Innocent Wife, Baby of Shame

MORNINGS were not Keira’s favourite time of the day—they never had been. Her mother had spent most of Keira’s childhood threatening her with cupfuls of ice to get her out of bed for school but it had rarely worked. There was something about lying cocooned in a soft-as-a-feather quilt that fulfilled Keira’s most primal yearnings. She hated leaving that comforting warmth to face the day, knowing that as soon as she left that haven of peace everything that could go wrong would go wrong and make her long to dive back in and hide from the world all over again.

‘Are you going to get up or lie in there all day?’ Patrizio asked as he positioned the knot of his tie into place in front of the mirror near the bed.

Keira pulled the covers back over her head. ‘I don’t have to go to college today.’

‘Lucky for some,’ he said, reaching for his jacket and keys.

She peeped over the edge of the covers to look at him. ‘Is there anything you want me to do while you’re at work?’ she asked.

He shrugged himself into his jacket. ‘Nothing but for you to continue to play the role of devoted wife with whomever you come into contact,’ he said. ‘Don’t forget Marietta is watching your every move.’ He checked his watch and added, ‘If you’re feeling up to it, I have a trade function tonight that will give more credibility to our reconciliation. The press will be there in droves.’

‘I don’t have anything to wear,’ she said, desperately looking for a way out.

Patrizio raised his eyes heavenwards and reached for his wallet and peeled off a wad of notes and placed them on the bed. ‘Go and buy yourself something,’ he said. ‘And make it sexy and glamorous. I don’t want you to turn up looking like a cash-strapped arts student, otherwise people will wonder why on earth I have taken you back.’

Keira felt like poking her tongue out at him. ‘I wouldn’t be cash-strapped if you’d agreed to the terms of the settlement,’ she threw at him petulantly.

His dark eyes glinted as they caught and held hers. ‘You never know, cara, I might well give you what you are asking for if you behave yourself for the next six weeks.’

She snorted and dived under the covers again. ‘Go to hell.’

‘Your father phoned, by the way.’

Her head came back out, her violet-blue eyes instantly wary. ‘What did he say?’

‘He wanted to know if we were genuine about being together again. I don’t think he found the short article in the paper all that convincing.’

‘What did you say?’

His mouth tilted wryly. ‘What do you think I said?’

‘It was probably something along the lines of, “I am doing this for the sake of the boys’ education or for the sake of my adopted country” or something nauseatingly altruistic like that,’ she said with a hint of pique.

He raised one dark brow. ‘You do not think protecting the boys is a worthwhile enterprise?’

She had no choice but to back down. ‘Of course I think it’s worth it, I just don’t like being caught up in the middle of it all.’

He snatched up his keys and phone. ‘You wouldn’t have been caught in the middle of it if you hadn’t been caught in another man’s bed. Perhaps you should think about that today in the absence of other intellectual stimulation.’

Keira wanted the last word but he didn’t give her time to deliver it. The door had slammed on his exit before she had even opened her mouth.

She let out a defeated sigh and, flopping back down, threw the covers back over her head.

Hunger was the only thing that lured her out a couple of hours later. She showered and, finger-combing her hair, ventured into the kitchen where Marietta was bustling about emptying the dishwasher and wiping down the already spotlessly clean benches.

‘Ah, you are finally awake!’ she said with a knowing grin. ‘No doubt that sexy husband of yours kept you busy all night, eh?’

Keira felt the colour rise up from her feet to pool into her cheeks. ‘Er…yes…’ she said, smiling uncomfortably.

Marietta winked. ‘You need a quiet day, yes? You will be sore if you do not rest properly. You will not be ready for him tonight if you do not take it easy.’

Keira felt like a fraud and hated herself all over again for deceiving the housekeeper, who clearly had high hopes for a long and happy reunion between her boss and his wayward wife.

Marietta came closer and patted her on the arm. ‘Listen to me; I am much older than you but I know a lot of things about men. Your husband is like a lot of Italian men. He does not like to share. But he has women after him all the time, no? Why should you stay at home and feel bad, eh? You make him a little bit jealous but what about how he makes you feel, huh? I see the papers, I hear the rumours. He is a very rich man and lots of women want him. You made a mistake but who doesn’t, eh? Put it behind you and move on. That is my advice.’

‘Thank you, Marietta,’ she said. ‘I am doing my best to move on.’

Marietta smiled. ‘You love him. I can see that. You did not stop loving him. That is why I kept your clothes in the wardrobe. I knew you would come back. It is where you belong, no?’