“You can say that again,” Donetta commented. “The women must be crazy about him.”
Fausta nodded. “But he’s out of circulation now.”
“One can hope.”
“Oh, Donetta, what a thing to say.”
Lanza didn’t like hearing any of it and stepped out of her gown. She didn’t want to believe Donetta’s teasing comment. He was her husband now. “Thanks for helping me.”
Wanting to avoid talk, she gathered up her new underwear and hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower. Afterward, she swept her hair back on her head and secure
d it with a pearl comb. It matched her pearl earrings and the single pearl on a gold chain Stefano had sent her ahead of time as a wedding gift.
She fastened it around her neck, touched up her lipstick, then came back out to dress in the suit. Once she’d put on her high heels, she slipped on the new beige cashmere coat that fell above the knee and tied with a sash at the waist.
Her gaze flew to the clock by her bed. She’d already been gone an hour. Lanza reached for the cream-colored leather handbag and kissed her sisters.
“You look beautiful,” they both said at the same time.
“Thank you. See you in two weeks.”
They caught up to her at the door. Donetta eyed her with concern. Fausta looked just as worried. “Are you all right?”
She stared at them, deciding to be honest. “No, and I’m not sure I ever will be again, but you two already know that. I won’t be throwing the bouquet, and you both know why.” Donetta didn’t want to get married. One day Fausta would find her man of the people, but unfortunately their parents could intervene and turn their wishes around.
Lanza blew them another kiss and hurried through the palace and down the stairs. The girls, uncharacteristically quiet, followed her.
Stefano stood out from everyone at the bottom of the elegant staircase beneath the rotunda. Her striking new husband had changed into an elegant dark gray suit, shirt and tie, reminding her of a highly successful, sophisticated CEO. He wore an overcoat close to the color of hers and was surrounded by their families, who were waiting to wave them off.
“Here she comes,” her mother said as both her parents rushed toward her and gave her a hug. “You look perfectly lovely, darling.”
“Thanks, Mamà.”
“You’ll never know how happy we are for you,” her father murmured.
He was wrong. She knew exactly how they felt, but her dad looked weary tonight. It had been such a long day. Lanza had to pray that if nothing else came of it, this marriage would add a few years to his life.
She hugged him extra hard. “Relax and enjoy this time now that the wedding is over, Papà. We’ll be back before you know it.”
“Lanza?”
She let go of her father and walked over to him. “Yes, Signor Casale?” she said in a quiet aside. When she saw his slight grimace, it brought a smile to her face.
He put his arm through hers and they left the palace in the biting cold for the limo waiting below. After they got inside and the chauffeur drove them around the drive to the road in the distance, Stefano turned to her.
“I’m curious to know the real reason why you insist on calling me Signor Casale.” He sat next to her rather than opposite her like they’d done in the carriage.
“I’m sorry and won’t do it again. One of my favorite novels is Pride and Prejudice. In the story, the mother of the four Bennett daughters always speaks to her husband as Mr. Bennett. She never uses his first name, never calls him honey or darling or sweetheart or dearest. She’s absolutely hilarious and I laugh every time.”
“You read it often?” He wasn’t able to hide his surprise.
“I’ve read it a lot in my life. Are you a reader?”
“When I have time.”
“What’s one of your favorite novels?”
“I’ll have to think about that.”