A Proposal From The Italian Count

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‘Of course not,’ she said uneasily. ‘I have no feelings about you one way or the other, actually,’ she lied bravely.

‘So you didn’t mean it when you said you wouldn’t marry me in a million years? Or the bit about me being cold and arrogant and a person who thinks money can solve anything?’

For a moment it was as though her worst nightmares were coming true. But then she saw he was grinning, and that his eyes were full of friendly humour.

‘Forget it,’ he said. ‘People say things in the heat of the moment. And it’s not far different from what you said to me yesterday. But it’s time we drew a line under that. We have to work matters out between us and be friends—if that’s possible.’

It was still embarrassing to know that he’d heard her, but his unexpected humour made it bearable.

‘So—can I have some food sent up?’ he asked.

‘Are you asking my permission?’

Again he gave her a cheeky grin. ‘Isn’t that what you prefer a man to do?’

‘Stop trying to make me sound like a bully.’

‘Not a bully. Just a woman who knows her own mind—as Rik would tell us after the way you stood up to him. He’s a nasty bully, but you really dealt with him.’

‘Yes—and that was so successful that now I’ve got to start looking for another job and a home.’

‘But where? You’ll never get another job around here. He’ll make sure of that.’

She groaned, recognising that Vittorio was right. Rik would spread the word that she was unreliable, destroying her prospects.

‘I still feel that I owe you any help I can persuade you to accept,’ Vittorio said.

‘You have a job to offer me?’

‘Not here, but in Italy. I could find many opportunities for you there. Why not come back with me?’

CHAPTER THREE (#u28978ffb-86d3-5307-a2c1-e005f7cec072)

JACKIE STARED AT him in disbelief. ‘Italy? Did I hear right?’

‘Dead right. I want you to work for me in my family’s department store in Rome. Your talents will be valuable.’

‘But I’ve only ever worked in a little shop. I’d be useless in a department store.’

‘Not in our glass and china section. It’s a new department, and it isn’t doing brilliantly because nobody really understands it. But you could bring it to life and make it profitable.’

‘According to Rik, I was lousy at making profits.’

‘Were you? Or did he make a lot of stupid decisions?’

‘Yes, he buys all the wrong stuff.’

‘So I can rely on you to buy all the right stuff?’

‘Mightn’t the language be a problem? I never got to finish my Italian course at night school. I had to stop when Daddy became ill.’

‘A lot of people there speak English. Some of our customers are tourists, and your English would be a blessing to them. Your Italian seems already pretty good, and you can work to improve it.’

‘It’s very kind of you—’ she began uneasily.

‘No, it isn’t. I’m not being kind. I’m a businessman and I’m doing what any sensible businessman does—turning the situation to my own advantage. I could make a lot of money out of you, and I’m not passing up the chance to do that.’

‘But how—?’

‘You won’t just have that one department. I want you to cast your expert eye over the whole store and tell me how it looks to you—because that will tell me how it looks to our customers. Tourists are profitable, and you can help me attract plenty of them. And it could open some new doors for you, Jackie. I’ll pay you a decent wage—far more than Rik paid you—and you’ll have a position of authority.’

Authority. The word seemed to sing in her ears. This would truly be a new, more satisfying life—exactly what she had longed for. Again she had the mysterious feeling that Vittorio could read her mind.

‘Authority?’ she echoed. ‘Do you really mean that?’

‘You’d be in charge of your department. You’d have a team that would take your orders. Or don’t you feel up to giving orders?’

‘Oh, yes, I do. That was always my problem with Rik. And with my father too sometimes. He complained that I argued with him too much.’ She gave a brief laugh.

‘Don’t worry. When you’re working for me you can give all the orders you want. I’ll make it clear to the team that you’re the boss. You need never fear another bully like Rik.’

It sounded too good to be true, she thought, trying to suppress a flicker of confusion. Knowing the terrible truth about how her father had been treated had made hostility flare between them, but there were other feelings too—some warmer, some interested, all confusing.

But what else could she do? Where else was there for her to go? What other life was possible for her? It was as if all other doors had slammed shut and fate was driving her irresistibly into this man’s power.

Surely she could take advantage of the situation, just as he planned to do?

Here was a chance to learn new skills and gain new experiences that might open up a world of fresh opportunities for her.

‘All right,’ she said in a daze. ‘I’ll go to Italy with you.’

‘Good thinking. I knew I could rely on you.’

She ventured to say, ‘You mean because I’ve agreed with you?’

‘What else? That’s my definition of good thinking. So, now there’s nothing to hold you back we can go tomorrow. I’ll book two tickets.’

After booking the tickets Vittorio ordered a meal and a bottle of wine from room service.

‘After this I must attend to some business matters. I suggest you relax for the rest of the afternoon, and then I think we should both get an early night,’ he said, adding in a teasing voice, ‘In our separate rooms, I promise.’

‘Stop teasing,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I wasn’t thinking that.’

‘Good. Then we can both relax.’

‘Of course. We agree to be friends. That’s all.’

‘Friends...’ he mused. ‘What kind of friends? Best friends?’

‘We’ll have to wait and see.’

She was right. Friendship was their only hope. Had she really feared lest he come to her door? After their argument the day before he could well believe that she didn’t want him. His own feelings for her were less clear.

Officially they were enemies, and his instinct to protect her was troublesome.

She was becoming important to him in ways that confused him. Perhaps soon he would understand them. For the moment he preferred to wait and see what fate had in store.

He lifted his glass of wine in her direction.

‘Here’s to you,’ he said. ‘You don’t know how much I’m going to rely on you.’

And it was true, he thought. She didn’t.

It was a quiet meal, with very little talk. Instinctively they both knew that for the moment enough had been said. Perhaps too much.

At the earliest moment they finished eating.

‘And now I really must get on with some work. I’ll head back to my room, but if you think of anything else you need today please call through.’

He bade her a polite good day, and left.

Returning to his room, he recalled something he’d meant to say to her, and hurried back to see her.

A surprise awaited him. He looked out into the corridor just in time to see her getting into the elevator and the doors closing.

Where on earth could she be going? he thought frantically. Surely not to talk to Rik?

There was no hope of catching up with the elevator. He went to his window and looked down. There she was, walking away along the road, and then turning through a large gate that he knew led to a church.

Every cautious instinct told him to stay where he was—not to follow her. But something about Jackie always overcame caution.

In a moment he was out of the door, hurrying until he reached the church gate.

Inside was a cemetery. As he watched she approached a tombstone and knelt before it. He was too far away to make out the name, but he could hear Jackie saying urgently, ‘I’m sorry, Daddy. I really am.’

So this was Benton’s grave, and she had come here to talk to him. Vittorio backed away, unwilling to invade her privacy, but he couldn’t help hearing her next words.

‘I don’t really trust him. I’d like to, but he doesn’t understand what a terrible thing was done to you, and that makes him almost as much of an enemy as his father. But I must go to Italy. I’ll come back, I promise. Only forgive me. Please, please forgive me.’

As watched she pressed her lips to the stone, then leaned against it, sobbing.

Torn by the instinct to comfort her, he took a step closer—but stopped just in time. Whatever happened, she mustn’t know he was there. He had an unnerving feeling...as though he’d been suddenly stranded on a desert island. He hadn’t expected this, and the sensation of being caught unprepared was alarming.

He backed off and hurried away, haunted by her words—

I don’t trust him... Almost as much of an enemy as his father...

If that was how she thought of him he supposed he couldn’t blame her. But it hurt more than he would have expected.

Back at the hotel, he returned to his room and went to the window, hoping to see her return. But hours passed with no sign of her and his heart sank. Where had she vanished to now? What trouble might she have fallen into? Had she changed her mind about accompanying him to Italy?

Then a noise from the corridor made him hurry outside. She was there, turning the key in her lock.

‘There you are,’ he said with relief.