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He could tell Rico was worried, but thankfully his cousin didn't push the subject further on the phone. There would be enough of a lecture when Rico found out he had ignored his advice to confide in Gina straight away. Instead he had made a mess of everything, and he had no one to blame but himself.

Seb waited until the last minute, but Gina did not return to the house. Now he had to go, or he would be late for the private plane that awaited him at the island's small airport near La Pila, sited on the only flat land Elba had to offer, between Marina di Campo and Poggio. Filled with bitter disappointment, and an aching anxiety that things were falling apart, he said goodbye to Maria and Evelina and went out to the car.

But as he reached the bottom of the drive, he spied Gina walking along the road back towards the villa. Coming to a halt, he climbed out of the car.

'Gina!' The sad wariness in her dark eyes as she looked at him ripped out his heart. 'I did not want to go without seeing you.'

'You're leaving?' she asked, in surprise and confusion.

Cursing at the wobble in her voice, he took her in his arms, burying his face in her vanilla-scented hair. 'Only briefly. Maria will explain. The police have arrested a man for the knife attack. I have to go to Florence to identify him.'

'Of course.'

'We will talk when I come back, Gina. I hope that will be tonight, but it may be tomorrow. It depends on whether this is the man and if I have to attend court.' He cupped her face in his hands. 'I hurt you, and you cannot know how much I regret that. I am so sorry. I held back because of me, Gina, not you. Please give me the chance to explain when I return to Elba.'

Her nod was reluctant, and scarcely the promise he needed. Drawing her closer, he kissed her, putting everything into it, feeling the resistance drain out of her as she succumbed to the chemistry between them. He could only hope that their special connection would work in his favour.

With a monumental effort of will, he forced himself to release her and returned to the car. He drove away feeling deeply uneasy...and already terribly lonely without her.

The time passed with interminable slowness. Gina felt physically restless and emotionally unsettled, confused by all the doubts, worries and suspicions creating turmoil in her mind. Seb claimed he wanted to explain, but what excuse could there be for not telling her he was a doctor? Why had he deceived her?

She tried to occupy herself by devoting time to her grandmother, avoiding the subject of Seb and the pressing issue of returning home. They were due to travel the next day. The knowledge hung between them, unspoken. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving here, even with things the way they were, but Seb had not asked her to postpone her return to Scotland, and he had given no indication of his feelings— if he even had any. He had only claimed to want to set the record straight about why he had misled her. And then what would he do? Wave her goodbye?

Alone for the evening, the villa feeling empty without Seb's presence, she and her grandmother prepared and ate a simple pasta dish, and then settled down to watch television before bedtime. Gina had hoped there would be something interesting to distract her, but although her grandmother became absorbed in a documentary, Gina's own mind drifted. She was snapped from her reverie when the national Italian news came on, and she found herself staring at Seb's face on the screen. With a gasp, she sat up straight.

'Nonna?'

'I see him,
ragazza mia!

They watched in silence as the images unfolded, and Gina felt her blood chilling as she listened to a report of the knife attack and the arrest of the suspected assailant. The pictures showed Seb leaving the police station in Florence late that afternoon. He looked annoyed and frustrated at the intrusion of the journalists bombarding him with questions, at the press of microphones and cameras. The handsome man with him appeared equally irritated, bundling Seb through the crowd to where a sleek black Ferrari awaited.

Gina's mouth dropped open as the reality of what she was seeing and hearing sank in.

'Sebastiano Adriani, who dropped out of sight a few weeks ago and was believed to be convalescing overseas, returned to Florence today at the request of the police, to identify the man arrested for the assault in July. Dr Adriani went to the aid of the woman being attacked, and as a consequence suffered injuries to his hands that appear to have ended his high-flying career. The reconstructive plastic surgeon, renowned for his celebrity clients and equally famous girlfriends, was rumoured to have been dating young actress Lidia di Napoli at the time of the incident.

'Lidia di Napoli—seen here with her new beau, the recently divorced director of her current production— declined to answer questions. It is believed that the starlet abandoned her former boyfriend after his injuries threatened to bring an end to his celebrity status. But Dr Adriani has never been lacking female company.'

The words were accompanied by brief images of the stunning Lidia pouting at the camera, followed by library footage of Seb with a series of beautiful women on his arm. Then there was a short interview with the grateful victim of the knife incident, who praised Seb for his bravery and the way he had protected her. Gina wanted to shut out the pictures and the words, but she couldn't prevent herself from watching and listening as the report continued, breaking her heart in the process.

'Questioned when leaving the police station today with his cousin, Riccardo Linardi, whose parents are wealthy corporate attorney Roberto Linardi and Sofia Linardi, known as a tireless charity campaigner, Dr Adriani refused to comment on where he has been, or discuss his career plans for the future. It is believed he will be staying overnight at the Linardi family's impressive Florentine mansion, rather than returning to his own luxury penthouse apartment in the city, which has remained unoccupied since July's incident.

'One report claims that Dr Adriani was seen on the island of Elba, giving medical aid to the casualties who survived yesterday's collapse of a block of tourist apartments that claimed fifteen lives. Neither hospital officials in Portoferraio nor the island's police will confirm or deny these rumours, and Dr Adriani's possible involvement, along with his whereabouts these last weeks, remain a mystery.

'Tomorrow Dr Adriani will appear in court, when the accused will face his first hearing. Bail is widely expected to be refused, given the accused's history of absconding.'

Gina stared at the screen in disbelief. Not only was Seb a doctor, he was a wealthy and famous surgeon with an impressive list of celebrity clients. A renowned bachelor, he had a string of beautiful women at his disposal—women who were slim, sophisticated and polished...the complete opposite of herself. The Linardis, who owned this villa on Elba—the villa Seb had allowed her to believe he was care-taking—were actually his family, the aunt and uncle who had rescued him from the streets as a child. The Linardi family were rich, and part of Florentine society, with a lifestyle she couldn't even begin to imagine.

'Gina?' Her grandmother's voice held evident concern.

'He lied to me about
everything!
She rose to her feet, switching off the television before pacing about the room. 'Not only about who and what he really is, but about the kind of world he comes from. He's Ferraris, Armani suits and champagne. I'm public transport, charity shop seconds and cheap Lambrusco!'

How he must have laughed at the naive Scottish girl, taken in by an impossible fairytale. She felt hurt, angry and betrayed. And viciously self-critical of her own stupidity. She couldn't stay here. Couldn't face him again. She was so embarrassed. And so out of his league. He had his pick of beautiful women who fitted into his life as she never could. How could she have believed for a second that he could be attracted to and satisfied by her rounded curves, her lack of sophistication, her modest background? No wonder he hadn't wanted to let her into his world—not with the impossible chasm between them in terms of career and social status.

'Seb never cared about me, Nonna. He couldn't even be truthful.' She paused, battling emotion. 'We did what we came here to do. You are well enough for the journey. So we'll go home tomorrow, just as we planned.'

'But—'

'Please, Nonna. I can't stay here. Not now. I just
can’t.'

Ignoring her grandmother's protests, unable to hold back the tears, she retreated to her room, falling to the bed to cry out her hurt. Her foolish heart was shattered into tiny pieces. She had allowed herself to be caught up in an impossible dream, beguiled by Seb's charm, the magic of Elba and the romance of her grandparents' story. But there would be no happy ending for her as there had been fifty years ago for Maria and Matthew. Her brief reawakening was over.

Her grandmother came quietly into the room. Sitting on the bed beside her, she gathered her into her arms, rocking her just as she had when she was a child.

'Oh, Nonna, I've been so stupid!' she sobbed.

'No, Gina, it is not your fault.' One hand stroked her hair as she soothed her. 'Seb should have told you sooner.'

Gina sniffed and wiped at her tears. 'Did you see the kind of women he dates all the time? He's not remotely interested in someone plain and ordinary like me.'

'You are not plain and ordinary,' her grandmother rebuked. 'My advice to you is to listen to what he has to say.'

'You're taking his side?' she accused.

'It is not a question of sides,
ragazza mia.
It is obvious you love him, and I don't think you should give up on something so right without fighting for it,' she cajoled, her hazel eyes wise and sad.

'But it's not right! I don't even know him. It's all been a lie from the beginning.' She took a tissue and blew her nose. 'It was a holiday fling—nothing more.'

Pain lanced inside her and she closed her eyes, trying to block out images of her days with Seb. He had never asked her to stay, had never told her he felt anything or asked if she did. From the first he had said she should experience the things Elba had to offer
while she was here.
Temporary. Short-term. She had done so. And now it was finished. She had fallen in love with a man she could never have beyond this unforgettable interlude.

Sucking in a ragged breath, she met her grandmother's anxious gaze. 'The fairytale is over, Nonna. It's time to return to real life.'

'What do you mean, they've gone?' Seb stared at Evelina in shocked disbelief, his heart threatening to stop entirely before resuming at a frantic beat. 'Gone where?'

'Home to Scotland.'

'When? Why?' he demanded, unable to get his head round the fact that Gina had left without waiting to hear what he needed to tell her.

Evelina looked both sad and accusing. 'This morning. I arrived after breakfast to find the taxi already here. Maria and I tried to persuade Gina to wait, but she was adamant...and distressed.'

'Distressed? Why? What happened?' The questions came in quick succession.

'You should have told her the truth when you had the chance, Sebastiano.' Placing her hands on ample hips, she fixed him with a speaking glare. 'Gina saw the report about you on the television news last night...the pictures of you with all those fancy, insincere women. Including that actress Lidia—
il sfacciatella.
The hussy. It was a big shock to Gina to find out that way who and what you are.'

'Dio!
No.' Shaken, Seb sat down and put his head in his hands.

He should have expected the media circus in Florence, but it had never crossed his mind that Gina might see him on TV—nor that the news would run some tabloid piece of gossip and innuendo that held scarcely a scrap of truth. Not that Gina would know that, because he'd never told her. All she knew was that he'd kept so much from her, and now she believed he had tricked her, made a fool of her, used her. And it wasn't true.

'Gina left you a note.' Evelina handed him a sealed envelope, shaking her head as she walked away, muttering to herself at his foolishness.
'Uomo stupido!'

Evelina was right. He was a stupid man. He opened the envelope and a wave of fury washed over him when he found the money Gina had left to cover the cost of her and Maria's stay at the villa. Now he was mad! Then he read the note, her thanks for what he had done for her grandmother and for making it possible to succeed in what they had come to the island to do. The final sentences had him clenching his hands around the paper and swearing viciously at himself.

He should have told Gina all about himself from the beginning. But, as he had tried to explain to Rico, when his cousin had predictably read him the Riot Act last night, by the time he'd known she was genuine he'd been enjoying being accepted for the person he was, and not for his name or position or reputation.

'It's a lie, Seb. Albeit by omission,' Rico had protested. 'What are you afraid of—that she'll turn out to be a gold-digger like the rest of them?'

'Gina's the least materialistic person I've ever met,' he'd defended, thinking of her enjoyment of the most simple things. She was so refreshing, not to mention fun to be with, and he had never felt so relaxed and light-hearted with anyone as he did with her. 'But I thought it would change things. And I didn't want money or anything else to affect what we have. I'm a different person with her. I
like
me when I'm with her. And I wanted her to know the real me before the other stuff got in the way.'

'But she doesn't, does she? You've kept an important part of you back. Now she's found out by default that you're a doctor. It will be even worse if she discovers you've not been honest with her about the rest,' his cousin had warned, with what now turned out to be startling presentiment. 'If she means something to you—'

'I love her, Rico.'

Saying the words out loud for the first time had cemented the truth in his mind. These last days with Gina had been the best of his life. The feelings were new to him, and he was scared but determined—and falling more and more in love with her by the hour. All other women seemed fake and uninteresting compared to her. He wanted Gina. She was the one. A few days, weeks or months with her would never be enough—he needed her in his life permanently.