetian canal, holding up what was obviously an engagement ring in his hand.

He bought a fraction of time by getting to his feet somewhat awkwardly. He caught the panicked look in Charlotte’s eyes. They were going to have to confess now, weren’t they? Ruin the happiest night of this sick old lady’s life.

No. He could fix this.

With the ghost of a wink to let Charlotte know he had things in hand, Nico grabbed her hand and shoved the ring onto her finger. It was a tight fit but he gave it an extra push to get it over her knuckle. Was it pain that made Charlotte gasp? Maybe it was the shock of how fast he’d moved or this unexpected twist in the show they were putting on. That didn’t matter either. Maybe people would think she was simply shocked at how quickly he had managed to sweep her off her feet.

He kept hold of Charlotte’s hand and gave it a squeeze. She dragged her gaze up from the ring and met his eyes and he tried very hard to give her a silent message.

Trust me. We can get through this without hurting anybody
.

And then he turned and pasted a smile onto his face.

‘Jendi…What wonderful timing. We wanted
you
to be the first to know.’

‘I
KNEW ALREADY
.’ Lady Geraldine was coming towards them with surprising sprightliness given her age and state of health. ‘Nobody can hide the glow of true love…’ Tears were running down her wrinkled cheeks as she got close enough to embrace Charlotte. ‘Oh, my dear…I’m
so
happy for you.’

She must feel like she was hugging a tree, Charlotte realised, but she couldn’t make her body soften. Or even raise the arms now hanging by her sides like dead branches. One of them was even weighed down with an enormous rock. No…She had to be dreaming. He couldn’t
really
have shoved that ring on her finger, could he?

Still dazed, Charlotte lifted her left arm. It looked like she was returning her grandmother’s effusive hug but, in reality, she was getting her hand to a position where she could see it.

Yep. There it was. On her third finger. A quite respectably sized solitaire diamond in an antique gold setting. Definitely an engagement ring. What on earth did Nico Moretti think he was playing at, walking around with an engagement ring in his pocket?

Words floated into through the sludge in her head. His grandmother’s ring.
A long story
.

No story could be long enough to rescue her from this escalating nightmare. What was that saying Gran used to deliver with a wagging finger? Something about the complicated web you weave when first you practise to deceive. Charlotte shook her head to clear the mist. This had to end. Now.

‘This isn’t what is seems, Gran. I’m not engaged. This is…ridiculous.’

‘Oh, I know, darling.’ The grip Lady Geraldine still had on her increased a notch. ‘You weren’t expecting this, were you?’

‘Of course I wasn’t.’ A snort of something like laughter escaped her throat. ‘Nico and I have only just met. We’re not even…’ Charlotte raised her gaze as she searched for the right word to explain the total lack of a genuine relationship between them. It brought her line of vision directly over her grandmother’s shoulder. And it locked with Nico’s gaze.

He had one eyebrow raised and a curiously disappointed stillness to the rest of his face. What dismissive word was she going to come up with here?

That they weren’t even
friends?

That they weren’t connected in any way, shape or form?

Except they were, weren’t they?

They’d become connected totally by chance when they’d formed a united medical team to help the man who’d had the cardiac arrest and fallen from the scaffolding. Having him present when she had been floundering in front of so many distinguished symposium
attendees this morning had been what had given her the strength to give any kind of presentation at all. The thought that he might have been impressed had made her feel like she hadn’t failed.

Having him right there when she had been already starting to grieve for Gran had been what had given her the strength to try and make whatever time her beloved grandmother had left as happy as possible.

And the way she’d felt when he’d looked at her like that at the table. As if he was in love with her. As if he’d wanted to kiss her.

Oh, yes…she couldn’t deny a physical
and
emotional connection to him even if she didn’t want it to be there. Somehow Nico had broken through her safety barriers. Despite the short time they had known each other—less than a day, for heaven’s sake—he was already enmeshed in her personal life in a way that no man had ever been.

‘I know, darling.’ Lady Geraldine’s soothing words took her back. Way back to when it had seemed that nobody could ever understand. Or put things right. And yet the words had always been sincere. And Gran had always put things right, no matter how long it had taken. ‘People will think it’s too soon.
You
think it’s too soon.’

‘Of course I do. It’s…it’s…’
Ridiculous
. But Charlotte’s gaze was still holding Nico’s as she tried to read the silent message he was sending. It was a reassuring message, whatever it was. How was she supposed to interpret that? Or believe that this was somehow okay.

‘It’s love at first sight, that’s what it is,’ Lady Geraldine said happily. ‘The best sort. Wearing Nico’s ring doesn’t mean you have to get married next week, darling.
It’s just a promise of commitment. You can take all the time you need to make sure that it’s perfect.’

All the time they needed to keep Gran happy for as long as she lived?

Time.

That’s what Charlotte needed.

‘It will take time.’ Nico’s voice was strong. Amazingly calm, considering. ‘And you’re right, Jendi. I have…what’s that expression? Jumped the gun.’

Something about the way he recited the phrase made Charlotte think his choice of words was deliberate. He was reminding her of the euphemism she’d used about kicking the bucket. Reminding her of what was important here. And maybe it was a warning, too.

If she destroyed this illusion she would be ruining not one but two of the items on Gran’s bucket list. There was no way the train trip could provide the slightest pleasure if the number-one item on the list was revealed as a deception.

Geraldine let Charlotte go with a final pat. She turned and looked up at Nico, who smiled at her.

‘We will have to be apart a lot in the coming weeks,’ he said sadly. ‘I have commitments in the United States and Europe. In Australia, even. But I had to do something to make my intentions as clear as possible. To achieve what I know will make us
both
happy.’ Make us
all
happy, his glance reminded Charlotte.

‘Of course you did.’ Lady Geraldine beamed.

Charlotte’s mind was clearing rapidly. Nico was presenting an easy way out here. He could be her fiancé but he would be absent. She could keep her grandmother happily believing that a wedding was on the cards without
any further awkwardness of them having to keep up the pretence for real. Or, if she couldn’t bear to be less than honest, she could say that things had fizzled out in a few weeks and use the excuse that it would never have worked. They would never have enough time together to keep the relationship alive.

‘Mmm.’ The sound came out in a strangled fashion. ‘I’m still not sure—’

‘Of course you’re not.’ Lady Geraldine slipped her arm through Charlotte’s and began to lead her back to the restaurant. ‘You like to be in control, child, and you’ve been swept off your feet.’ She slipped her other arm through Nico’s. ‘Come on. We’ll all go and have another glass of that lovely champagne and give Charlotte time to get used to this delightfully unexpected state of being an
engaged
woman.’

Dio mio…

What, exactly, had happened there?

It wasn’t the unexpected twist of events that had led to Charlotte now wearing his grandmother’s ring that was disturbing Nico most as he followed the women back to the restaurant.

No. It went far deeper than a pretence that was now a little more complicated than intended. Something had happened when Charlotte had been caught in that loving embrace and had looked at him over her grandmother’s shoulder. When she’d been searching for a way of trying to explain that this was all a lie. That there was nothing of any significance between them.

She hadn’t been able to, had she? Because she’d felt the same thing he had when their gazes had touched
and locked. Somehow, over the course of this crazy day, they
had
connected. And on a level that was totally alien to Nico. Inexplicable and deeply disturbing but, at that moment, he would have overturned heaven and earth to protect Charlotte. To extricate her in a dignified fashion from this mess he had created.

He had no idea what had triggered such a strong urge. Guilt from knowing he’d pushed her into this? Or maybe he’d caught another glimpse of that lost and frightened child in her eyes. He’d certainly seen desperation that had been coming from not wanting to hurt somebody she loved so much. Maybe that explained why he was feeling as though the ground was shifting beneath his feet and that the rules he lived by were no longer relevant.

Knowing that Charlotte was capable of that kind of love when, to outward appearances, she was incapable of that much emotion. Knowing that she was such a different woman from the one he’d met years ago. Curiosity was a powerful motivating force and Nico wanted to put as many pieces of this puzzle together as he could before he moved on.

Maybe when he had the full picture he would be able to understand why he was feeling as if he was caught in some invisible web. And then he would be able to avoid it happening again. He liked his life exactly the way it was, thanks very much. He did not like this feeling of long-held beliefs wobbling and his footing being less than secure in his world.

Back at the table, Lady Geraldine waved a bejewelled hand and waiters willingly rushed to refill glasses and serve exquisite-looking desserts. Charlotte was sitting
very still, staring at the chocolate creation on the small plate in front of her as though unsure whether it was, in fact, edible.

Or maybe she was unsure whether anything was real. Perhaps she was hoping to wake up and find that this whole evening had simply been a bad dream. Her grandmother was also watching her and then she turned to Nico and smiled. It was an expression of understanding. And reassurance. Charlotte just needed a little more time, the glance suggested. And then she would be able to embrace the joy of this new event in her life.

She certainly needed something. A gentle reminder of why they’d started this charade in the first place?

Nico smiled back at Lady Geraldine. ‘Tell me about tomorrow,’ he invited. ‘I hear you have an adventure planned. On the Orient Express?’

Lady Geraldine beamed at him. ‘It’s been a long-held dream of mine. One of them, anyway.’ She slid another glance at Charlotte and there was a moment’s pause as she sighed happily. Then she collected herself and focused on Nico. ‘Have you ever travelled on the Orient Express yourself?’

‘No. I’ve heard of it, of course. It has a wonderful history, doesn’t it?’

‘Right back to 1883.’ Lady Geraldine nodded. ‘It’s the world’s most famous train and it’s been totally restored to its original glory. You step back in time and travel in the kind of elegant luxury that only the very privileged could afford a hundred years ago. It’s an experience everybody should have at least once in their lifetime, don’t you think?’

‘Absolutely.’ Nico was happy to agree. This was what
this evening was about after all. To make Charlotte’s grandmother happy. To encourage her to make the most of whatever time she had left in her own lifetime. To tick off those ‘bucket-list’ items. ‘I hear that the food is amazing and isn’t there someone that plays a grand piano in the bar?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Lady Geraldine’s smile was misty now. ‘Everybody dresses in their best and is on their best behaviour. We’ll all be thoroughly spoiled as we glide through Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France and back to London just in time for Christmas.’

She eyed Nico over a spoon containing a tiny portion of chocolate mousse. ‘I expect you’ll be visiting your mother for Christmas Day, Nico?’

‘Ah…no.’ Nico shook his head. ‘I believe her new husband has whisked her off to New Zealand to have Christmas in the sun.’

‘But you have other family?’

Uh-oh…Any moment now he was going to be invited to have Christmas dinner with Charlotte and her grandmother. He needed to head this one off at the pass.

‘Sadly, I have work commitments in London I can’t break. That’s partly why I’m taking a day or two at my leisure in Venice now.’ This was true enough, wasn’t it? He was always happy to work over family-oriented holidays to give his colleagues time off. He didn’t have a family to spend time with. And he didn’t want one. Nico shifted in his seat, which brought his knee into contact with Charlotte’s. He heard her sudden intake of breath and she finally seemed to become aware of her surroundings again.

Good. He needed some help here to avoid being pressured
into joining the Highton clan for Christmas dinner. Who knew how many other distant but formidable relatives Charlotte might have waiting in the wings?

Lady Geraldine had a very benign smile on her face right now as she apparently enjoyed her taste of the dessert but Nico had the distinct feeling that the impression of a sweet old lady was probably deceptive. There was an ironclad will beneath that perfectly groomed exterior and that improbable red hair. What Lady Geraldine wanted, she would no doubt get. Except, maybe, the chance to live to an even riper old age.

He reached for his glass of wine. He increased the pressure on Charlotte’s knee a little to encourage her to say something but she was watching her grandmother, who was shaking her head as she put down her spoon.

‘Absolutely delicious,’ she said sadly. ‘But I can’t eat it.’

Nico could feel the tension in Charlotte’s focus. ‘You’ve hardly eaten anything, Gran.’

‘I’m too excited,’ Lady Geraldine said.

‘About the Orient Express?’ This was a good direction to steer the conversation back to. A safe one. ‘I’m not surprised. It’s probably a good idea to save your appetite for all that wonderful food.’

‘Mmm…’ Lady Geraldine nodded thoughtfully. ‘I
am
excited about the train trip but not nearly as excited as I am about this engagement.’ She reached over and took hold of Charlotte’s hand, bending the fingers so that the diamond ring took centre stage. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.’ She was locked in eye contact with her granddaughter. ‘You will be, too, Charlotte Jane. I just know you will.’

Charlotte’s indrawn breath was ragged. ‘But…’

‘I know, darling.’ Nico could see the way Charlotte’s fingers were being squeezed. Lady Geraldine’s voice was soft. ‘And it doesn’t matter if I don’t live to see the wedding. This is enough. To know that you’ve met such a wonderful man and the attraction is strong enough to be totally irresistible. It’s a promise of a happy future for you…and I intend to enjoy every single moment of it.’

She straightened in her chair and turned her gaze to Nico. ‘I have two cabin suites booked on the Orient Express,’ she said unexpectedly. ‘I wanted both Charlotte and myself to enjoy this trip as much as possible, without being cramped.’