The Mistress Wife

She thought about telling him that an aspidistra was not a fern, but did not have the heart. He would take it badly. Men never were gracious about mistakes, which they believed entailed a loss of face. In any case it was a very handsome aspidistra.

Bernice phoned mid-morning while Vivien was dragging cases downstairs. Vivien was relieved to hear from her sister and keen to chat and catch up, but soon found herself being subjected to some uncomfortable questioning.

‘How long do you have before the divorce becomes final?’ Bernice asked baldly.

‘I’m not absolutely sure…’ Vivien confided, her palms growing damp because she was being forced to think about the very thing she most wished to avoid thinking about.

‘Don’t be silly. Of course you must know,’ Bernice declared, it being quite beyond her to empathise with Vivien’s shrinking distaste and fear of the whole procedure of divorce.

Vivien had never wanted a divorce. It was only a couple of months since Lucca, through the usual medium of his legal counsel, had requested a divorce on the grounds of their separation, which had lasted for the required two years. Pride had made her give her consent but she had wept long and hard that night. She had to force herself even to open a letter from her solicitor.

A few weeks earlier, the divorce petition had gone through the court system. The precise date of that event evaded Vivien because she had been too upset to pay much heed to it. However, she was aware that six weeks and a day had to pass before the final decree of divorce could be applied for. She was convinced that that six-week waiting period could not yet have passed and that there was still a small window of opportunity in which Lucca could change his mind and decide that he wanted to stay married.

‘Vivien!’ Bernice prompted sharply.

‘Look…’ Vivien was keen to avoid any further discussion of her divorce prospects. Made restive, she tucked the phone between her cheek and her shoulder and went into the porch to lift the small sealed bag of redirected post that had been delivered. It appeared to contain only her favourite seed catalogue and she tossed it into the case she had yet to lock for later perusal. Perhaps it would be more sensible just to be frank with Bernice about what was happening with Lucca, she reflected ruefully. ‘Lucca and I are going to Italy this afternoon.’

‘Really? I’m delighted for you,’ her sister said in a surprisingly bright tone.

Vivien was surprised at Bernice’s change of attitude. ‘You…are?’

‘Why shouldn’t I be? I have a small confession to make too,’ her sister continued in the same bright voice. ‘The day you left I mistook your bank statement for mine and accidentally opened it…and I just couldn’t help noticing that Lucca has paid the most enormous sum of money into your account.’

Vivien’s green eyes rounded. ‘My goodness, are you sure?’

‘Well, you did ask him for cash and I’ll give him his due: he paid up the very same day. Your overdraft has vanished. He’s given you two hundred and fifty thousand pounds…a quarter of a mill!’ the excited brunette declared.

Astonishment had paralysed Vivien to the spot.

‘That much? You’re not serious?’

‘It’s wonderful news for both of us. I can hardly wait for the chance to make a fresh start and now you’ll be able to give me an interest-free loan.’

‘A loan?’ Vivien repeated in bewilderment.

‘You’re back with Lucca…surely you can spare me a hundred grand to get another business started up?’

At that blunt demand, Vivien breathed in deep. ‘But I’m not back with Lucca, not in the way you mean. We could still end up apart,’ she confided unhappily. ‘I’m really sorry but I couldn’t possibly loan you his money.’

‘Why the hell not? He’s rolling in it!’ Bernice pointed out in truculent disagreement. ‘You are sleeping with him again, aren’t you?’

Vivien reddened and ignored that intrusive enquiry. ‘First and foremost that money was intended to solve my financial problems and ensure Marco’s security. I don’t have a salary coming in at present. I’m not living in my own home either but I still have the mortgage and bills to meet,’ she reminded the brunette uncomfortably. ‘The situation I’m in now is temporary—’

‘Oh, is it? So, now you’re saying you’re just Lucca’s temporary mistress. Is that right?’ her sibling sneered.

That gibe cut Vivien like a knife. ‘I really wish that I could help you but at this moment in time—’

‘No, you don’t…you always were a selfish cow!’ Bernice spat in a rage at being refused the loan. ‘Lucca’s got you right where he wants you. I can’t believe it. Three years back, you wouldn’t sleep with him until you were engaged—’

‘Bernice…please!’ Vivien interrupted, stricken with embarrassment.

‘And now he only has to stick two hundred grand in your bank account and you’re acting like a whore!’

On that abusive note, the phone at the other end of the line was slammed down.

CHAPTER NINE

‘YOU’LL love Il Palazzetto,’ Lucca forecast with immense confidence.