Phantom Marriage

And so it was that just over three months later, on the evening after they went together to have their first ultrasound—the baby was healthy and a boy—Leonardo took Veronica out for dinner where he produced the most glorious ring and asked her to marry him.

* * *

Leonardo would remember the look on her face for ever. It was filled with a joy which came not just from love but absolute faith. It had taken time for her to totally trust him. Time and sacrifice on his part. He was not a man used to denying his male urges. But it had been worth it in the end.

‘You were the right girl that Laurence talked about,’ he said as he slipped the diamond ring on her finger. ‘This was what he wanted when he made sure that we would meet.’

‘That thought did occur to me once too,’ she replied, surprising him.

He was very thankful now that he’d never told her what he’d found on Laurence’s phone. He hadn’t been sure that she would be pleased with her father researching the female biological clock the day before he’d gone to London and changed his will. He would not have liked Veronica to assume that her father was more concerned about her being childless than anything else. It was possible, he supposed, but Leonardo preferred to believe that his friend wanted his daughter and his friend to meet, fall in love and hopefully marry.

Whatever his motives, it had all worked out in the end.

I have found a new dream, Laurence. A better one. I am going to be the best husband and father in the whole of Italy. Maybe even in the whole world!

Hopefully, if Laurence were able to observe things from heaven—or wherever he was—he would approve.

As for Leonardo’s own family, they would be over the moon now that marriage was on the horizon. His mamma was already making preparations for a big wedding on Capri. Nora had been in constant contact with her and the two women were happy little conspirators.

He smiled over at Veronica, who was touching her ring and looking very thoughtful.

‘What is it?’ he asked, very in tune with her feelings by now.

‘I was just wondering…’

‘Wondering what?’

‘If I could spend tonight in the guest room. With the man I adore.’

Leonardo took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as emotion claimed him. He’d always thought that nothing would ever surpass winning a race on the ski slopes.

He was so wrong.

EPILOGUE

March the following year…

‘YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL,’ her mother said, her voice catching.

They were alone in the master bedroom of Laurence’s villa, getting ready for what was going to be the wedding of the year on Capri. The official invitations numbered over three hundred, with guests coming from all over the world, their expenses paid for by Leonardo. The wedding was to take place in Santo Stephano, the main church on Capri, the reception at the Grand Hotel Quisisana, a five-star hotel which exuded both history and luxury.

Veronica didn’t like to think of what the bill might be, Leonardo having brushed aside her worries with his usual savoir faire.

‘I am not going to stint on our wedding, Veronica,’ he’d said when she’d broached the subject. ‘You deserve everything I can afford to give you.’

It seemed that what he could afford was one hell of a lot. Her wedding dress had been designed by one of the best designers in Milan, with Veronica not even having been told what it had cost. And the gown was, in truth, a breathtakingly lovely creation, designed to hide perfectly her six-and-a-half-month baby bump without compromising on elegance.

There was a floor-length under-dress made in white chiffon, which was princess-line in style and sleeveless, with a scooped neckline and softly gathered skirt. Over this lay a long, white lace coat that had long sleeves and flowed out the back in a train. There was only one button, just under her bust, though one could hardly call it a button. It was a jewelled clasp, made of pearls and diamonds, as were the drop earrings that Leonardo had given his bride as an additional wedding present. Her hair was up, a circlet of flowers crowning her dark tresses. Attached at the back was a simple tulle veil that had a small face veil which could be brought over her face then lifted during the ceremony.

Veronica looked at her mother and smiled. ‘I do look good, don’t I?’

‘I think that’s an understatement, my darling daughter. Laurence would be so proud.’

‘I like to think so,’ she said, still feeling a little sad when she thought of the missed opportunities with her father.

‘Come, now. No sad thoughts today. You are on your way to be married to one of the nicest, most sincere men I have ever met. Not to mention the most generous. But first, we have to join the others and have photos taken on the terrace.’

The ‘others’ were considerable. Veronica had been unable to resist asking both Elena and Carmelina to be her matrons of honour, Leonardo going along with her by making Franco and Alfonso his best men. All their children were in the wedding party as well as flower girls and page boys. They were thrilled to pieces to be asked and promised to be very good, even the precocious Bruno having given his solemn word. The matrons of honour were in sky-blue silk and carried white bouquets, the flower girls in white with white-and-blue posies. All the men—and boys—had chosen to wear black tuxedos, all made in Milan, their lapels carrying white roses.