Chapter Eleven
‘Tell me—’ Sanzio looked at her across the breakfast bar ‘—how does the idea of Milan and the Lakes grab you?’
Eleanora looked at him questioningly, and he elaborated.
‘I need to fly up to Milan tonight for a business meeting tomorrow I don’t want to postpone. We could go on to the Lakes—take another break for a few days, then head back to the Palazzo and catch up with progress there. What do you think?’
Just as it had when he’d suggested driving out into Lazio, Eleanora’s face lit.
‘Oh, that sounds lovely!’
‘Good. I’ll phone you when I know what flight we’re on.’
He rose to his feet. ‘What are your plans for today?’
‘I thought I might visit some antiques dealers, to check out possible furniture. Oh, and maybe some dinner services too, that sort of thing.’
‘Sounds good,’ he said and dropped a kiss on her forehead. ‘I must go,’ he said, and went.
Eleanora cleared away the breakfast things, then went into her bedroom, the guest suite.
Though she spent every night in Sanzio’s arms, his bed, she used her own bedroom as a dressing room, the wardrobe full of the wonderful clothes she now wore.
She should pack her case for tonight, then dress to go off shopping for beautiful things for the Palazzo.
As she walked in, her eyes went to the fabulous gown she’d worn last night, airing on a padded hanger on the outside of the wardrobe. Her expression faltered.
Sanzio had made it clear that he’d engineered that confrontation with Tonia at the gala, for the reasons he’d expounded. Was she glad he had, or not? Perhaps she was. Not for the experience—which had been horrible—but for the outcome. That was what she should focus on. Be glad for.
Because I know now, because of Sanzio, Tonia can no longer do me any harm. I don’t believe her any more, what she thinks of me. Her power over me is broken.
She felt her heart swell. It was all—all—thanks to Sanzio. All that was so, so wonderful now about her life. Happiness filled her, as it had ever since that unforgettable night at the agriturismo when he’d made her his. Desiring her as she so longed to be desired by him—as she did him.
It was that, above all, that allowed her to know how false her sister’s jibes had always been, how untrue her sneers. Now Tonia could never hurt her again.
Besides, why should she see her again any time soon?
She and her husband would be heading to his chateau on the Loire and Tonia would be showing off in Paris, not Rome.
As for now, Sanzio was whisking her up to Milan and the Lakes.
They would have another relaxing little holiday, just as they’d had in Lazio, then return to the Palazzo, take up their work there again.
Her expression warmed. Softened. How wonderful Sanzio was to her—how happy he was making her.
But beyond the limits of her consciousness, hovering somewhere in the outer recesses, she felt a shadow gathering.
A shadow she did not want to face. Not now—not yet.
It would come, she knew it must—and she would face it then, she must. But for now, she wanted only to deny its presence and focus only on what she had.
Sanzio wanting her. Desiring her. Being with her. And she with him.
What we have is good, so very good.
She let it lie there, that warm glow that always came when she thought of Sanzio, as she swiftly made her selection to pack, before changing into the moss-green shift with a matching jacket that was expensively suitable for shopping for high-priced antiques.
She redid her hair in a chignon and applied light make-up.
She was just glossing her lips when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller.
It was Tonia.
Surprise was her first reaction—then wariness. Extreme wariness. Cautiously, very cautiously, she answered. Tonia’s response was immediate.
‘We need to meet. Today.’
‘What…what for?’ Eleanora’s reply was hesitant. What on earth was this about?
Her sister enlightened her. ‘Because I want to stop the gossip—and you should want to stop it too.’
‘Gossip? What gossip? Why?’
‘From last night, of course. First Carla over that damn dress, then you stalking off with Sanzio—the man I dumped to marry Edouard—and making a total show of cutting me dead the rest of the evening. Of course people were talking—and not in a good way!’ she said bitingly.
‘So, I want us to be seen together to shut the gossips up. Oh, come on, Ellie—’ her voice changed ‘—it’s only a damn drink! ’
She named a time and a venue, and hung up.
Slowly, Eleanora lowered her phone to her dressing table. Her thoughts were racing. Was she mad to think of meeting up with Tonia? On the other hand—
Sanzio had consistently put a gloss on past events—that he and Tonia had a mutually agreed split.
Did last night’s waspish encounter then conspicuous avoidance of her sister indicate otherwise?
Would Sanzio be seen as jilted for someone with a fancy title and blue blood in his veins, not the red blood of a self-made man?
So maybe her being seen with her sister would reaffirm the gloss that Sanzio preferred?
I could do it for his sake.
And maybe not just for his?
Maybe there’s another reason to meet her.
Last night, she had made the perfect riposte to Tonia’s jibes, refusing to be put down by her. Hadn’t she decided, just before Tonia phoned, that her sister could not harm her any more because she no longer believed what Tonia told her?
So maybe meeting her would reinforce that—show me I can, finally, stand up to her. Show Tonia too. Sanzio has proved to me that I am desirable, and beautiful.
So there was no more harm Tonia could do to her.
I am beyond the reach of her malice, for I am safe in Sanzio’s desire for me…
It was all she needed to know. All she needed Tonia to know. And she could know it right now, today. She reached for her phone. Texted Tonia. Agreeing to meet.
* * *
Sanzio breezed through his workload. Though he wasn’t taking on new business ventures, he had been impressed with the owner of a beleaguered engineering company near Milan.
The company was well run but undercapitalised for its growing order book.
Tomorrow’s meeting would decide if he wanted to contribute finance, at a reasonable rate of interest, or invest and take a shareholding, and when the company cash flow allowed, he was happy for it to be bought out again by the owner.
Meeting over, his desk would be clear and he and Eleanora could take off for Como, spend a few relaxing days there, then fly back to Rome and head off to the Palazzo. He was eager to get back. Eager to have Eleanora there.
A smile curved his mouth. How right he’d been to give in to his desire for her, the perfect next step to take. It was giving him so, so much—everything was working out just as he’d wanted it to.
I have exactly what I want.
And, he knew—his smile deepened—what Eleanora wanted. Her ardent desire for him, passionate and uninhibited, proved that to him night after night.
His smile thinned. As for Tonia—last night had given her exactly what she deserved.
And that—his expression hardened—was what he wanted too.
* * *
Tonia arrived late, which didn’t surprise Eleanora, nor had the choice of venue, one of the city’s most fashionable watering holes.
Her greeting was careless, focusing on ordering a cocktail for herself.
She was looking, as ever, a knockout, in a royal blue suit, tightly cinched at the waist, wide lapels displaying a generous amount of cleavage.
Dark glasses, sporting a very exclusive label, held back her lush raven tresses, and she was wearing full make-up.
Her eyes ran critically over Eleanora in her smart moss-green shift and chic jacket. Out of force of habit, Eleanora braced for some scathing remark about her appearance. Then realised that Tonia wouldn’t be able to do that. Not now.
Because I look good—and, more essentially, I know I look good!
Both were thanks to Sanzio, releasing her from her sister’s malign spell.
And she’ll never be able to cast another one—I won’t let it happen. Never again!
Determination fuelled her, enabling her to dismiss Tonia contenting herself with a sideways snipe.
‘Sanzio really has had you brushed up,’ she remarked. ‘You must be costing him! But then,’ she added dismissively, ‘he obviously had to do something to stop you looking like your usual dog’s dinner—’
Eleanora made no reply, only sipped her glass of white wine.
Tonia took a gulp of her cocktail. She sat back, looking sleek and relaxed.
Was she really concerned about adverse gossip?
Eleanora found herself wondering. She didn’t look it.
She was about to ask when Tonia spoke again, tilting her head to one side, eyeing Eleanora.
It was a familiar look, and was always followed by something waspish and spiteful.
Again, she braced herself. She would outface Tonia, whatever she threw at her. But she hadn’t braced sufficiently.
‘So, baby sister, what’s Sanzio like in bed then? Do tell!’
It was asked so casually, as if it were nothing. Eleanora’s expression froze. The memory of that nasty little text Tonia had sent her on the day after her wedding asking just the same, but with far more mockery, assailed her.
‘Oh, come on, Ellie-Ellie,’ Tonia said impatiently, ‘don’t go coy on me!
Of course he’s sleeping with you—that’s what the makeover was for—he couldn’t face sex with you otherwise!
And he’ll definitely be wanting sex—he’s not the celibate type, Sanzio.
I should know—I had a hard time holding him off! ’ She gave a throaty laugh.
Eleanora’s face had stiffened. ‘Tonia, don’t,’ she said tightly. It was obvious Tonia was intent on having a go at her, any way she could.
But I won’t cut and run—I’ll stand up to her!
Determination filled her.
Tonia’s eyes had widened exaggeratedly. ‘Don’t? That was my line, sister dear—to Sanzio!’ She knocked back more of her cocktail. ‘OK, don’t tell if you don’t want to. I’m sure it’s nothing like the way it would have been with me. Still might be—if I feel like it.’
It was casually said, just like her intrusive, offensive question just now, her gaze on Eleanora baiting. Then she gave another laugh, drank some more of her cocktail. Expression mocking now. Eyes never leaving Eleanora’s.
‘You really don’t get it, do you, Ellie-Ellie?
’ Her voice dripped acid. ‘Why do you think Sanzio married you after I turned him down? Not just to get that crumbling ruin he’s obsessed with and to wind me up for dumping him for Edouard.
He did it—’ her eyes narrowed ‘—because he knows the one thing I really adore is a challenge.’
She drained her cocktail, ordered another. Went on talking. Her narrowed eyes were fastened on Eleanora’s. Like a snake’s on its prey…
‘And there really is, you know—well, you don’t and never will, but never mind, poor little you!—there really is nothing quite so delicious as helping yourself to a married man. Especially because, Ellie dear, it really does add a very special piquancy when it’s my own sister’s husband!’
Eleanora held up a hand. She’d come here to prove to herself, to show Tonia, that she was no longer her sister’s punchbag. Just because Tonia was punching her from a different direction—a particularly offensive one—now that she couldn’t mock her appearance any longer, made no difference.
She took a sharp breath. ‘Tonia, stop. I know you’re just trying to wind me up, upset me, but you can give up right now. I no longer buy it, anything you throw at me! And it’s just rubbish what you’re saying! You don’t mean any of it. Why would you? You’re married yourself now.’
A scornful laugh broke from Tonia. ‘What’s that got to do with it?
God, how totally na?ve you are! And I suppose you’re na?ve enough to think your darling Sanzio wouldn’t play ball?
What do you think last night was all about?
Cold-shouldering me the way he did, being all over you!
Just to get me interested again. That’s what it was for. ’
Eleanora rolled her eyes. This was beyond ridiculous. Tonia’s second cocktail had arrived, and she was getting stuck in again.
Resolutely, Eleanora stood her ground—that was what Sanzio had urged last night, and it applied now too.
‘You’re living in la-la land, Tonia. Just because you’re used to men being all over you, you think they all are! Well, that’s not what I’ve heard. You got the brush-off from Nic Falcone, and as for Carla’s husband, don’t make me laugh!’
She saw fury lash in Tonia’s eyes, knew she had hit home. Not that she wanted to hit, home or otherwise. She didn’t want any of this. But Tonia was in full toxic flow.
‘Laugh?’ Her voice was vicious. ‘I’ll be the one laughing, Ellie-Ellie!
So don’t sit there looking like that, trying to be superior!
You’re pathetic, do you know that?’ She reached for her refreshed cocktail, took a slug of it, slammed the glass back down.
Her eyes were glittering. ‘Sanzio didn’t just doll you up and bed you to send a challenge to me for dumping him.
He did it because the one thing every adulterous husband wants is a besotted wife!
One who thinks the sun shines out of him and adores him!
Best of all, one who’s so pathetically grateful that he’s bedded her!
That kind of wife never believes anything nasty about the man she’s besotted with!
So he can run circles round her, and she’s so gullible she’ll never suspect a thing!
Oh, and it works the other way too, which is great for me—Edouard’s so besotted with me I can do anything I like.
And what I like, dearest, pathetic little Ellie-Ellie, is getting what I want.
Because I always do. Always. And if—’ she smiled, eyes glittering with venom ‘—I decide I want your precious Sanzio, who was panting for me, just panting, believe me, I’ll have him! ’
She leant towards Eleanora across the table.
‘All I have to do—’ the glitter in her eyes like darkness visible ‘—is snap my fingers for him!’
She did just that, right in Eleanora’s face.
Then sat back again, snatching up her cocktail, downing more of it. Her mouth twisted. ‘And there won’t be a thing you can do about it!’
She gave her scornful laugh, the one Eleanora had heard so many, many times before.
‘He’ll be mine any time I like. Any time at all!
So do enjoy him, baby sister, enjoy him and adore him and roll right over for him, because he doesn’t give a toss about you.
Not in bed, or out. Because it’s not about you—it’s never been about you.
It’s only ever…ever…been about me! Whatever line he’s spun you, he’s only ever had one intention.
’ She smiled. ‘To get me back. Any way he can.’
Eleanora got to her feet. She felt sick. Under her ribs, her heart was thudding, lungs constricting. As she walked away, Tonia’s scornful laugh came again…