Second Marriage

'Oh, yes, you have. Veiled, maybe, but accus

ations none the less,' she flashed back angrily. 'I know I was out of order at your home that night, and that I said things I shouldn't have, and I'm not proud of it. But I was—' She stopped abruptly and then forced herself to go on. 'I was out of my depth and I didn't want anything to happen we'd both regret. I should have called a halt long before I did, I know that, but there is still no need for you to carry on this…this hate campaign against me,' she finished passionately. 'You're horrible, cold, cruel and I hate you. I really hate you.'

She evaded his hand as it shot out to grab her, jump­ing back and then turning and running like the wind towards the house. She heard him call her name, his voice hard and angry, but didn't stop until she reached Casa Pontina, exploding into the house like a small tor­nado before forcing herself to stand still for a moment and adjust the robe with shaking hands. 'Calm down, calm down,' she told herself tremblingly as she fought for control. 'Grace is going to have the twins here and now if you burst in on her like a demented madwoman.'

She took several deep, long breaths, smoothing her wet hair away from her hot face and combing it with her fingers into some sort of order, and then, knowing Romano must be approaching the house by now, walked quickly along to the drawing room where she found Grace sitting on one of the sofas with her feet up and her eyes closed.

'Romano says you're not feeling too good,' she said anxiously as Grace opened drowsy eyes at her entrance. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing, I'm fine. Just a few aches and pains, that's all,' Grace said sleepily. 'I told Romano that, but men are so panicky when it comes to pregnancy. Donato is just the same. Here's me, with the equivalent of two live and kicking beachballs stuck in the front of me, and they wonder why my muscles object to the load. There's nothing wrong, Claire, really. You would be the first person I'd call if there was anyway.' She sat up straighter as she saw the relief on Claire's face. 'Why?' she asked, wide awake now. 'What did Romano say?'

'That I ought to come back to the house,' Claire said flatly, sinking down beside Grace as her friend swung her legs down and patted the seat beside her, 'and that you weren't feeling well.'

'Oh, men.' Grace sighed deeply. 'Those two will drive me mad before I'm finished—they've even got Lorenzo looking at me anxiously all the time now. You didn't come back before you were ready, did you?' she added anxiously. 'You know if I ever needed you I'd always send Gina or Anna to fetch you.'

'No, I'd had enough anyway.' Claire smiled as she continued, 'Attilio and Lorenzo had just joined me and they were talking about races and all sorts of things, which sounded a bit too physical for me. Pools are to relax in and lie by, with plenty of magazines and a glass of wine, in my opinion.'

'And mine,' Grace agreed feelingly.

'We were just having a bit of fun when Romano came and called me,' Claire said lightly. 'That's all.'

'Were you?' Grace's eyes narrowed. 'And he said you ought to come back to the house?'

'Yes.' There was something in Grace's voice that caught her attention. 'Why?'

'Oh, nothing.' Grace shrugged easily. 'And do I gather Romano was a bit…stressed?'

'About you? Yes.' Claire nodded as she stood up; she had just heard Romano talking to one of the maids in the hall outside, and now seemed like the perfect time to go and have a shower and get changed. With any luck he'd be gone before she came down again. 'I'll see you a bit later.'

'Yes, OK.' Grace sounded a little preoccupied, and as Claire left the room and Romano entered, the two of them exchanging tight nods, Grace's face was thought­ful. So…sparks were flying unless she was very much mistaken. Interesting, very interesting. She ran a contem­plative hand across her swollen stomach and smiled up at Romano as he took a seat opposite her. Yes, very interesting.

* * *

When Claire walked back into the drawing room some thirty minutes later, her sleek chestnut hair loose about her shoulders and her slim body encased in old denim jeans and a big baggy jumper that reached almost to her knees, she was annoyed to find Romano was still there. Annoyed and disturbed, she admitted honestly.

She would have liked to be unaffected by him, as he was so obviously unaffected by her, but her treacherous heart had started thudding at the bottom of the stairs when she had heard his deep voice talking to Grace, and although her face was blank and cool as she walked into the room her stomach was a quivering jelly.

'Hello, there.' Grace's face was bright and smiling and her voice was cheerful. 'We were just talking about you, actually. I was in a bit of a quandary but Romano has agreed to help out.'

'Has he?' Claire glanced at him cautiously, not liking the implications of her friend's words. The last person, the very last person she would want to help her out was Romano Bellini.

'You know we were all going to see Anna and Alessandro at Amalfi tomorrow—you and Lorenzo and Donato and me?' Grace said sunnily. 'Well, I've been worrying a bit today as I really don't feel like the drive.'

'That's no problem; we don't have to go,' Claire said immediately as an awful suspicion filled her mind.

'But Lorenzo would be so disappointed.' Grace's tone was reproachful. 'You know how he enjoys seeing Giuseppe, and it's been ages since they got together— besides which, Anna and Alessandro are looking forward to meeting you. I've told them so much about you.'

Claire managed a weak smile and prayed that Grace's next words wouldn't be what she thought they were go­ing to be. Her prayers fell on deaf ears.

'I know Donato wouldn't go if I was going to stay here, but Romano's free tomorrow and he said he'll be happy to take you and Lorenzo to Amalfi. He was plan­ning a visit to Alessandro's soon anyway.'

What could she say? Sheer panic made her ears buzz and killed her thought processes dead.

'So…if Romano picks you and Lorenzo up about nine tomorrow morning, would that be all right?' Grace said in the sort of tone that wasn't really asking a question. 'You'll love Anna, she's a pet, and Lorenzo is going to stay overnight so you can leave any time you want after lunch.'

'Grace, I really don't think—'

'And then I shan't feel I'm messing everyone's day up,' Grace said plaintively. 'I feel bad enough as it is, lumbering about like ten-ton Tessie, but the thought of being a killjoy as well…'