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Authors: Norrey Ford

One Hot Summer (23 page)

BOOK: One Hot Summer
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She gripped the arms of her chair.

You mean, it’s nothing more than a test? No more than that? You didn’t mean that part about cutting her off from the family?


Could I do that to my sister? If Paolo still wants Bianca in six months’ time, they will marry with my blessing and he will become part of the family. As her husband, he will take his proper place in the management as soon as he can take the responsibility. If I’m satisfied with the reports I get, his promotion will start at once. Don’t you see, I dare not risk a girl like Bianca being exploited by a fortune-hunter? Once I’m satisfied, she’ll have no grumble about my treatment of my brother-in-law.’


I’m sorry. I didn’t understand. You are a difficult and devious person, Marco. One could never come to the end of trying to know you.’

He said, with a pretence at petulance,

Bernini understood. So did Mamma.


Ah yes, I saw they approved. I see now why they did. They have lived in your world and know about its ways. I thought it was because everything Marco does is perfect in their eyes.’

He laughed at that.
‘What?
After you’d heard the pair of them scolding me for the fiasco of the Alberghi affair?’


That was embarrassing for me. I shouldn’t have been there. They shouldn’t have done it, in the presence of a stranger.’

There was a silence. She heard him sigh lightly. Then, pulling up a chair to face hers, he took her hands between his.

‘Jan, look at me. Two days ago I asked you to marry me. Do you remember?’


One doesn’t forget a thing like that. I shall always remember.’


Unhappily for me, you preferred your career. You made that very clear. But I want you to know that a man never regards the woman he loves as a stranger.’ Jan began to tremble. She tried to speak, but words would not come. Time ceased. Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet his.

‘Love?’
Her voice quivered.

You didn’t speak of love.’


Does a man invite a woman to become his wife, unless he loves her? I thought in your country you believed in marrying for love. I thought you would understand.’

Tears trembled on her lashes.

Oh, Marco, I was such a fool. I thought you’d never be able to marry
such an ordinary girl, from an ordinary sort of family. No dowry or anything like that. I thought you couldn’t possibly want me for a real wife.’


Then why on earth did you suppose I asked
you?
Jan, there’s something behind all this. You’re an intelligent girl. So how could you believe I didn’t mean exactly what I said?’


It was the Alberghi affair. You were so downright about who married whom, and the joining of great estates and fortunes, and properly arranged marriages—it was all new to me. How was I to know nothing of that applied to you? I imagined you’d be looking for a girl with a title, or vast fortunes; a father-in-law with a great commercial empire. I never saw myself in that context at all.’


So?’ His dark eyes questioned her.


I thought you wanted someone to look after your mother, mostly.’


But I spoke of a family—children. At least I think I did.’


I know.’ She was crying openly now.

That’s what made it so awful
!

He took out a fine linen handkerchief and blotted away the tears tenderly.

Another thing I’m not good at—proposing marriage to the girl I love. I seem to have made a pretty grim mess of it, don’t I?’

She gave a shuddering sigh, and blinked away the last of the tears.

You never said about loving me. That was the trouble. You said you were rich, and could give me things. And money doesn’t count at all—not with loving. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry. I feel so terrible about not understanding everything about you. I kept hating you, and loving you at the same time, and being so mixed up.’


Loving me? You did say that? Is there some hope for me, then? Come,
cara
,
please stop crying. It’s my fault. Let us wipe out the last two days and start all
over again. Let’s begin where I fell in love with you.’


I can’t believe you ever did. Mostly you were scolding me.’


I? What nonsense! Do you know you’re the only woman in my whole life who ever dared disagree with me, and tell me I was wrong? Do I remember complaining to you that all the girls I knew were exactly the same little dears, turned out by the dozen in the same pattern?’


I remember your saying so. Do you mean nobody ever told you you were talking rubbish, or that you’d made a mistake?’


No
woman
.
Except Mamma, and she said it dotingly, so I never took any notice. And lately, of course, Bianca, spurred on by this love of hers. Love gives one terrible courage, have you noticed?’


Where you first fell in love?’ she reminded
him.


Ah, yes. I saw you swinging up the Spanish Steps, and a sort of delight twisted inside me, and set me on that breakneck race down the steps.’


You said that was because you thought I was Bianca.’


Well, I had to think of something. Besides, I did, just for a minute. As soon as I discovered you were not Bianca, the delight started again. I was so pleased you weren’t.’

She lifted his hand, laid it to her cheek.

I don’t believe you for a moment
!
You are inventing all this, but go on. That you take the trouble to invent it shows me you love me.’


Hope rises in me. Is it possible you love me?’

‘I
love you. I can’t remember when it began, but it seems to have been going on for a long time. Actually, it’s such a short time. Is it enough?’

He swept that aside.

Enough for us. We have all the rest of our lives to learn to know each other. I shall find out six new things about you every day. If
I ask you again, will you marry me, my heart’s love?’


Oh, Marco, for two whole days I’ve been terrified
wouldn’t get a second chance.’

He gathered her into his arms, rocking her gently as if he would never let her go.

You won’t hold against me my family, my fortune, my terrible importance and my wicked cruelty to my poor little sister?’


I promise I won’t. I’ll be happy as long as you give me the one thing that matters—yourself.’


That I have already done.’ He kissed her now, a long, deep kiss, so different from that other, earlier kiss. A kiss born now of returned love, trust given and giving; of tenderness and joy.

The moon sent a questing beam across the white carpet, and to the foot of the wide desk.

It’s late,’ he said reluctan
tl
y,

and Mamma must be weary of listening to the perfections of one Paolo. So let us go and tell her about us.’

His arm round her waist, her head on his shoulder, they crossed the terrace, where the scent of lilies hung on the night air. How difficult this man was to understand, Jan thought, her heart alight
with
pure happiness. But how well worth understanding after all.

The masquerade was over. This was real at last.

BOOK: One Hot Summer
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