Shameful Secret, Shotgun Wedding

But it still begged the question why he had brought her here. All through dinner it nagged at her—creating a backdrop of disquiet while she struggled with the elaborate cuisine and took only a sip of the rich wine. At least she was sitting next to Allegra, who chattered brightly about England and her desire to visit it.

‘Perhaps you could come to stay with us if your parents were agreeable?’ Cassie asked tentatively, meeting Giancarlo’s eyes with a question. ‘Couldn’t she?”

‘Of course she could,’ he said softly. For a moment he felt chastened by her instinctive generosity and the fact that she could make such an offer when the atmosphere over dinner had been, for the most part, as corrosive as he had dreaded it might be.

His sister-in-law had poured herself into a silk cocktail dress which was cut to cling to her petite form like a second skin. She had then proceeded to boast about her extravagant lifestyle in a way which had made him recoil—while she contradicted almost every remark Raul made. Even when his brother had been talking about his beloved art collection, Gabriella had been as negative as it was possible for a woman to be. He had noticed Cassandra biting her lip a couple of times and then deliberately engaging Allegra in a long talk about her horses—as if she was trying to dispel the poisonous atmosphere between the couple.

And maybe blood was truly thicker than water—for the vestiges of Giancarlo’s long-held anger finally dwindled away, to be replaced by a cold fury that Gabriella should treat his brother with such disrespect. And fury that Raul was letting her! Well, maybe it was time for his brother to listen to a few home truths.

Giancarlo waited until the end of the meal before rising to his feet. ‘So, Raul—are you going to show me this art collection of which you are so proud?’

Raul shrugged. ‘Sure, why not? Let’s take a glass of grappa with us—and I’ll give you a guided tour.’

Cassie watched them go, feeling suddenly isolated—especially when Gabriella turned to Allegra and told her that it was time for bed.

‘But, Mamma—’

‘It is late,’ said Gabriella, her dark eyes glittering. ‘Say goodnight to your aunt. And I will see you in the morning.’

Cassie hugged Allegra, thinking what a lovely girl she was and thinking how difficult it must be, living with two such obviously warring parents. ‘And think about coming to stay with us in England,’ she said.

‘Oh, I will! I will! Grazie, Zia Cassandra.’

The two women sat listening to the sound of Allegra’s footsteps clattering over the flagged stone floors on her way to bed—and once silence had descended Gabriella lifted one of the wine bottles and turned to Cassie.

‘Drink?’

‘Just water for me, thanks.’

Gabriella refilled her own glass. ‘You’re not much of a drinker are you, Cassandra?’

Cassie sipped at her water, determined that her pleasant smile shouldn’t slip. ‘Not really, no.’

‘In fact, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you all evening.’ The Italian woman raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows in insolent query. ‘Are you pregnant?’

Chapter Ten

CASSIE’s breath caught in her throat and her heart started rapidly accelerating as she stared at her sister-in-law, feeling as if she’d been caught out in some guilty secret. ‘You dare to ask me whether I’m pregnant?’ she whispered in disbelief. ‘That’s a very personal remark to make!’

‘Which doesn’t answer my question.’

‘But I don’t have to answer it. Anyway, lots of women don’t drink alcohol,’ said Cassie as Gabriella raised her glass to her lips.

‘So they don’t. But then, lots of women don’t marry much older Italian billionaires either.’

‘He’s…’ Cassie swallowed. ‘Giancarlo’s only fourteen years older than me!’

‘Only? My dear—that’s practically a different generation.’

‘You know, I don’t have to sit here and be insulted by you,’ said Cassie quietly.

‘I wasn’t intending to insult you. I was just being honest with you—that’s what family are for. Have you met any of his other friends? No? How come that doesn’t surprise me? Well, I can assure you that I am only voicing what they will all be thinking. You see, you are not what I expected. Not at all. Giancarlo is an experienced and highly educated man of the world, while you…Well, I can understand that your gauche freshness might appeal to an older man’s rather jaded palate—but when that fades, then what?’

Cassie’s fingers tightened around her glass; she felt as if the blood were draining from her veins. ‘Please,’ she said weakly.