A Dark Sicilian Secret

All three bridal gowns were stunning, all three were glamorous and all three would cost a fortune.

“They’re all beautiful,” Jillian said, going from one to the other and around again without making a decision. “I could wear any one of them.”

“Yes, dear, but you can only have one, and the designers need to go home and get to work,” Theresa said coolly. “So which gown is it to be?”

Jillian lightly ran her fingertips over the sketch in her hand. It was the ball gown sketch, the one that looked most like the kind of dress Cinderella would have worn the night she met the prince.

The first night Jillian had gone to dinner with Vitt she’d thought him a prince.

That first night she’d been so sure there would be happily-ever-after.

She set aside the ball gown design to look at the satin 1930s glamour gown. The dress looked like something a rich man would have his mistress wear. It spoke of sex and seduction and money.

And then there was the chiffon empire-style dress with the jeweled bodice and collar. The embroidery and jewels looked modern and yet the chiffon added softness, making her think of the silvery fuzzy lamb’s ear leaves tucked among the fragrant white flower blossoms.

These three gowns were all so fancy, so showy, she couldn’t actually imagine wearing any of them.

Yet she couldn’t say that to the designers. She couldn’t hurt their feelings.

She flipped through the female fashion designer’s sketchbook, pausing briefly at a sketch she hadn’t been shown. It was a strapless ivory silk gown with a full ruched silk skirt without any embellishment other than a sage green satin ribbon at the waist. The green satin ribbon had been tied into a soft bow and the ends dangled all the way to the skirt’s hem.

It was simple, maybe too simple, which is why Jillian hadn’t been shown it, but she loved the color green, and the ruched ball skirt with the organza overlay.

“I like that one best,” a deep male voice, a very calm voice, said from behind her shoulder. “It looks like you.”

She glanced over her shoulder at Vittorio, tears shimmering in her eyes. “You think so?”

He nodded and reached out to catch one of the tears before it fell. “Why are you sad?”

“She’s not sad,” Theresa said sharply, “and you’re not supposed to be here. The gown is supposed to be kept secret—”

“We’re already married, Mother. This is a renewal of vows for the benefit of our family.” He leaned over the back of the couch, took the sketchpad with the color drawing of the ivory gown and green ribbon and held it up. “Who did this one?”

The female designer raised her hand. “It’s mine.”

“This is the one Jill wants,” Vitt told her. He nodded to the other designers. “Thank you for coming today. As promised, you will be well compensated for the consultation. Thank you everyone, and now we must say goodbye as Jill and I have someplace we have to be.”

Jillian lifted her head, met Vitt’s gaze. He nodded slightly. She rose and together they left the room.

“Where are we going?” she murmured as they started down the stairs.

“Out. Away. I thought we could both use some air, and time to ourselves.” He glanced down at her as they reached the bottom stair. “Would you like that?”

“Very much.”

“Good. So would I.”

CHAPTER NINE

VITTORIO opened the front door to the front steps and sunshine flooded the stone entry. The air felt fresh, the sky was blue with just a few wispy clouds, and a cream two-seater convertible sports car gleamed in the circular driveway.

“That’s a beautiful car,” she said, descending the steps to examine the car’s flowing lines from the curving panoramic windshield to the sleek rear end. “Has to be a 1950s design,” she added.

“Good eye. 1955,” he said, smiling at her. “A Lancia Aurelia.”

“Don’t they call these B24 Spiders?”

Vittorio laughed softly as he opened the passenger door for her. “They do. How did you know?”