Not Just a Convenient Marriage (8 page)

‘You really think—?’

‘Of course, he’ll have to start at the bottom and learn to speak Italian. But I’ll pay him a decent wage and he’ll live with us. And as long as he’s there Mario will take him under his wing. They get on well.’

‘Yes,’ Sally murmured. ‘Mario’s practically his hero. He’s been taking him around Venice—’

‘Going to all the places he shouldn’t.’ Damiano grinned. ‘Mario’s just what he needs. He’s got his “adventurous” side—’

‘Which is the bit Charlie likes,’ Sally mused.

‘Right. But actually he’s got a “guardian angel” side too. So Charlie will be safe with him.’

‘But how does Mario feel about being a guardian angel? Wouldn’t he rather be out living the high life?’

‘The high life has been a bit costly recently, and I’ve solved a few problems for him. Now I’ve asked a favour in return, and he’s agreed, probably hoping that I’ll help him out of the next mess.’

So he was pulling strings again, she thought. But she couldn’t bring herself to blame him. He’d promised to protect Charlie and he’d found a way to do it that was better than anything she could have imagined. She could only respond by keeping her own side of the deal, and doing all she could for Pietro. And that too was what he’d intended to happen.

He’s controlling me, she thought. But how can I complain when he’s giving me so much that I want, and it feels so good?

She read his eyes and knew that he’d understood her thoughts and was waiting for her to reach a conclusion.

And there was only one possible conclusion.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘This will be perfect for Charlie. Mario can talk sense to him in a way that I can’t.’

‘They’re coming,’ Damiano said, hearing voices in the corridor. ‘Don’t let them find us talking about them. They might be suspicious.’

‘You mean they might suspect we were organising their lives?’ she asked with a dramatic assumption of shock. ‘How could they possibly think that?’

‘Some people always believe the worst,’ he said with a grin. ‘Especially of me. Let’s go.’

She had a brief glimpse of Mario and Charlie talking. Charlie seemed absorbed in Mario’s words, and content in a way that was rare with him. The sight eased her heart.

Mario’s revelations about his brother had inspired her to go online again to study him in greater detail than before. She discovered a powerful man with properties not only in Venice, but Rome and Milan, plus business interests that extended into other areas, and powerful friends in the political world, many of whom chose to stay at the Leonese when they were in Venice.

Now the word was out that he intended to take a wife, and everyone who knew him was curious. Nobody had ever expected this, and the news that the Leonese would celebrate Carnival with a costume party brought a flood of people anxious to join.

‘
They’re
coming?’ Mario enquired, studying the list of attendees. ‘All of them?’

‘So they tell me,’ Damiano conceded.

‘You could have doubled the price of the tickets. I guess everyone wants to see Sally.’

‘But they won’t see me,’ she said. ‘Not really. I’ve got a costume and mask that will leave them wondering what I’m hiding.’

She had chosen a dress of deep gold satin, elegantly decorated with embroidery. Her mask was white with glistening gold decorations about the eyes. It covered her face almost completely, with just a little space left for her mouth. Gold feathers swirled around her head.

‘That’s a brilliant choice,’ Mario told her when they all met up just before the ball. ‘It’ll keep them guessing.’

‘Which means she’s a true Venetian,’ Damiano said, regarding her admiringly.

His own costume was in the eighteenth-century style, an elegant suit of black velvet, with a long coat and knee breeches. His mask was flesh-coloured and covered only the top half of his face, so that at first it wasn’t clear that he was wearing a mask at all.

If you just looked quickly, Sally thought, you might think you were seeing his real face. You’d have to get closer to realise that it’s partly hidden. Just like Damiano himself. I still don’t know very much about him; what’s real and what’s concealed. Will he ever show me his true face?

But then, will I ever show him mine? Will I ever want to?

Mario began parading before them in a costume of jerkin and trousers, patterned with squares of red, green, blue and yellow.

‘I’m Arlecchino,’ he declared, bowing elaborately to Sally. ‘Part servant, part clown.’

‘Part idiot,’ Damiano declared, grinning. ‘You want to watch out for him, Sally. Arlecchino was a character in a lot of plays over the years, always getting up to mischief, then vanishing. No prizes for guessing why my brother likes to be him.’

‘Not just your brother.’ Sally chuckled. ‘Mine too. Charlie bought a costume very like that. Mario told him it was the best way to be wicked and get away with it.’

‘I deny that,’ Mario said at once. ‘You imagined it.’ His manner became theatrical. ‘Damiano, this lady is delusional. Never believe a word she says.’

‘See what I mean?’ Damiano said. ‘Wicked.’

‘I do my best,’ Mario agreed, glad to see that Sally was enjoying the joke. ‘How about this?’ He put on his mask, which was black leather, leaving only his mouth free. A sharp horn rose from the crown.

‘What’s that?’ she asked, pointing at it.

‘It’s a horn of the devil,’ Mario said cheerfully. ‘Only one, because I’m only half a devil.’

‘Half’s probably enough,’ she agreed.

‘But a second horn could be useful,’ Charlie observed. ‘I think I’ll put a second one on my mask.’

‘You’re quite enough of a devil without help,’ she informed him with sisterly candour.

Turning back to Mario, she indicated his uncovered mouth.

‘Wouldn’t you be safer from discovery if your mouth was hidden too?’

For answer he blew her a kiss. ‘But then my pleasures would be restricted,’ he said significantly.

‘Ah, yes, I see,’ she said. ‘You couldn’t put up with that.’

Damiano was glancing out of the window to where he could see guests arriving.

‘Just about everyone is here,’ he said. ‘Time we joined them.’

CHAPTER EIGHT

T
OGETHER
THEY
MADE
their way through the connecting door into the hotel, and from there into the ballroom, where they were met by cheers.

Knowing what was expected of him, Damiano played his part to perfection, leading Sally onto the floor, then drawing her into his arms for a waltz. The music filled the air, seeming to flow through her, making her part of itself. She no longer had a will of her own. Life meant dancing through a distant universe with this mysterious man who smiled at her from behind his mask.

‘Why are you looking so tense and nervous?’ he murmured. ‘People will think I’m forcing you to marry me.’

‘You couldn’t do that, not in this day and age.’

‘But I have a reputation as a manipulating bully. You’ve accused me of it yourself.’

‘Manipulator yes, bully no. You’re far too clever for clumsy bullying.’

That made him laugh. She joined in, and everyone dancing near them nodded in satisfaction to see a couple so truly happy together.

He was a fine dancer, holding her firmly but gently, and she found herself moving with a skill that matched his. It was disappointing when courtesy demanded that they each attend to other people. In the arms of another partner she found herself thinking only of him, how strong and warm his body felt against hers.

After a while she saw Arlecchino bouncing across the floor to her.

‘Shall we dance?’ he asked, with an elaborate bow.

‘Do I dare dance with the devil?’ she teased.

‘Tonight I am merely your servant.’

‘I think I prefer a clown.’

His answer was an elaborate leap into the air, finishing with another bow. ‘Then a clown you shall have.’

Laughing, she let him lead her onto the floor.

Like his brother, Mario was a fine dancer, lithe and energetic, holding her close in the waltz.

‘I don’t think you should hold me so tight,’ she gasped after a while.

‘I’m merely showing my respects to my sister-in-law,’ he said theatrically. ‘Do you accuse me of impropriety?’

‘No, of course not.’ But as she spoke she saw something in his eyes that gave her pause. There was an intensity of admiration there that she hadn’t expected, and that was more than merely amusing.

‘I think you should let me go,’ she said.

‘Yes, perhaps you’re right,’ he said with a regretful sigh.

As he led her from the floor he said, ‘I’m sorry, Sally, I didn’t mean to—you know. It’s just that I think my brother’s the luckiest fellow on earth. I know I shouldn’t say that but—don’t be mad at me.’

‘I’m not,’ she said truthfully.

She was too unused to male admiration to be offended by it. And it passed across her mind that it was a look she never saw in Damiano’s eyes. Or expected to.

The evening was moving to its climax. Damiano signalled for silence and attention.

‘I thank you all for coming here tonight, to honour my bride,’ he said. ‘I am a lucky man, as you can see, and I thank her for being ready to put up with me.’

He raised his glass in salute to her, as did everyone else in the room. Then there was more dancing. Many of the guests were business acquaintances, anxious to display their respect for the bride of a powerful man.

‘How are you managing?’ Damiano asked her after a while.

‘Wonderfully. Everyone’s nice to me, but it’s a little hot in here. I need to go outside for a moment.’

Briefly she hoped that he would come with her, but someone called his name, so she headed for the garden alone.

She was vaguely aware of curious glances, some from people fascinated to know that this was Damiano’s bride, the woman with the magic to conquer Venice’s most stony-hearted man. The others came from the few folk who hadn’t recognised her, and wondered who the masked figure might be.

A good question, she thought. I’m beginning to wonder myself.

It was peaceful in the garden. Pleasant as it was to be the centre of attention, she knew it was based on an illusion. Now she knew a mysterious desire to be alone, free from the need to pretend.

She was about to return to the ballroom when she heard two voices a few feet away, speaking in English.

‘I must admit I’m a bit surprised to see Damiano taking a new wife at this precise moment,’ said a woman.

Sally tensed, unable to move as a man replied, ‘You mean at Carnival? But it’s all so cheerful. Surely that’s a good time to get married?’

‘Carnival has special memories for Damiano. That’s when he finally won Gina after he’d given up hope. I was there at the party when she walked in, and I saw his face when he realised she’d come back to him. At first he simply couldn’t believe he was seeing her, but as he walked across the floor to her his face lit up and his arms opened.’

‘Really? It’s not like Damiano to be demonstrative.’

‘True,’ the woman agreed. ‘You never saw a man so happy. She threw herself into his arms and the two of them fled. We didn’t see them again that night. Next thing we heard they were getting married.’

‘And then she died.’

‘Yes, their happiness was so short-lived. It makes you wonder how he’s feeling now. Can he bear to play the lover of another woman when he must be haunted by those memories tonight?’

‘Aren’t you being a bit sentimental?’ the man asked ironically.

‘Probably. I expect he’s madly in love with this new bride and has forgotten all about Gina.’

Sally hurried away. She didn’t want to be discovered now, while she was so shaken by what she had heard.

Madly in love with his new bride. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything his marriage was another affirmation of his love for Gina. For the sake of their son he would do anything, even marry a woman he didn’t love.

How well he’d played his part, she thought, honouring her, showing her off with apparent pride, concealing his true feelings.

Whatever they were.

He was waiting for her at the entrance to the ballroom.

‘There you are. I was worried about you.’

‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you alone.’

He took her hand.

‘Perhaps it was all getting a little much for you,’ he said gently. ‘You look tired. Why don’t you slip quietly away and leave me to bid everyone farewell?’

He was right, she thought. She needed to be alone, to think about what she’d heard, and reinforce her defences. And somewhere in her heart she knew that he was glad to bring the evening to an end. He’d behaved perfectly, but now the strain was catching up with him. He needed to be away from the crowd congratulating him on his bride. And he needed to be away from the bride herself. That was the truth.

She said her goodbyes and departed. Once back in her room she stripped off the extravagant costume and mask, and regarded herself in the mirror.

‘The is me,’ she said. ‘The real me. The only me.’ But then she sighed, regarding her lean figure and blank face. ‘Oh, dear. Not very impressive.’

She thought of the evening behind her when she had been officially the star, while secretly knowing that she was playing second fiddle.

The stand-in, she thought with a sigh. The understudy, performing because the one he really wanted wasn’t available any more.

But then her sensible side reappeared and she sighed again; this time with exasperation with herself.

Oh, stop being difficult, Sally. You agreed to this as a deal, with something gained on both sides. He’s keeping his side so shut up and stop complaining.

From her window she saw the crowd stream away from the hotel and the lights go out.

At last she heard Damiano come upstairs and go to his room. She waited, tense and hopeful, and to her relief there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find him there, stripped of his dramatic costume, now in pyjamas and dressing gown. He was holding two glasses of wine, one of which he held out to her. She took it and ushered him in.

‘I’m sorry to have run away.’

‘It’s all right,’ he said, sitting on the bed. ‘You were marvellous. Everyone admired you.’

She didn’t believe it. He was being polite, saying the things a bridegroom was expected to say. But his eyes suddenly closed, like a man surrendering to forces too strong for him, and her heart was touched.

‘It’s a sad time for you, isn’t it?’ she asked gently.

He opened his eyes. ‘Why do you say that?’

‘I know you’re trying to look cheerful because of our wedding, for my sake. But it’s really a shame that all this is happening just now, during Carnival.’ She paused, unsure whether to pressure him further. But the need to know more about him was overwhelming.

‘I know that Carnival has a special meaning to you because of Gina,’ she said quietly.

‘How do you know that?’

‘I heard someone talking about her tonight, how she was away for a while. But she came back during one of the parties. You saw her across the room and she threw herself into your arms.’

He uttered a soft groan and dropped his head, as though the memory was unendurable. For a moment she nearly backed off, yet the hope of being in his confidence tempted her to urge him further.

‘You must have had a wonderful reunion,’ she ventured.

‘Yes, we did. I could hardly believe it then and I can still hardly believe it, even now—’ He stopped, suddenly self-conscious. ‘I’m sorry. What am I thinking of to be talking of her just before I marry you? Please forgive my appalling manners.’

‘There’s nothing to forgive,’ she insisted. ‘You’re talking because I’m encouraging you. Damiano, we’re not in love. We both understand that. We’re marrying because we each gain something we want, and we like each other enough to make it work. We can be good friends. Can you talk about her to anyone else?’

He shook his head.

‘Then talk to me. Let me be your best friend, the person you trust and confide in. It won’t be the same as you enjoyed with her, but it might just give you a kind of contentment.’

He regarded her as if wondering if he’d heard properly, and how he should understand what she was saying.

‘Do you really mean that?’ he asked at last.

‘Yes, I really mean it. And I always will.’

‘Thank you,’ he whispered. He took her hands between his and lowered his head to kiss them. ‘Thank you.’

She tightened her hands on his to cope with the tension surging through her.

‘Now we know we can talk freely,’ she said. ‘So tell me everything about how things happened between you and Gina. She was English, wasn’t she? How did you meet?’

‘Her brother had a shop on one of the islands. I went there one day and fell in love with her in the first moment. I wanted to marry her, but she had ambitions to be a model, and she went back to England fairly soon because she’d been offered an assignment.

‘She had a fairly good career, not as successful as she hoped, but good enough to keep her trying. If she had a few weeks off she’d come out here and we could be together, but it seemed a very one-sided relationship. I adored her and she knew it, but she kept a certain emotional distance. She was charming to me, but she didn’t return my passion and my embraces had to be restrained. When we met it was always because I’d gone to see her. She didn’t come to me. This went on for several years.’

‘Years?’

‘Yes. I often told myself that enough was enough, that I should break it off and return to having a life of my own, one that she didn’t dominate. But I could never kill the hope. She was worth waiting for, and I was sure that one day my love would come to mean so much to her that she would have to return it. But then she went away again, for much longer this time, and I thought I’d lost her for ever.

‘But on the night of the ball a miracle happened. I saw a lovely mask, and I knew at once that she was the person behind it. She hadn’t even told me she was coming, just appeared out of the blue, like a magical apparition.

‘That night she became mine. As we lay together I knew that dreams can come true. She gave herself to me with all the love in her nature.

‘After that we belonged to each other, heart and soul. I begged her to marry me and we set the wedding for the soonest possible date. The time that followed was the happiest I’d ever known. When we learned that she was pregnant I couldn’t believe that heaven could be so kind. The future seemed to stretch before us, an endless road full of infinite joy. And then—’

His voice choked off suddenly and his head drooped. Now she couldn’t see his face but she didn’t need to. She knew it was transformed with grief in a way she didn’t want to see. She’d spoken bravely about being his friend, defining their relationship in a way that they could both endure.

For the moment.

In time their closeness might develop another dimension, but just now she must live in hope.

Damiano raised his head again and she saw the glisten of tears on his face.

‘And then she died,’ he murmured. ‘And it was my fault.’

‘No, it wasn’t. Don’t say that.’

‘I gave her the child whose birth killed her. But for that she’d still be alive today. It haunts me and it always will. She opened her arms to me because she wanted the life I could give her, but I destroyed her.’

She struggled for words that might comfort him, but there were no words. Deep inside he carried a burden of guilt that, however unjustified, tormented him night and day. Her heart ached for his pain and her own helplessness.

‘Part of me died with her,’ he went on. ‘I would have died completely but for the child she left me. Pietro is her son and mine.’

‘Yes,’ she murmured. ‘In him you are united for ever with her. And while you have him you’ll never completely lose her.’

‘Thank you,’ he whispered. ‘Thank you, dear Sally.’ He laid his lips against her hand.

‘I’m here for you,’ she whispered. ‘And I always will be.’

‘Always,’ he echoed. ‘There was a time when that word tormented me, when I couldn’t believe that anything could be for always. But you give me faith again.’

She laid her lips gently against his. For a tense moment she waited for his response, wondering if he would take her in his arms and turn his affectionate words into actions. But he drew back.