'Of course, but… I haven't thought as far as that.'
'Then think now,' he said decisively. 'Do you wish to fly back and speak to him?'
'That won't be necessary. I'm not a child and I don't need to ask his permission.'
'My daughter would always have to ask my permission. Your age has nothing to do with it.'
'English people are different, Filippo. Families aren't as possessive as they are in Italy. They don't take family obligations so seriously.'
'Then they are to be pitied.'
His tone brooked no argument and she fell silent; not that she wanted to argue on this subject anyway, for she was half inclined to agree with him. There was no doubt there were disadvantages in having an over-paternalistic father, but these would be outweighed by the knowledge that he was always there to turn to when you needed him.
She thought of her own father, married for the second time and so immersed in his work that he had not cared when she had elected to continue living in Venice. He had never asked if she intended to return home, and though at the time she had considered his behaviour civilized, after six months of living among a tempestuous warm-hearted race she saw it as indicative of a limited loving capacity. She looked at the man close to her. There was no limit to Filippo's love and he had no reticence about showing it. The stiff upper lip and detached manner of the British aristocracy was as alien to him as porridge for his breakfast!
Smiling tremulously, she drew his hand to her throat and held it there, delighting in the feel of his strong fingers on her skin. 'I hope I won't let you down.'
'Let me down over what? You are my perfect woman, cara. You will never let me down.'
'Don't say that,' she pleaded. 'I might turn out to have feet of clay.'
'You have exquisite feet,' he whispered, and put his free hand on her knee, smiling as he felt her give a delicious shiver.
The launch stopped and she saw they had drawn up at the small quay that led to the side door of the Rosetti Palazzo. Together they went through the rose arbour and across the lush lawn - there was no shortage of water in Venice - and into the vast stone hall.
Up the stairs they went and entered the drawing-room. The windows were wide open to the Grand Canal and the last rays of the sun filtered through on to the stone floor and the magnificent rugs that covered it.
The Conte's sister was reading, but as she saw her brother lead Erica forward, his arm around her waist, she immediately flung her book aside and jumped up.
'So it's true what Sophie said? I never believed her!'
'You mean Sophie is more romantic than you?' Filippo teased.
'I mean I never dared to hope you would be so sensible!' Anna smiled at Erica. 'I'm so thrilled that Filippo has chosen you. You are just the sort of girl he needs.'
'Meek and mild?' her brother questioned.
'Calm and cool!' his sister retorted. 'And able to stand up for herself.'
'Most women can do that,' he said.
'Sometimes standing up for oneself means treading on others,' his sister replied, 'but I know Erica will never do that.'
It was not possible for Erica to doubt Anna Charters' welcome and she was delighted by it. If only she could be as sure of the other members of Filippo's family; those illustrious aunts- and uncles of whom he spoke so lightly and those rich and sophisticated cousins with their yachts and jets.
Anna was still speaking. Her brother's news had excited her and she looked flushed. The colour and animation on her face gave indication of how pretty she must have been before the tragic death of her husband.
'We must give a party, Filippo, and introduce Erica to the family. We will open the ballroom - it's more than two years since we have used it - and we'll decorate the outside of the Palazzo too. Sergio will be delighted to bring out the bunting and the flags. He was telling me only the other day that they must all be taken out and ironed before the creases in them become permanent. You must give me a list of the guests you want to ask apart from the relatives.' She glanced at Erica. 'I am sure there will be lots of your friends and family too.'
'I shouldn't think any of my friends would fly over for a party,' Erica said doubtfully, 'but obviously my father and stepmother will.'
'Filippo's sure to charter some extra planes,' Anna replied. 'He always does when he gives a ball.'
Erica glanced at Filippo with unaccountable nervousness. 'Will you?'
'Si. As Anna says, it will be necessary. A jet to bring my guests from New York; another for London and two of my own small ones to do a bus stop service around Europe!'
For a split second Erica thought he was teasing her, but then she saw the seriousness on his face and knew that every word he said was the truth.
'I - I'm overwhelmed b-by it all,' she stammered. 'Hearing you talk so casually about jets and giving a ball makes me feel a real country bumpkin.'
'You will get used to it very quickly,' Anna assured her. 'It is being poor when you have been rich that's hard to learn. The other way around is easy! Just watch the way I organize things and you will soon be able to do the same. And once you are married it will be your job to arrange the parties.'
'I'll never be able to do it,' Erica stated positively.
'Filippo will show you. He adores showing people what to do!' The woman gave her brother a mischievous glance. 'Two orchestras, I think, and the Milanese caterers we used last time.'
'Excellent,' Filippo agreed. 'I will order the invitations first thing tomorrow. A thousand, I think. Perhaps twelve hundred to be on the safe side.'
'Twelve hundred people for an engagement party?' Erica could not believe she had heard correctly. 'But that's crazy!'
There was a moment of hushed silence, and frightened that she had hurt them both, she looked beseechingly from Filippo to Anna.
'We don't have such big engagement parties in England. I would be scared to death meeting so many people. Couldn't we just - couldn't we just stick to the family?'
'No,' Filippo said incisively. 'And the fears you are displaying do not please me. You are not a child, Erica. Why are you scared of meeting people?'
'I'm not scared - at least not in the way you mean. It's just that I'm… well, overcome by it all.' She drew a deep breath and gave him another beseeching glance. 'I told you I wasn't like your friends… that I'm not sophisticated and assured.'
'You are not blase and hard-boiled,' he agreed at once. 'But neither are you a little schoolgirl. I have no wish to make you over into a woman of the world - had that been my intention I would have chosen to marry one, instead of you. But on the other hand I wish to have a wife by my side, not a frightened child! We will have our engagement party and you will enjoy it - once you have made up your mind that you will.'
Erica clasped her hands together, noting with surprise that they were shaking. Filippo was displaying a firmness that bordered on cruelty. He had promised to be understanding and not to force her into a life style she did not want, yet here he was doing exactly that!
'Erica.' His whispered her name and came to stand close beside her, his body blocking out the rest of the room. 'Are you afraid for the world to know I love you? Are you ashamed that you love me?'
Appalled by such a question, she stared at him. How could he think such a ridiculous thing? For all his talk of confidence he was as unsure of her as she was unsure of herself. But his fear came from the belief that she might not love him enough, while her fear came from the belief that she loved him too much to let him tie himself to someone who might not be able to fit into his highly sophisticated way of life.
'Of course I'm not ashamed of loving you,' she cried. 'I'm scared! I love you so much that I'm afraid I'll let you down. Give me time to get used to our engagement. Please, Filippo, let's wait a bit longer before we tell anyone.'
'You are speaking like this because you are still uncertain.' His voice was hard as was his expression.
'That's not true.' Erica knew she had to make him see her point of view, thou
gh it was difficult for her to do so when she longed to throw herself into his arms and say she would agree to do anything he wished. Yet she had to stand her ground. Hadn't Anna made some reference to being delighted that her brother had chosen someone who would know when and how to assert herself? The knowledge stiffened her resolution and she tilted her head defiantly.
'Once we are engaged we will be invited out continually. I am still nervous with you, Filippo, and I want to be alone with you more.' She put her hand on his arm and knew a sense of power as she felt a tremor run through him.
Defiance and strength of mind was not the best answer after all. Feminine ploys were much better. 'I adore you, my dearest,' she murmured, 'but you have so little understanding of me. Otherwise you wouldn't doubt what I feel for you. Our love is new for both of us. Let's have a chance to enjoy it quietly.'
His lids lowered, giving him a shuttered look that made it impossible to read his thoughts. But when he raised them his eyes were tender. 'You are right, cara. I am a fool for not realizing it myself. But we will not keep our secret longer than a fortnight.'
'But-'
'A fortnight,' he said in a voice that brooked no argument.
Accepting her victory, even though it would only be for a short time, she sank into the nearest armchair. Only as she relaxed did she realize her limbs were trembling. Her first disagreement with Filippo and she had won it. A small triumph but a triumph nonetheless. She was not foolish enough to believe she would have many such victories over him. She glanced at him, savouring his finely etched profile as he turned towards a side table and poured some drinks. Would she ever get used to the sight of him or would his nearness always make her feel as though she were made of jelly?
He came over and handed her a glass of champagne, toasting her with his eyes over the rim of it.
'Danny called you a little while ago.' Anna introduced the logical present into this magic moment. "He said it was urgent that you called him back as soon as you could.'
'Then I had better do so.' Filippo bent, kissed the tip of Erica's nose and left the room.
'Don't let my brother intimidate you,' Anna said. 'And please don't have any doubts that he loves you.'
'I haven't - not at the moment - but I can't stop them haunting me when I'm alone. My whole life has been so different from his - from yours - that I didn't expect you to be so pleased.'
'You are a snob,' Anna said charmingly, and Erica was still exploring the truth of this comment when Filippo returned.
'There will be a month's delay in our sending the collection to America,' he explained. 'Apparently the museum housing it in San Francisco has problems with its insurance company. They will have to improve their security arrangements and this will take them several weeks.'
'What a pity,' Anna commiserated.
'The delay is unimportant,' he shrugged, and from his pocket withdrew a leather case and handed it to Erica. 'The emerald brooch,' he explained as she opened the lid. 'As the collection won't be leaving here for a month, you will have a chance to reset the centre stone. You said it was loose.'
Gingerly she examined it. She had never held anything so valuable. The emerald was flawless and large. It was worth at least fifty thousand pounds.
'I think you should get someone else to repair it,' she said nervously.
'Is it too difficult for you to do?'
'Of course not, but—'
'Then what's the problem?'
'It's so valuable. I'm afraid something will happen to it'
'Since no one will know you have it,' Filippo said, 'no one will steal it from you.'
A gilt telephone beside Anna tinkled and she picked it up, listened for a few seconds and then glanced at her brother. 'Sergio says Claudia is coming through the garden. Do you wish to say you are in?'
Only for an instant did Filippo hesitate. His eyes slid to Erica and mischief glinted in them. 'Of course I am in to Claudia,' he replied calmly. 'I am - as the English are fond of saying - free, white and over twenty-one.'
'You are also trying to make me jealous,' Erica said with equal calm, 'but I have great faith in you, and since you have assured me that Signora Medina is only a family friend…' 'But she would like to be more,' he said wickedly.
'Stop it, Filippo,' said Anna, and changed the subject by tapping the telephone. 'We have a new intercom service in the Palazzo,' she said. 'It is much more practical than pushing a bell and waiting for a servant to come.'
'And easier on their feet too,' Erica replied.
Anna laughed, aware of the subtle reprimand in the words but not appearing to mind them.
The door opened and Claudia Medina glided in, elegant in deep blue trimmed with white. The smile on her face stiffened as she saw Erica, but it did not stop her advance on Filippo, who went forward to meet her, arms outstretched in welcome.
'Claudia!' he said affectionately. 'What a welcome surprise. I thought you were still in Rome?'
'Without you, Rome is hot and boring.'
'And with me?'
'It is hot and exciting!'
He chuckled and led her to a chair. 'You will be staying to dinner, of course?'
'Are you sure I am not in the way?' Claudia asked the question without emphasis, though the quick glance she shot in Erica's direction said what the words did not.
'You are one of the family,' Filippo replied. 'You are never in the way.'
'As you have a visitor here, I was not sure.'
'Erica came to look at a piece of jewellery,' Filippo said suavely. 'I have asked her to repair one of the brooches.' He inclined his head in Erica's direction. 'Show it to Claudia.'
Annoyed with herself for being jealous, though she knew she had only herself to blame for it, Erica gave a frigid smile and did as he asked.
Claudia held the brooch carefully. 'It is fabulous. What a colour!' She looked up. 'I didn't realize it was a perfect stone.'
'All our stones are,' Filippo said indifferently. 'That emerald is one of the finest in the world.'
'And Miss Rayburn is going to repair it for you?' Without waiting for an answer the woman looked at Erica. 'Aren't you afraid of working on such a valuable piece?'
'I'm petrified,' Erica admitted. 'I don't intend letting it out of my sight.'
Filippo took the brooch and wiped it with a silk handkerchief. He did it carefully and methodically and then put it back in its box and returned it to Erica.
'I think I'll chain myself to it,' she smiled. 'That's the only way I'll feel it's safe!'
As if deciding that enough time had been spent on the brooch, Claudia started to tell Anna about her stay in Rome. Every sentence included Filippo's name and he joined in the conversation, talking of people and places Erica did not know.
She knew he was deliberately excluding her and felt an urge to get up and kick him. But it was his way of showing her the invidiousness of her position. Announce our engagement, he was saying, and no one will dare to talk without making sure you are included in the conversation.
She stood up, intent on showing him that two could play the same game. 'I think I'll be going, Conte,' she said coolly. 'I have already taken up enough of your time.'
'But you will stay for dinner?' He had his back to Claudia and the look he gave Erica made it clear she dared not decline.
'Very well,' she said faintly, and resumed her seat.
At eight o'clock they sat down in the small dining room off the main one. This room overlooked the garden which was beautifully lit at night and drew attention to the pieces of sculpture set in it. From her seat nearest to the window Erica had an excellent view of a statue that looked remarkably like a Michelangelo, and knowing Filippo it probably was! Once more she found it difficult to believe that his illustrious family would soon be hers. The thought was so frightening that it robbed her of appetite and made it impossible for her to eat.
If Filippo noticed she only toyed with her food he gave no sign of it and instead concentrated on Claudia, who blossomed be
neath his attention, fluttering her long black lashes at him and looking at him with open invitation in her lovely dark eyes.
Erica sighed. Filippo might only see Claudia as the widow of a close friend, but there was no doubt that Claudia saw herself as a far more intimate part of the Rosetti family. How could he be so blind? Yet when it came to emotional intrigues men were blind.
Finally dinner was over and they returned to the drawing room. Anna pleaded tiredness and went to her room, and Erica felt Claudia's eyes on her and knew the woman was waiting for her to go as well. Though she had been eager to go before, she now had no intention of leaving Claudia alone with Filippo, and she continued to sit in her chair and pretend she could follow the extremely fast Italian conversation passing between the couple in front of her. If Filippo was intent on making her regret her refusal to disclose their engagement, he was undoubtedly succeeding. Yet this only increased her determination not to give in to him. For this reason it was not until an hour had passed that she stood up.
'Thank you for a delightful evening, Conte, but it is late and-'
'I will see you home,' he interrupted.
'There's no need for that, Filippo,' Claudia said at once. 'My launch is downstairs and I will be quite happy to take Miss Rayburn home.'
Erica glanced at Filippo and knew a sickening sense of disappointment when he nodded agreeably. What a beast he was! Her temper rose, but she held it under control hoping against hope that he would find some excuse for not letting her board Claudia's boat.
But he did no such thing and went down between the two women to the quay and helped them both to climb aboard.
'Are you free for lunch tomorrow?' Claudia asked him. 'My accountant is flying in from Milan and I would like him to talk to you.'
'I have already made arrangements to lunch with Erica,' Filippo replied and, seemingly unaware of the glitter in Claudia's eyes, gave Erica an unexpectedly warm smile. 'I will collect you at Botelli's at noon.'
She nodded, too happy to speak, and watched his tall figure recede into the darkness as the motor launch chugged them swiftly away.
Affair in Venice Page 14