‘From what you have told me, Catherine has been through some unfortunate experiences which no woman should have to. I would suggest that this uncle has failed in his duty towards her, for his own purposes. You might think that he now has no control over her, but I can’t help feeling, Alex, that you should still be careful of him. If this man has been making plans involving Catherine for several years, he will not be too pleased to have all his time and effort come to nothing.’
Alex had tried to ignore his own worries on this score, but to have them realised by another was something else, and caused him even greater concern. What would Luigi say if he knew of his ongoing investigations into Lionel Franklin? At the end of the day, though, Alex had come to the conclusion that other than the administration of her parents’ finances, the man had no legal hold over Catherine. And what could he do, anyway? However, it was one of the reasons why he had wanted to make Catherine his wife as soon as possible.
‘I will do all I can to protect Catherine,’ he stated.
‘I am sure you will, but look to yourself also; I feel this man could be dangerous.’
Startled by the remark, Alex looked over at Luigi and could see the seriousness in the older man’s face.
He was about to reply when Maria bustled in to prepare the table, and Catherine came back and sat down.
Alex took one of her hands in his. ‘Did you enjoy yourself? Does Maria know all my secrets now?’
Catherine smiled at him. ‘As I don’t know any myself, how can I pass them on?’ She leant closer to him, still smiling. ‘Do you have any secrets Alex?’
She turned her head away to smile at Luigi before the agonised expression crossed her husband’s face. Luigi was watching the exchange, and when he picked up Alex’s expression his worries increased.
Much later, after a pleasant evening, Alex looked at his watch and suggested to Catherine that it was time for bed. With a shy smile, Catherine wished Luigi and Maria goodnight, and took her husband’s outstretched hand.
Alone in their room, Alex folded Catherine into his arms, then picked her up and placed her with great care on the bed. Without putting on any lights he removed their clothes and lay with her. Soft moonlight caressed her body, turning the creamy skin to ivory, and for long moments he let his eyes move over her. Then his lips and hands retraced that path, and soon their emotions carried them both away to their special place of pleasure, where no worries existed.
*
The light knock on the door woke them both. Alex looked at his watch. It was just after nine o’clock.
‘Alex? Who is it?’ Catherine was struggling to extricate herself from his arms, and out of bed. ‘We mustn’t be… like this!’
He looked down into her shocked face with amusement. ‘It’s Mama with some breakfast, no doubt. And why on earth shouldn’t she find us in bed together? We are married.’
‘I know, but…’ Catherine was still struggling to free herself. ‘I don’t have anything on. Let me go to the bathroom, please.’
‘I don’t have anything on either, and you’re going nowhere.’ He pinned her down in the bed and called out ‘Come in, Mama’, trying hard not to laugh.
Maria appeared with a loaded tray which she placed on a small table. ‘I thought you might be hungry.’
She then turned and observed what was happening. Catherine was trying to wriggle deeper under the covers which Alex seemed intent upon removing. There was a broad grin on his face, and even Maria had to admire the subtle play of muscle across his back and arms.
‘Alex, please, don’t be a beast. Let me go.’
‘If I let you go, the covers come too!’ Alex laughed back.
‘No, Alex, please!’
‘What’s it to be then, to be found in bed, in my arms, in a state of undress, or to bare all?’
‘I hate you!’
‘No you don’t, at all.’
He kissed her, then wrapping the covers up round her chin he turned his smiling face to Maria who had been regarding the scene with both amusement and consternation.
‘My wife is still a little shy about some things, Mama.’
‘You shouldn’t tease her, Alex.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to her later, if she’s good.’ He received a blow around the head from a pillow for that remark.
Laughing with delight, Maria left the room. It was good to see them enjoying life together. She knew somehow that her breakfast would be cold by the time it was needed, if at all.
It was well after twelve o’clock when Alex came into the kitchen with the empty tray. Even though the toast and coffee had gone cold, he and Catherine had found they were hungry, and consumed it all.
‘Thank you for the thought, Mama. It was kind of you.’
Dark eyes twinkled back at him. ‘I hope you behaved yourself after I left. You’re far too big a dose of manliness at times for anyone to cope with.’
‘Oh, I didn’t hear any complaints.’ He laughed as he dodged out of the way of a well-aimed slap with a teacloth. ‘You can ask my bride when she comes down, if you like. Where is Luigi?’
‘He is out in the garden somewhere. I’m just starting lunch, so if you find him you can tell him.’
Alex wandered outside into the sunlight and down the steps into the garden. He felt a great peace and contentment within himself, and knew the reason for it. Being with Catherine was everything he had hoped for, and more. The sweet and innocent pleasure she had given him was, for the moment, keeping at bay the darker thoughts of his working life. He must do all he could to try to keep her innocence untainted by the other world he knew.
He found Luigi in the greenhouse. ‘Mama says she is just preparing lunch.’
Luigi looked up and took in the carefree smile and relaxed manner of the younger man. ‘I will be there at any moment Alex. You have had a good sleep?’ His smile was broad.
Alex answered with his own smile, knowing full well that his leg was being pulled. ‘Yes, marvellous, thank you. I needed the rest.’
‘I hear you were having fun earlier at Catherine’s expense.’
Luigi was interested to see a slight flush in Alex’s complexion. ‘I think I have given her cause to forgive me by now, Papa.’
Luigi turned with him to walk back to the house. ‘Do you talk together in a serious way about your lives? Have you spoken about your career, a home, children? You know about Catherine’s earlier life, but have you spoken to her about your own?’
Alex stopped walking, and Luigi turned to face him.
‘What are you getting at, Luigi?’ The sharpness of the tone betrayed a sudden flash of annoyance.
Luigi considered him for a moment. ‘Is Catherine aware of the trouble in your younger days, and what you are now seeking out of life? Is it what she wants as well? My boy, by your own admission you have moved fast in your association. You appear to be delighted with one another and your marriage is very new and exciting… but not all things can be decided in a satisfactory way in bed.
‘Since you have been here I have observed your caring attitude towards Catherine. I will just say to you, Alex, that as much as you care for Catherine you must let her grow with her own thoughts as an individual person. Do you understand what I am trying to say, my boy? As you are older and more experienced than she, it is you who must take the lead, no matter how else you may feel. I have said all this before to Vincenzo. It was up to him whether he listened to his father’s advice, and you have the same option, but I feel it is my duty to have brought it up with you.’ His smile was sheepish. ‘Well now, boy, my sermon is over and I think we could do with our lunch, eh?’
He sauntered off up towards the house, leaving Alex thinking hard. At first when Luigi had started speaking he was angry, then he realised with honesty that Luigi was right. Come Monday morning their married life would start for real and they had t
o have some idea of where they were going in the future. He also acknowledged the truth that Catherine was ignorant of his life up to now. He owed her the honesty of telling her about himself, however reluctant he was to do so. He had one secret which she must not know, but he ought to make sure that she was aware of the rest.
He hurried to catch up with Luigi. ‘I understand what you’re trying to say Luigi. I’ll make sure we have time for a talk together.’
Luigi said nothing, but patted him on the back.
*
After an afternoon stroll, they arrived back in time for dinner. As there was no one around when they returned, Catherine suggested they ought to change for dinner. She had brought one dress with her and she might as well wear it.
Alex was in the bathroom. She sat on the stool in front of the dressing table, wrapped in a bath towel, and regarded herself in the mirror. Why did she still feel so shy when they were in the bedroom together? It wasn’t as if she was unaware of what he looked like! He had a nice body, and she loved the feel of it when they were making love. She came to the conclusion that it must be because, in some ways, he was still a stranger to her. The short time since Alex had come back into her life had gone by in a daze, but from now on, she realised, it would be the real thing. From Monday morning the normal routine of their life would start.
What did Alex want from her? How much did he want her to do around the flat? She felt it was still very much his, and there were some things he might prefer to do himself. Did he want her to find a job and help share the expenses? What about a family? This, she knew, would give her more happiness than anything else.
The magic of these last few days would always be in her memory, but real life was very different and could create its own problems. She needed to speak with him about it all.
He came back into the bedroom, and catching sight of his almost naked body in the mirror, Catherine found herself averting her eyes. There was no logical reason for her to behave like this, she told herself, and she tried to carry on dealing with her hair and face, but she couldn’t resist the occasional glance.
Now dressed in navy trousers and white shirt, Alex came and sat on the end of the bed. She could see him watching her in the mirror.
‘Did you enjoy it?’ There was laughter in his voice and eyes.
‘Enjoy what?’ Catherine didn’t understand the joke.
‘Watching me get dressed. I saw you, looking at me in the mirror.’ His laughter was bubbling just under the surface now.
‘I was doing no such thing!’ Catherine denied, colour flooding into her face.
‘You’re quite within your rights, you know. It doesn’t always have to work one way.’
He reached out and ran a finger over one bare shoulder. Despite herself, Catherine felt a tremor run through her at his touch. Why did he always have this effect on her senses, and achieve the desired reaction? She felt annoyed at herself for being so transparent with her feelings, and even more annoyed at him for teasing her.
She stood up and reached for her dress. ‘I’m putting my dress on now and I don’t care if you look or not.’ She wanted to be cool and calm, but she knew she sounded like a petulant child. She threw off the towel and pulled on the green jersey dress.
‘I’ll zip you up, my love. I need to get some experience of doing it this way round.’
There was still laughter in his voice as he accomplished his task. She felt his fingers against her skin. He pushed aside the loose hair from her neck and placed his mouth against the pulse beating there.
‘Remind me to practice the reverse procedure later tonight.’ He turned her round to face him, and she knew he noted the high colour she could feel in her cheeks. ‘I’m going to kiss you, and then you can repair your lipstick, and then we’d better go down.’
He touched her mouth with the briefest of kisses and, despite her annoyance at him, it left her wanting more. She saw him watching her with a slight, knowing smile, and knew that he guessed her feelings, but for some reason he was denying her. Holding her emotions in check, she said nothing, but did as he requested. Underneath, her body was a whirl of sensations and anticipation. Why was there always this instant, almost electric, physical reaction to each other? She sighed. It was confusing, and at times unsettling. She didn’t understand this sort of game.
CHAPTER 27
Alex took her hand as they came out onto the terrace. Catherine was glad they had changed their clothes, as Maria had dressed the table with candles and flowers. Luigi was dealing with a bottle of wine.
‘Ah, there you are. I was just going to call you. I will tell Mama we are ready to eat.’
He offered them both a glass of white wine and looked at Catherine’s slim figure, draped in soft folds of green jersey, held close to her husband’s side.
He spoke to her in Italian. ‘You are a very beautiful woman, my dear,’ and in a gallant gesture raised his glass to her, then disappeared back into the kitchen.
Throughout the meal Catherine was aware of Alex watching her, and turning to him on one occasion she encountered the same inner laughter in the depths of his grey eyes as had been evident when they were changing earlier. He seemed intent on keeping her senses at fever pitch, and she was very conscious of him beside her, although she tried hard to ignore him. It was beginning to agitate her. Tonight, for some devilish reason, he seemed determined to generate a response in her. She must try to build some sort of wall as a foil against him, or, as always, she would just give in and allow herself to be taken into his arms, and yet again he would win this game he was playing. However, the tension was beginning to build inside her and she was finding it difficult not to say something to him.
In the end it was Maria who provided the catalyst by asking Catherine, ‘What will you do all day when Alex is at work, Catherine?’
Before Catherine could make a considered reply, Alex answered for her. ‘Catherine must realise that now we have had some fun together, I have other responsibilities which will take up a lot of my time. She must be prepared for this. Other wives, I am sure, have the same problem. We’ll find something for her to do, no doubt.’ He flashed what she considered to be a patronising and superior grin in her direction.
Her emotions boiled over. She leapt to her feet and swung round on him, green eyes blazing. ‘How dare you presume to know what I think! I’m quite capable of answering questions that are put to me. I’m not an idiot. I do manage to think about things myself, you know. I am well aware of the changes that will have to happen, and I’m sure I will be adult enough to deal with them. You will have to make up your mind what you want, Alex. You like me to be a woman enough in your bed, and when you feel the need to play with me, as you have been doing all evening. On the other hand, you seem to consider I’m too much of a child to be able to have an adult conversation.’
Alex had by this time stood up and reached out for her.
‘Don’t you dare touch me!’ Catherine was beside herself now with all sorts of emotions. ‘I’m not prepared to be your plaything any longer.’
She turned and ran off down into the garden, ignoring Alex’s urgent call.
There was silence for a moment after Catherine had left, and then Alex made to follow her.
‘Sit down, Alex!’ Luigi’s voice was sharp. ‘Let her be, she needs to have time alone.’
‘I must go to her Luigi. I never meant to upset her so.’
‘No doubt you didn’t, but it’s happened. What will you do when you find her? You will take her in your arms, and even if she fights you at first, you will be stronger than she is. You will kiss her until the anger leaves her. Nothing will be resolved, as I said earlier today. It’s obvious that Catherine has been worrying about the situation herself. We will leave her for a moment or two longer, and then I will go and find her. What did she mean about you playing with her tonight?’
Alex ran a hand throu
gh his hair. ‘I don’t know, Luigi. I thought there was a playful mood between the two of us, but perhaps I came on too heavy. I forget that she’s still inexperienced in banter of a… particular kind. She’s let it unnerve her, perhaps.’
Maria had been silent, watching the events unfold, but now reached over and took Alex’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry, Alex. I never thought this would happen. I wish I hadn’t said anything now.’
Alex squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry, Mama. Don’t blame yourself. I’ll sort it out.’
Luigi shot his wife a wry smile. ‘My dear, if it’s any consolation, I was about to make the same sort of comment.’ He finished the rest of his wine and stood up. ‘I’ll now go and find your little wife, Alex.’
Catherine was leaning against the trunk of an old apple tree when she heard someone coming, and guessed it was Luigi. If it had been Alex, she would have heard nothing until his arms were round her. She could feel the tears coming now as she thought about her words to him. What had made her talk to him in that way?
‘Catherine?’
She walked out from under the tree and confronted the older man. ‘I must apologise to you and Maria for my bad manners. Is Alex very angry, Luigi?’
‘No, my dear, he is just concerned and worried.’
He came close to her and observed the sheen of tears in her eyes. He put his arm round her and let her head fall on to his shoulder.
‘It is all so confusing for you, is it not? Listen to me for a while. I have known Alex all his life and seen him develop into a man. He has overcome many things, things I know he wants to tell you about, and I am proud of what he has achieved. Mama and I can see that Alex loves you very much, and it is obvious that you love him also. He seems happy and this is clear from the mischief he seems to wish to make with you. My dear, it is part of loving you. He means no harm, no dominance of you. The look on his face as you ran off just now was eloquent of his feelings. I had a hard job to stop him following you, but I felt you needed time to be quiet and think.
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