“Agreed. Call him tonight and end it. Don’t make him wait until tomorrow night. He’ll appreciate your honesty. It’s the only way to do this.”
“You’re right. What would I do if I couldn’t talk to you, Fausta?” She hugged her. “I’m thinking of flying back to Vallefiore in the morning to talk to Enrico in person. My bag is still packed. Nothing this earthshaking can be discussed over the phone. I’ll contact Giovanni. He can arrange for me and Enrico to talk in private without his mother knowing about it.”
“Go for it, Donetta.”
She smiled. “I wish you’d been there to see how Queen Teodora looked at me while we were watching the competition. Daggers flew at me. She’s wanted Enrico to marry Valentina for years. I know in my heart she’ll never give us her blessing, feud or not.”
Fausta rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t sound like Enrico is worried about that, and he isn’t using his father’s illness as an excuse to avoid marriage. He’s asked you to marry him. He’ll be king. Except for the feud between our countries, our parents can’t be too unhappy about this. You’ll be a real queen, something you’ve wanted all your life.
“It’s almost like he has read your mind, but I know that’s not possible unless you told him during one of the times you were together.”
Donetta shook her head. “I would never have told another soul but you and Lanza about that dream of mine. Did you tell Mia?”
“Even if I did, she would never breathe a word to anyone. In my opinion a miracle has happened to you. I’ll drive you to the airport early in the morning before the parents are awake and cover for you until you contact them.”
If this was out of the frying pan into the fire, then so be it. “You’re a wonder!”
She hugged Fausta again before her sister left the apartment. Before she did anything else, Donetta alerted her pilot. Then phoned the Montedoro Lake Front Hotel on Lake Saracene to reserve a room for her for tomorrow. She requested that a car be sent to meet her jet. Once that was done, she sat down on the side of the bed to phone Arnaud.
“Ma belle—I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight.”
“Arnaud, I’m sorry to disturb you this late, but this call couldn’t wait.”
After a silence he said, “You sound so serious I know I’m not going to like it.”
She swallowed hard. “It’s very serious because we’re talking marriage and neither of us is in love the way we should be. I can’t marry you, Arnaud. It wouldn’t be right for either of us and you know it!”
“You’re still in love with someone else.”
This was the time for honesty. “Yes. One day you’ll fall hard for a woman who will feel the same way about you. I think you’re a wonderful man. In my own way I do love you and wish you every happiness in the future.”
“I can’t say you didn’t warn me.”
“Take care, Arnaud.”
“Be happy, Donetta.”
After hanging up, she pressed the phone to her chest. Instead of feeling horrible, she felt relieved that both she and Arnaud had their freedom. It had been the right thing to do.
She packed another bag with some of her favorite clothes. Whatever happened after she reached Vallefiore, she wanted to be prepared.
After climbing into bed, she set her watch alarm for 5:30 a.m. but spent a restless night. The next morning she slipped out of the palace with Fausta, who drove her to the airport.
Donetta had no idea what k
ind of a reception she would get as she made the phone call to Giovanni en route. The blood pounded in her ears while she waited to reach him. But she was met with fierce disappointment when she heard his voice mail.
Donetta left Enrico’s cousin a message that she was on her way to Vallefiore and would be registered at the Montedoro Lake Front Hotel before long. If he could call her back at the number on this phone, she’d be grateful.
The steward served her a meal. For the rest of the flight Donetta sat there full of anxiety and excitement over what she was about to do. If they did decide to get married, she would have to remember that this was purely a business arrangement and she mustn’t engage her feelings or show Enrico how she really felt.
CHAPTER FIVE
ENRICO SAT OUTSIDE the interrogation room at the police station in the village of Avezzano, Vallefiore. The angry man being questioned didn’t know he was observed.
Through Enrico’s undercover work and supervision, this was the latest of ten people from western Vallefiore being investigated for suspected involvement in corrupt practices. He’d already witnessed the interrogations of the mayor, his councillor and his assistant.
The four were facing charges including extortion, fraud and money laundering after Enrico had gathered evidence over the last two months. This particular investigation was linked to subcontracts awarded to build energy farms near the village. It was long past time to crack down on corruption in a major way.