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CHAPTER ONE ‘HEY , Heather—your Sicilian lover is here.’ Heather looked up self-consciously. ‘Lorenzo isn’t my lover!’ she insisted. ‘Just—just—’ ‘Just good friends?’ Sally suggested wickedly. ‘Well, if the man out there isn’t your lover, he ought to be. Big and sexy with “come to bed” eyes. If he was mine, I wouldn’t waste time not sleeping with him.’ ‘Will you keep your voice down?’ Heather said frantically, aware that every woman in the staff room was regarding her with interest. She was taking her afternoon break from the perfume counter of Gossways, London’s most luxurious department store. The worldly-wise Sally was on the next counter. Heather got to her feet, smiling at the thought of Lorenzo Martelli, the light-hearted, handsome young man who had swept into her life a month ago and made her head spin. ‘I didn’t know you knew Lorenzo by sight,’ she told Sally. ‘I don’t, but he asked for you. Besides, he looks just like a Sicilian should: incredibly sensual, as if he’d take a wo
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO WHEN Heather was out of earshot Renato said, ‘My compliments. She’s charming.’ ‘You really like her?’ Lorenzo asked. ‘Yes, I think she’s admirable. I admit that I expected a floozy, but she’s a lady, which must be a first for you. It’s time you settled down.’ ‘Now wait,’ Lorenzo said hastily. ‘You’re rushing me. Why did you tell her I mentioned marriage?’ ‘Because you did.’ ‘I said if I was thinking about marriage it would be to someone like her. It’s a very big step.’ ‘All the more reason to take it while you’re young enough to be influenced by a good woman.’ ‘You didn’t.’ Renato gave a wolfish grin. ‘Apart from our mother no woman has ever influenced me.’ ‘That’s not what I heard. Wasn’t her name Magdalena—? All right, all right,’ he finished hastily, looking at his brother’s expression. ‘Magdalena Conti didn’t influence me,’ Renato said coldly. ‘She merely taught me that permanent relationships are not for me. But it’s different with you. Beneath your irresponsible ways
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE WHEN Lorenzo had vanished, and Bernardo was showing Angie the garden, Baptista refilled Heather’s glass. ‘Renato told me how your prompt action saved his life,’ she said. ‘You and I have been friends from that moment.’ ‘You’re very kind,’ Heather said, ‘but didn’t he also tell you that it was my fault he was ever in danger?’ ‘I think he was largely to blame. He made you angry with his high-handedness. I’ve spoken to him very severely.’ Heather concealed a smile. The idea of the domineering Renato being alarmed by anything his frail mother might say was charming, but unconvincing. ‘You are going to be very important to this family,’ Baptista continued. ‘More important than perhaps you can imagine. Lorenzo says you have no family of your own.’ ‘I was an only child. My mother died when I was six. My father couldn’t cope without her.’ Heather paused. She seldom talked about this because it seemed a betrayal of the sweet-natured, confused little man who’d longed only to follow
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR ON THE journey home Heather took a fascinated look at the stern, where a jet ski, big enough for two people, was fixed. ‘Would you care to try it?’ Renato asked. ‘I’d love to,’ she said eagerly. Slowly the jet ski was winched down to the water. Renato leapt down and took the front seat, and Heather eased her way into the seat behind him. She had just time to wrap her arms about him before they roared away across the water. The speed, noise and vibration took her by surprise and she tightened her arms, turning her head sideways and pressing herself against Renato’s broad back. ‘All right?’ Renato roared back at her. She could barely make out the words through the noise, but she yelled back, ‘Fine!’ It was true. The vibration was taking her over, coming up through every part of her flesh, her thighs, her stomach, her breasts where they were pressed against Renato’s back. The water rushed by, lashing her with white foam, whipping up her excitement in the most physically exhil
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE RELATIVES were beginning to converge on Palermo, some to stay in the Residenza, others to occupy the biggest suites in the best hotels. Heather was astonished by the legions of aunts, uncles, cousins that made up the far reaching branches of the Martelli family. She met people until she was giddy. The ones she enjoyed the most were Enrico and Giuseppe. They were first cousins to each other, and distant cousins to Baptista, and long ago they had both been in love with her. When she married Vincente Martelli, they had consoled each other’s broken hearts. Forty years later they were still bachelors, still competing for the honour of escorting her. She was allowing them both to squire her to the wedding. Otherwise there would have been a riot. Two days before the wedding the great house was gleaming in readiness for the wedding ball. In their bedroom upstairs, Angie and Heather prepared for an evening of dancing. After her day on the boat Heather had tanned to a pale biscuit c
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX THE Residenza was eerily quiet. The vast hordes of guests had swarmed all over it, devouring the feast, hungrier and thirstier for the excitement of having something horrifying to talk about. Now they were all gone, save for one or two who lived too far away to depart that night. In the morning they too would vanish. The wedding cake remained uneaten, because everyone had been too superstitious to touch it. It stood tall and beautiful in its white, shimmering glory, celebrating a lovers’ union that would never be. Heather stood in the semi-darkness of the great hall, looking at the cake, with its tiny bride and groom on the topmost tier. She was trapped in limbo, unable to go forward or back. The way back involved too many painful thoughts. The way forward was blocked by her promise. She felt slightly giddy, and recalled that she’d eaten nothing since the night before. This morning she’d refused breakfast. Too excited. She would eat later, at the reception, she’d thought. A
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN IT WAS time for Angie to leave. She’d remained a few extra days to support her friend, but now she must leave for England and her work. But surely, Heather thought, she would return to Sicily soon, because she couldn’t bear to be away from Bernardo. She knew this was no light o’ love. It had a depth and intensity that she’d never seen in Angie before. Once she’d surprised them in each other’s arms, heard the husky murmur of Bernardo’s voice speaking words of eternal passion and devotion, and crept quickly away. But the time had passed with no announcement, and yesterday they had both vanished. Of course, they were making plans, Heather thought, and before Angie left they would announce their engagement. But when she went into their room she knew that something was badly wrong. Angie was packing her suitcase with a kind of fierce purpose, and her face was set in a way that meant she was determined not to cry. In that expression Heather recognised her own experience. ‘Darli
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT IT WAS Baptista’s idea that Heather should visit Bella Rosaria. ‘It’s time you were looking over your property,’ she said. ‘But come to see me often.’ The suggestion appealed to Heather. She could never regard the estate as hers, but while matters were being sorted out it would be the ideal place to stay. She took a car from the garage and drove out of Palermo, taking the winding road that led up to the village of Ellona, and the pink stone villa that dominated it. It was mid-morning and as she climbed she saw how the fresh, vivid light sharpened the contours of the land, which was freshly harvested and brown after the long, fierce summer. She realised that already she was thinking like a Sicilian. Baptista had been right. She loved this place and didn’t want to leave it. Baptista must have telephoned ahead, because when Heather reached the villa she found they were ready for her. Jocasta, the housekeeper, had prepared the best room in readiness for the new mistress. It w
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE WHEN they met at breakfast her mood was cool. Naturally she was glad of Renato’s restraint the night before. If he’d tried to come to her bed it would have clouded the issue and she would have been angry at his calculation. But the apparently easy way he’d resisted her was also a kind of calculation, and of the two it was the more insulting. She blushed to recall that she’d left her door unlocked, and he hadn’t even tried it. One small victory to him. If she weakened he would control the situation, and that she mustn’t allow. He didn’t seem to notice her reserve. His own mood was edgy. Over breakfast he spoke tersely, smiled very little and looked haggard. The horses were brought round. Soon after they set out she realised that Renato had been right when he’d said the story of the sheep would be all over the district. Wherever they went she found none of the suspicion or hostility that she would have expected, considering that she was a stranger and a foreigner. By some my
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN FOR her second wedding in Palermo Cathedral Heather chose a much simpler dress than her first. It was of ivory silk, because that suited her lightly tanned complexion better than white, and she borrowed it from a hire shop in Palermo. ‘It didn’t cost me a penny,’ she told Renato and Baptista triumphantly. ‘I made them a gift of the old one and they were delighted to let me hire one free.’ Baptista gave a crow of triumph. ‘What a business-woman! Didn’t I tell you?’ This was to Renato. ‘You did.’ He was grinning. ‘Perhaps your suggestion was right, Mamma.’ ‘Right?’ Heather looked from one to the other. ‘Mamma thinks you should join the business at once,’ Renato explained. ‘I shall be retiring soon and you must take my place,’ Baptista said. ‘Otherwise there won’t be a female voice on the board, and that would be disaster.’ ‘You’re on the board?’ ‘You’ll enjoy our board meetings,’ Renato told her ironically. ‘First Mamma tells us what she wants. Then the meeting begins, she pr
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN AS WITH any properly conducted business arrangement the terms of their marriage were adhered to on both sides. Renato had promised Heather a place in the firm, and one day she came home from shopping to find him regarding her with a teasing look. ‘How would you like to take a trip for the firm?’ he asked. ‘I need someone to fix up some deals in Scotland.’ ‘But isn’t that Lorenzo’s territory? In fact he’s in England right now—’ ‘He’s got some unexpected problems that are going to keep him there,’ Renato broke in hastily. ‘If you take over Scotland it will ease the pressure on him.’ She was ambitious for the chance. Even so, her first thought had been, I’ll have to be away from him. But Renato seemed delighted at the thought of her going. Next day she was on a flight to Edinburgh. She booked into a newly opened luxury hotel on Princes Street, and spent the next few days selling Martelli produce all over the most exclusive parts of the city, including the hotel itself. Her
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE SHE took a step towards him. ‘I’m not going anywhere. You’re my husband and I love you, and I’m staying right here with you.’ ‘Don’t play games with me,’ he said hoarsely. ‘You’ve already told me that you slept with him.’ ‘I said no such thing. I’ve said that I slept in Lorenzo’s bed last night—’ in her eagerness she seized his arms and gave him a little shake ‘—but I didn’t say that Lorenzo was there with me.’ ‘What?’ he whispered. His wretchedness made her heart ache. ‘Oh, darling!’ She touched his face. ‘What a fool you are! While I was sleeping in Lorenzo’s bed, he was sleeping in a police cell.’ ‘What—did—you—say?’ ‘He wasn’t with me. He spent the night under lock and key, sleeping on a bunk, with a blanket. Why do you think he looks as if he’s slept in his clothes? Because he has.’ He stared at her as her words pierced his cloud of misery. And suddenly the sun shone more brilliantly, the steeple bells rang and the trumpets sounded a fanfare. ‘A police cell?’ he ech
CHAPTER TWELVE
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