A Proposal from the Italian Count

by Lucy Gordon

  From the way he stared at her she could tell she’d taken him completely by surprise.

  ‘How did you...?’ he murmured. ‘However did you...?’

  How did she know? she wondered. Perhaps it was connected with the fierce sympathy for him that had risen in her so unexpectedly.

  ‘You must have a gift for seeing into other people’s hearts and minds,’ he said.

  She wasn’t sure how to answer that. He was the last man in the world whose heart and mind she would have expected to see into.

  ‘What is it?’ he asked, looking at her face. ‘Have I said something to disturb you?’

  ‘No. I’m just thinking of the day we left England and Rik tried to stop me—the way you dealt with him. You said you’d do anything necessary to make him sorry he’d opened his big mouth, and that if he didn’t get out you might do something you’d both regret. You were really scary.’

  ‘And you thought that was the real me?’

  ‘No—well, I did then. But now...’

  He smiled. ‘We all have different sides to our natures. I do have a side that’s brutal, cruel, unforgiving, but I save it for creatures like him. Don’t worry. You won’t see it.’

  ‘I’m not afraid,’ she said, not entirely truthfully. ‘As you say, we all have different sides. My own cruel, unforgiving side is lurking somewhere.’

  ‘Hovering about me a lot recently, I guess?’

  ‘I must admit I had it all geared up and ready for you. But now I know how different you are from what I expected...’

  ‘You think perhaps I’m human and not an unfeeling robot?’

  ‘I never thought you an unfeeling robot.’

  ‘Liar.’ But the word was said gently, and with a touch of humour.

  ‘I guess I deserved that,’ she said. ‘If you were unfeeling you couldn’t be suffering about your father as you do. You’ve really taken me by surprise.’

  ‘I think we’ve taken each other by surprise.’

  Vittorio rubbed a hand over his eyes, suddenly feeling wrung out by the emotions swirling in his head.

  ‘Perhaps it’s time we left,’ he said.

  His weariness was growing by the minute, and the tension of the evening was becoming more than he could cope with.

  He signalled to the waiter, who approached with the bill.

  Watching him, Jackie was struck by the heaviness in his manner, and the way he kept closing his eyes. Alarm began to grow in her.

  At last the bill was paid.

  ‘Time to go home,’ he said.

  ‘No.’ She laid a hand on his arm. ‘Vittorio, I don’t think leaving is a good idea. You’re in no fit state to drive.’

  ‘But I haven’t drunk any alcohol. You know that.’

  ‘I know, but you’re shattered. Your head’s spinning.’

  ‘You’re right. I didn’t sleep well last night.’

  ‘You didn’t sleep at all. You spent most of the night wandering in the grounds.’

  ‘How the devil do you know that?’

  ‘I saw you from my window—several times.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose I was pretty obvious. I kept meaning to go inside and get some sleep, but somehow I couldn’t make myself do it. I should have done. It’s left me tired. But that’s not the only thing. This evening—I’ve never talked about all this before.’ He met her eyes. ‘With you, it’s different. You understand things that nobody else could, and I’ve said far more than I meant to say. It’s hard to cope with what I... Things I said that I didn’t mean to.’

  She laid her hand over his. ‘Can’t I help you?’

  ‘You’ve already helped by being you. At first the past seemed to make us enemies, but it’s also—’ Words seemed to fail him.

  ‘It’s also opened a door of fellow feeling that we never imagined,’ she said softly.

  ‘Yes. Suddenly everything in the world seems to be different—I’m confused, but I’m also glad.’

  ‘Perhaps it means that we really have managed to become friends?’ she suggested tentatively.

  He gave a wry smile. ‘My best friend. Who would ever have imagined that?’

  ‘Friendship can come out of the strangest places.’

  ‘They don’t come much stranger than ours.’

  ‘And now, because I’m your friend, I’m telling you not to try to drive home tonight. It wouldn’t be safe.’

  ‘Don’t panic. It’ll be all right.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘You think I can’t be trusted to drive properly?’

  ‘I think you’re not well enough. I’ve seen how you keep closing your eyes the way people do when their head’s aching. You’re in a bad way, and you could collapse at the wheel.’

  ‘I promise not to. Now, let’s go.’

  Jackie took a deep breath. What she was about to say was momentous. ‘No. Vittorio, if you get into that car I’ll call the police.’

  He stared at her. ‘Did I hear you right? That’s the act of a friend, is it?’

  ‘Yes. A friend who’s trying to protect you from harm. I guess that’s something you’re not used to.’

  ‘I’m certainly not used to people telling me what to do.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Now I’m here you’ll get used to it.’

  ‘So what’s going to happen? Will you drive us home?

  ‘No way. I’m not a confident driver, and I couldn’t handle the Italian roads at night.’

  ‘Then what are we going to do?’

  ‘This is an hotel. We can stay the night and leave tomorrow. I’ll go to Reception and book us two rooms.’

  She tried to rise but his hand tightened on hers.

  ‘I’ll see to it,’ he said.

  He summoned the waiter and spoke in Italian. The waiter nodded and departed.

  After a few moments he returned and addressed Vittorio, also in Italian.

  ‘Oh, hell,’ Vittorio groaned.

  ‘What did he say?’ Jackie asked. ‘He spoke too fast for me to follow.’

  ‘They don’t have two rooms available. Just one. A double room.’

  ‘Then take it,’ she said. ‘You need to go to bed. I can sleep in the car.’

  ‘Why would you do that? Don’t you trust me to behave decently?’

  ‘Of course. It’s just that—Well—’

  ‘It’s just that I’m on the point of collapse. I couldn’t seduce you if I wanted to. You’re quite safe.’

  He rose to his feet.

  Suddenly he staggered, reaching out to grasp at something. But there was nothing there. Jackie leapt to her feet, just managing to catch him in time to stop him falling.

  She supported him to the reception desk, where he booked the double room. The receptionist cast curious glances back and forth between them, but said nothing.

  ‘I wonder what he’s thinking,’ Jackie observed as they went up in the elevator.

  ‘I imagine we can guess what he’s thinking,’ Vittorio growled. ‘I planned to tell him you were my wife, but—’

  ‘You’re too well known around here to get away with that one,’ she supplied. ‘It wouldn’t have worked. Much better for him to think I’m your latest lover.’

  ‘That doesn’t worry you?’ he asked curiously.

  ‘Why should it? Who cares about my reputation?’ She gave a teasing chuckle. ‘Yours is another matter. But I expect they’re used to you appearing in this situation. All right—don’t answer that.’

  ‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’ he demanded.

  ‘Well, I admit the sight of your face just now gave me a little cheeky pleasure.’

  Cheeky, he thought wryly. If ever a word described someone that one described her. And she loved it.
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  Not for the first time he reminded himself to be on his guard. But his guard never really protected him against her.

  At last the elevator reached their floor, stopping with a shudder that disturbed his balance again. Instinctively he seized hold of her. She clasped him in return, leading him out into the corridor.

  ‘Room thirty-seven,’ he gasped.

  A notice on the wall gave her the direction of the room, which luckily wasn’t far away. He reached into his pocket for the key and opened the door.

  The room was large, dominated by a double bed. Slowly she led him across the floor so that he could slide onto it. He lay down with relief.

  ‘Let me pull the duvet back so that you can lie underneath,’ she said.

  ‘No, I’m fine as I am. Thank you for getting me here.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘You’re a life-saver. I’m sorry to do this to you.’

  ‘No need to be sorry. Friends help each other.’

  ‘I thought I’d be able to cope...’

  ‘But what was there to cope with?’

  Vittorio struggled to find the words to tell her about how his own thoughts and feelings had overcome him. But they were taking him over again.

  ‘Forgive me...’ was all he could say.

  ‘There’s nothing to forgive. We all have bad spells sometimes.’

  ‘But I didn’t handle it very well, did I?’

  It was true, but she guessed he wasn’t used to this kind of burden.

  ‘Go to sleep,’ she said. ‘You need it.’

  ‘I should call Tania first. She’ll be expecting us home.’

  ‘Yes, but tell her we can’t come home because you’ve met a business associate and need to talk to him. We have to stay until your serious discussion is over. I’ll be taking notes—like a secretary.’

  ‘But where are we supposed to be sleeping?’

  ‘You in here. Me in another room down the corridor.’

  ‘But there isn’t one.’

  ‘Tania doesn’t know that.’

  He managed a smile. ‘I guess you’re right.’

  She picked up the phone. ‘Give me the number and I’ll call her.’

  Tania answered at once. Jackie immediately handed the phone to Vittorio, who managed to assume a vigorous, cheerful voice. Jackie couldn’t follow every Italian word, but she could just about understand that he was doing as she’d advised.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, hanging up at last. ‘That’s bought us a little time. You’re a great organiser. Perhaps I really should go into business with you—not as an employee, but as a partner.’

  ‘You never know. We might surprise each other.’

  ‘I’m sure of it. Heavens, but my head is aching.’ He closed his eyes and rubbed his hand over them.’

  ‘Go to sleep,’ she said. ‘You’ll feel better in the morning.’

  ‘Where are you going to sleep?’

  ‘There’s a sofa over there.’ She pointed to the sofa beneath the window.

  Vittorio looked at it in concern. ‘You’ll never be comfortable there. It’s too narrow and not long enough. Sleep here. This is a king-size bed. We can each take one side.’

  ‘Not while you’re lying diagonally on it,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t leave me any room.’

  He made some awkward movements to the side, but they seemed to tire him.

  ‘It’s no good,’ she said. ‘You need the whole bed. Stretch out and get comfortable.’

  ‘But what about you? Who’ll look after you?’

  ‘I’m fine. You’re the one who needs looking after. Shall I get something to cover you?’

  ‘No, I’m warm enough. You go and lie down.’

  He watched as she backed away and lay on the sofa. He felt as though he was sinking into a different world, overtaken by another self—one who was reaching out to her for safety. He frowned, trying to understand the mystery, but suddenly all thoughts vanished and a warm darkness descended on him.

  Watching him, Jackie saw the exact moment when Vittorio fell into sleep. At last, she thought with relief. Now he could find a little peace.

  But almost at once he began muttering in his sleep, then tossing and turning as though driven by some inner torment. It troubled her to see him floundering towards the very edge of the bed. At last one agitated movement brought him so near that he started to slide off, and she hurried across to hold him just in time.

  ‘Steady,’ she said.

  ‘Mmm...’ he murmured.

  She couldn’t tell if he’d heard her, or even knew she was there. His eyes were still closed but his hands grasped her, as if clinging to safety.

  ‘Move back,’ she urged him.

  ‘Mmm?’

  ‘Move back before you fall right off.’

  He edged backwards, still holding her. She followed, joining him on the bed but not getting too close.

  Suddenly he turned, throwing an arm over her. His eyes were closed, and from his deep breathing she sensed that he was still asleep. She tried to nudge him away gently, but his arm tightened, drawing her close until his head rested on her shoulder.

  Instinctively she wrapped her arms about him completely. She was amazed at the feeling that swept over her. This man, who always seemed so strong and determined, had aroused in her an instinct to protect. She knew that he needed the safety she could give him.

  ‘Goodnight,’ she whispered. ‘Sleep well.’

  His answer was a soft murmur. She couldn’t make out the words, but she felt the movement of his lips against her neck and tightened her arms at the sensation that went through her. At once she felt his arms tighten in response.

  He lay still for a while, but soon his lips began to move again. She leaned closer, trying to hear what he was saying, but the words were indistinguishable.

  She could make out only one.

  ‘Elena,’ he murmured. ‘Elena—Elena—’

  Then he was silent again, leaving her wondering.

  Who was Elena? Was she the woman he’d spoken of? The one he’d found in bed with another man? Or was she some other ghost that haunted him?

  He spoke again. ‘Jackie—Jackie—’

  ‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘I’m here.’

  She wondered if he’d heard, and perhaps understood. Now he lay still. She listened intently for anything else he might say, but there was no more mention of Elena.

  Who was she? And why was she with him in his head at this moment?

  At last she felt her own body relax.

  Her last thought before she drifted into sleep was that somehow this was perfect.

  * * *

  Vittorio had the sensation of being in another world. As time passed thoughts and impulses disturbed him more, driving sleep away, so that at last he opened his eyes.

  He had no idea where he was. He only knew that he was being held in an embrace so comforting that blissful feelings streamed through him. But gradually everything became real and he discovered that he was lying in Jackie’s arms.

  At first he couldn’t believe it. It was a dream. It must be. But her warmth against him, the feel of her breasts beneath his head, were sensations of such sweetness that he was filled briefly with pleasure—and then with alarm.

  How could he have let this happen? With what crazy lack of caution had he yielded to the desire to enfold her in his arms?

  But at least she was asleep. If he was very cautious she might never know.

  Moving with great care, he edged away, holding his breath lest she awake and discover how vulnerable he could be where she was concerned. That was something that must never happen. Inch by inch he drew back his arm and then his head, retreating to the safety of the far side of the bed.

  There he lay tense and still,
watching her for any sign of wakefulness. To his relief there was none. After a while he turned over and lay facing away from her, trying to get his thoughts and feelings in order. It wasn’t easy...

  * * *

  Submerged in peaceful silence and sleep, Jackie was unaware of passing time until she felt herself returning to the world and opened her eyes. Memories were there of holding Vittorio in her arms, feeling him cling to her. But now she lay alone, and his back was turned to her.

  A faint sense of disappointment was followed by a stronger feeling of relief.

  He’d claimed her as his friend, but they didn’t yet fully trust each other—and if he knew how she’d embraced him while he was unaware he might feel suspicious.

  And he would not be pleased, she was sure. She remembered that he’d told her he wouldn’t seduce her even if he wanted to.

  He didn’t want to. There was no doubt about that. If he’d woken to find himself in her arms he would have been embarrassed. Luckily fate had saved her from that disaster.

  But then she remembered how she had enjoyed the sensation of holding him, the feel of his body against hers. And she knew there was another disaster that threatened her.

  He stirred and turned to her. ‘Ah, you’re awake,’ he said. ‘Did you sleep well?’

  ‘Perfectly, thank you.’

  ‘No disturbing dreams?’

  ‘Not a thing.’

  ‘That’s all right, then.’

  She thought she detected relief in his voice. He couldn’t have said more plainly that there was nothing between them but practical matters.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE BEDSIDE PHONE RANG. Vittorio answered it and found himself talking to Tania, who sounded agitated.

  ‘Are you mad to have that woman in your room?’ Tania demanded.

  ‘I told you we were both staying here.’

  ‘But not in the same room. I just called the hotel to speak to her and they told me where she is. Have you no common sense?’