by Julia Anders
"Paola Malina?" Jason looked puzzled.
"Don't you remember? It was all over the press last year. She's some sort of film actress. She was in England making a film and some MP's wife shot her husband because he was having an affair with the woman. It was a big scandal at the time."
"I remember the case," Darren said.
"Paola. Where have I heard that name recently?" Jason mused.
"It was yesterday at lunch. Tonio asked his grandmother if he could stay with us while they went to the Lido with Vincente and Paola and the others. And that was another odd thing, Darren. When I pretended I didn't quite understand, she translated it differently and said she and Matteo had planned a business trip to Venice but it had been canceled."
"Matteo seemed surprised and Isabella looked daggers at him," Jason added. "We figured she had decided they shouldn't leave Tonio alone with the maid while we were on the scene."
"The whole thing didn't jibe with the way they told us they didn't go out anywhere since they were in mourning."
Darren and Jason exchanged a long look which Lynne didn't understand.
"Well, old son," Darren said, "I'll start the legal wheels turning. Meanwhile, there's nothing you can do but relax and enjoy the honeymoon."
Lynne felt a peculiar combination of heartsickness and outrage at the comment, but Darren continued blandly, "Go to the museums and churches. Be seen appreciating the glories of Florence. You have an image to protect, you know—that of a devoted young couple who would make excellent guardians for a five-year-old child. You never know who may be watching."
She dropped her gaze to her plate. Today in the emergency she had been able to lay aside her personal feelings. But tomorrow how would she have the strength to keep up the charade?
Maybe she was just so exhausted by the events of the day that obstacles seemed more insurmountable than they really were. Maybe she could find her way back to that easy, casual comradeship with Jason—tomorrow when she was rested.
At the moment all she wanted was to fall into bed.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lynne was grateful for Darren's presence at breakfast the next morning on the small roof garden.
"I say, that is a rather smashing view, isn't it?" Darren exclaimed. "Church and bell tower and all that. Wouldn't mind wandering over and taking a look, but that's not what Jason's paying me for, right?"
"Did you set out to make me sound like a slave driver, or did it just come out that way accidentally?" Jason inquired pleasantly.
"Oh, it was totally an accident, old boy. Wouldn't think of criticizing you, especially when I remember you told Lynne you owed her the best dinner in town. I suppose you'll be making good on that tonight. And since it's possible you'll want legal advice tonight, too, I wouldn't dream of saying a word to get on your bad side between now and then. No sense ruining the chance of an invitation to a first-rate dinner. Tact is my strong point. Actually that's why I went into the legal profession. Very long on tact, if I do say so myself."
Lynne burst out laughing. "And you're subtle, too."
He looked at his watch. "Well, I'm off to start earning my fee. What are you two typical, average tourists going to do with yourselves today?"
Jason looked at Lynne. "What would you like to see?" When she hesitated, he said, "Remember, Darren's handling the legal end. There's no chance they'll let us see Tonio today, so we might as well take Darren's advice and behave like normal tourists."
"All right. Then I'd like to go to the Academia and see Michelangelo's David. And the Monastery of St. Mark sounds interesting. Actually there's enough to do to keep busy for weeks—the Bargello Museum, the Pitti Palace, the Medici Museum."
"Let's start off with the Academia then," he said.
All the way there her mind was on Darren, wondering if everything was going well with the legal details he was handling, but once inside the Academia the genius of Michelangelo overwhelmed her thoughts and pushed everything else from her mind.
There were many fascinating pieces, but the David —well, the David was awe-inspiring. Standing alone, brilliantly lighted in a semicircular rotunda, the pure white marble figure took her breath away.
Though there were crowds of people, the statue seemed to have the same effect on all of them because there was no chattering, no shoving, only a silent group of people paying homage.
Outside afterward Jason said, "There really aren't any words for it, are there?"
She shook her head. "You know, I'm almost beginning to feel giddy. We seem to plunge from one extreme to another. Yesterday having Tonio kidnapped by that dreadful man; today viewing the sublimest of art. At the moment the idea of a nice, dull, humdrum existence sounds rather attractive. I never realized peaks and valleys could be so exhausting."
"Poor Lynne. Let's have a bit of lunch and catch our breath. Then maybe we could visit the Monastery of St. Mark. That sounds as if it might be peaceful."
Jason was right. There was a lovely collection of Fra Angelicos in the museum, so gentle, delicate, and serene. Looking at them gave Lynne a warm glow of happiness deep inside, and yet some of the children's faces reminded her of Tonio and made her want to cry at the same time.
In the cloisters, after looking at the extraordinary frescoes, they sat in the shade of an enormous cedar tree, letting the peace of the setting flow over them.
Suddenly, to her surprise, Lynne felt tears prickling at her eyes.
"Lynne! What is it?" Jason was all concern.
For a moment she couldn't speak. "I don't know," she said at last. "I think it was those sweet Fra Angelico paintings. They made me think of Tonio."
"You're not worried about him are you, Lynne? It was a despicable thing his grandparents did yesterday, but it was aimed at me, not at him. They wouldn't harm the boy, I'm sure of that. It will work out-thanks in great part to you. He'll soon be safe at home with us in England—at Longridge."
He couldn't know how his words were twisting the knife in her heart. Of course she wanted Tonio safe at Longridge. But she would miss him so, because she couldn't go there, not for the six months Jason had suggested, not for any time at all.
How could she live at Longridge, under Jason's roof, seeing him every weekend? It was too much to ask. When he looked at her with his searching gray eyes, her knees went weak. She longed for his touch. The memory of the strength of his body sent shivers through her. But he was not for her, could never be. She was a temporary convenience to him. She knew he was truly grateful for her part in yesterday's adventure, but his heart belonged to Justine. That one mad, glorious moment when he had seen her as a woman was only an isolated fragment in time. She could never be anything more to him than a loyal employee. She was a highly paid and trusted employee, but that was all. It wasn't enough, not when her heart turned over at the sight of his lithe, strong figure, the shape of his mouth. She would be bound to betray herself eventually if she were to go back to Longridge.
"Jason," she said after the lengthening silence, "you know I'll do everything I can to help you in taking Tonio home. But as for the rest, I can't go with you. You can find another tutor for him."
"Lynne, what are you talking about? You know we agreed—"
She held up a weary hand. "You won't really need me then, once the papers are signed. And since I'm not going to carry out the latter part of your plan, you don't need to either. You don't need to pay for my education courses. You've already given me too much."
"Lynne, what's this nonsense about money? I want you taking care of Tonio at Longridge. You promised you would and—"
"Did I?" she interrupted. "I don't remember that I did. I agreed to this—this charade—but I think then you suggested the rest and just assumed that like everyone else, I'd jump to obey."
He drew back, his mouth set in an uncompromising line. "I think that was uncalled for. I don't think I'm so harsh a master as you imply," he said stiffly, and she wept inside because she knew he was right. But she felt goaded, pushed beyond h
er endurance. She couldn't let him force her to go to Longridge, no matter what she had to say or do to get out of it.
"Furthermore," he went on, "you'll do as I say or you'll be very, very sorry."
"Threats?" she asked softly. "Well, I'm sure everyone who crosses swords with you is very, very sorry, but that doesn't change my mind."
She saw the dark glint of anger in his eyes, and then suddenly his face softened. "Lynne, Lynne, what are we doing to each other? We're both worn out emotionally after yesterday, and who says travel and sightseeing aren't exhausting, too? Let's go back to the hotel. We'll shelve this discussion for now. You take a nap and we'll go out to dinner with Darren tonight—"
"I suppose you think a nice little nap and some good nourishing food will restore my deranged mind, so I'll say yes to anything you propose," she flung at him.
"What I was going to say was that we're both tired and saying things we don't mean. Let's not argue the point now. There's no need to make any decisions until after Tonio is legally mine."
"Perhaps not," she said, "but I don't think you are thinking of Tonio's welfare at this point. He's already lost both parents. You plan to take him from his grandparents for reasons you convinced me were good ones. But now you want him to spend the next six months becoming dependent on me. And then it will all change and I'll be taken away from him, too. He thinks of me as his aunt. It's hard enough on him to lose parents and grandparents without adding an aunt, too. You ought to give him a break—hire a nanny or governess, and either find one who will stay on, or at least let him know she's only temporary help. Or were you going to explain to him that I'm only his aunt for a season or two?"
He reached a hand toward her as if to speak, but then the moment passed, and his hand dropped to his lap. "This isn't the time for a serious discussion," he said. "You're overwrought, and no wonder. We'll talk tomorrow."
The dining room was elegant with a beautiful view. Soft yellow-gold silk lined the walls. Small bouquets of fresh flowers adorned each table, and a huge massed floral display formed a focus of interest on a large table in the center of the room.
Lynne had chosen the seat facing the window and watched as the lights of Florence began to come on in the deepening twilight.
When they had had their aperitif and ordered dinner, Darren told them about his day. The legal suit for custody of Tonio had been filed. He had also talked to Officer Siempe, who had checked with the wife of the leather shop owner and found that her story tallied exactly with Lynne's.
"I'll certainly have to buy some of her husband's leather goods," Jason said.
Darren shuddered. "When the case is won, you can buy the shop out if you like, but please, old boy, don't go near the place till then. It's true the police already have her statement, but we don't want anything that might even suggest the hint of a bribe."
Jason chuckled. "Talk about caution! But I'll take your advice."
"You'd better. You're paying me enough for it." He looked around with a satisfied air. "You know, we're fortunate that Tonio's grandparents are Florentine. Supposing we'd had to wait this out in some little Moldavian fishing village."
"Darren, you're crazy," Lynne said. "Anyway, there are probably some very picturesque Moldavian fishing villages."
"That doesn't seem likely," Jason said. "Moldavia isn't on the sea."
"Well, then, a goat-cheese processing village," Darren substituted. "I'm sure they must make goat-cheese."
"Of course," Lynne giggled. "Moldavian goat-cheese is famous all over the world."
She was feeling immeasurably better, listening to Darren's nonsense and forgetting about her personal problems.
The food was perfection. She was finishing the delicate veal dish she had ordered and admiring the view from the window, now that the sky was totally dark except for a handsome crescent moon, when suddenly she heard a voice behind her, a voice she would never forget, and all her pleasure in the food, the conversation, and the setting was ruined beyond repair.
"Well, isn't this cozy? A honeymoon for three. Do you suppose the idea will ever catch on?"
It was Justine Grant.
Lynne's eyes went to Jason and she was sure he was astonished to see her. Or was he? Could she be sure? Perhaps it was expecting too much that he could go for so long without the sight of her. Maybe this had been planned between them.
She glanced at Darren and was positive that his surprise was genuine. In fact, it was more like consternation. He was the first to speak, as both men rose to their feet.
"Justine, what the devil are you doing here?"
"What an ungracious greeting. Aren't you going to ask me to sit down?"
Lynne looked at her then for the first time. She was as beautiful as ever, her hair as silky, her eyes as green. Tonight she wore a dress that matched her eyes and was cut daringly low.
Jason seemed to be speechless. Darren said, "Aren't you with anyone? I don't think this is a good idea, Justine."
"Of course. I'm with friends, but they'll forgive me for slipping away for a bit. Now, are you going to help me to a chair or shall I do it myself?"
Reluctantly he held the chair for her. She turned to Jason. "My poor angel, you're looking so tired. Perhaps foreign travel doesn't agree with you." She turned toward Lynne then. "And the nanny-turned-bride. I can see you've done well by yourself on the trip." Her eyes had taken in the creamy ivory dinner dress Jason had bought for Lynne in Paris, and Lynne was sure she had been able to assess its value.
She was saved from having to speak by Darren's demanding, "You still haven't told us what you're doing in Florence."
"Oh, London was just unutterably dull so when some friends suggested a continental jaunt, I couldn't resist joining them. And now what a surprise to meet up with you. Such a small world!"
"Come off it, Justine," Darren said. "You knew perfectly well that we were in Florence. This is no accidental meeting. And I must say I don't like the idea."
Justine pouted prettily and turned to Jason. "I trust you aren't going to be as boorish as Darren. You'll always be glad to see an old friend, won't you?"
Darren cut in, "Don't be coy, Justine. This has nothing to do with whether any of us are glad to see you or not. The fact that you're here might jeopardize what we're all working for. Things are going well, but we have to be very careful. I don't want one hint of scandal. The farther you stay away from Jason, the better."
"But he has his little bride to chaperon him, surely. And his faithful watchdog."
"Justine, I think it would be better if you rejoined your friends." Jason's words were quiet but with a hint of steel.
Their eyes met and held, then she pushed back her chair. "Well, you will at least call me tomorrow, won't you, pet? Here's my hotel and room number." She put a slip of paper in his hand, rose gracefully, blew a kiss, and was gone.
"Damn the woman," Darren said. "I'm sorry, Jason, but she's not using good sense, coming here like this. You're going to have to get rid of her."
"That should be easy. I have it on good authority that everyone jumps to obey me," he said grimly.
The pleasant ambiance of the evening was irretrievably gone. If Lynne swallowed anything more, she couldn't taste it, didn't remember it. They made their departure as quickly as they could. Even Darren's high spirits had turned flat.
Lynne woke the next morning with a feeling of dull misery. She couldn't face breakfast with Jason this morning, not even if Darren were there to serve as a buffer. She called down and had a tray sent to her room.
When Jason phoned later, she told him she'd already eaten.
Darren had made an appointment for her to appear with Jason in the judge's chambers for a brief interview.
It was an immense relief when it was over.
"You did beautifully," Darren said as they left the building, giving her arm an encouraging squeeze. "Very sincere. No one could help sensing your devotion and concern for the child. Considering your appearance, Jason's position, and the ir
responsible dirty trickery the D'Allasios pulled in abducting Tonio and lying to the police, I don't think we're going to have any trouble at all."
If the judge had wondered why Mrs. Corey never once looked at her husband during the interview, perhaps he attributed it to nervousness, she thought.
"There are a few more papers you need to sign, Jason," Darren said. "Would you like to come along, Lynne?"
She shook her head. "I believe I'll go for a walk and do some more sightseeing. I'll probably just have a bite somewhere along the way, so you two go ahead and have lunch."
She escaped from them with a feeling of relief. The air was crisp and the walk helped a little. She had no planned itinerary; her path was an aimless one, and yet everywhere in Florence there was something interesting to see, some balm to the spirit.
After several hours, feeling somewhat better, she started back across the Ponte Vecchio toward the hotel when suddenly the sight of a figure she could mistake for no other stopped her in her tracks. No one had quite his look of elegant strength. No one carried himself with quite his decisive, purposeful movement. It was Jason and he was coming out of one of the jewelry shops along the bridge. She couldn't tell from this distance which of the lovely shops it was, but he was carrying a package.
Justine hadn't been in town twenty-four hours and already he was buying her a present.
She felt heartsick anew. She walked on, determining that if she saw him returning to the hotel, she would continue walking. She didn't want any sort of confrontation with him now.
When she was across the bridge, she saw that he had turned left and was walking away from the hotel —probably to see Justine, she thought, in spite of Darren's warning. Well, since when was love wise?
Knowing that she could safely count on being alone, she went into the hotel and up to her room. She decided to wash out some hose in the basin, grateful for an ordinary task to keep her busy.
It was well past lunchtime, but she hadn't eaten yet. She decided she'd just have a sandwich on a tray in her room. When she had finished, she put the tray on the floor in the hallway and hung a Do Not Disturb sign on her door. The long walk in the fresh air had made her sleepy, and goodness knows she hadn't slept much the night before. She lay down to take a nap and fell asleep almost at once.