The American Contessa

by Noni Calbane

  At loose ends, she’d gone to dinner with Carmina to pass the time. When she returned around eleven, she poked her head in his room and there was still no sign of him. Concerned, she quickly checked with Carmina who told her that Luca was notorious for getting lost in his work, and that she shouldn’t worry and just go to bed.

  She was about to do just that and had started to undress, when one of the servants knocked on her door and gave her the note about meeting in the library. Without Luca there to comfort or advise her, she’d decided to meet his Grandmother head-on. There was no way around this. If she was to become a fixture in his life, she had to find a way to co-exist with the family matriarch.

  So with resolve in her mind, Gaby grabbed the door handle to the library and pushed it open.

  Upon entering the room, the old Contessa was nowhere to be seen. Books littered the room, evidently sorted into piles for the historical society, piles to keep, and piles to give away. From what Gaby could see, the volunteers were still carefully wrapping and packing books in boxes for donation.

  Idly scanning the books on the table in front of her while she anxiously waited, Gaby’s heart stopped in shock. The title stood out like beacon in the night. Crime and Punishment! Oh. My. God. It couldn’t be.

  Gaby licked her lips, she couldn’t believe it. But there it was, right in front of her. Her fingers itched to touch it. Reaching out, she lightly fingered the spine of the book. The temptation to open it was great, but fear of the consequences stopped her cold.

  “It’s quite a mess, isn’t it?”

  Gaby swung around in fright. Luca’s Grandmother stood right behind her in the doorway. She surveyed Gaby from head to toe, and entered the room. “Of course, it’s better that the books go to the Societa and into a climate controlled environment, than stay here and disintegrate.”

  Trying to calm her raging anxiety Gaby smiled at her. “I’m sure they appreciate your generous donation. As a teacher, I can understand the importance of books. It would be a shame to lose anything of historical value due to something as simple as improper storage.”

  Narrowing her eyes at Gaby she replied, “Hmm. It’s funny that you should mention how important books are to you?” She picked up a book out of a box on the floor. “Looks can be quite deceiving, can’t they? This book is quite valuable, historically and monetarily, but it looks just like all the rest. What is it they say “you can’t judge a book by its cover?” How very true that is, isn’t it?”

  “Something tells me that you didn’t ask me here to discuss the preservation of books,” Gaby said suspiciously. “Why exactly am I here?”

  The old Contessa held her ground. Although she was decidedly shorter than Gaby, she more than made up for it in determination. “I’m making sure that history does not repeat itself, my dear.”

  Exhaling loudly Gaby looked her directly in the eye. “I’m not like Luca’s mother. I want you to know I happen to be in love with him and he’s told me he feels the same way.”

  Wide-eyed, the older woman looked surprised, “Oh. You think I’m referring to Luca’s mother?”

  “If not, then what exactly are you talking about?” Gaby questioned. The direction of their conversation was making her feel a little sick inside.

  “I’m talking about your Grandfather, Clinton Walker.”

  “How did you kn…”

  “My dear. Once I found out that you were more than simply Carmina’s houseguest, did you think I wouldn’t have you investigated?”

  “You had me …”

  “Yes. And I must say, you surprised even me, turning out to be the Granddaughter of Clinton Walker. You see, I remember Clint quite well. Quite the reputation with the ladies, and quite the reputation for other … more sordid activities. It seems that you’ve inherited a lot of Clint’s ability to mix lust and larceny.”

  Gaby eyes went swiftly to the book on the table. Did she know about the book? The cunning old biddy could very well know everything. Perspiration trickled down Gaby’s back in dread. She was struck dumb. She had no idea what to say. Turning her back on the Contessa’s frosty glare, she tried to think of a way to explain. Should she acknowledge the truth and hope for the best. Gaby swallowed hard. It was over. It was all over.

  “Have you been looking for this?” the Contessa startled her out of her thoughts.

  Spinning back around, Gaby saw that she held up a bright and sparkling object in her hand. There was no doubt that it was the infamous Manetti necklace. “Seen and heard enough?” the old woman said mysteriously.

  Gaby inclined her head quizzically. “What?” she said in a daze.

  “Yes. Quite enough,” came the harsh reply echoing from the second story of the library. As Luca descended the stairs, Gaby’s heart was in her throat. She’d seen him mad before, but somehow this was beyond mad. This was so angry that it defied description. His eyes wouldn’t look her way, and she knew right there and then that nothing she could say would make him forgive her. But she had to try and explain.

  “Luca …” she stammered.

  He held up his hand to halt her from speaking. “I want you out of this house. Now!” he said with controlled rage, still not meeting her eyes.

  Gaby let out a sob. “Won’t you even let me try and explain?” The tears immediately started to fall and she swiped at them with her hand.

  His Grandmother beat a hasty retreat towards the door of the library with a satisfied gleam in her eye. “Goodnight Luca. Put this in the family safe for me,” she said quietly, handing him the necklace. Turning to Gaby she smiled, “Goodbye, my dear.”

  With her departure Gaby was more than a little scared of what Luca might do. Although she didn’t really believe he could be violent, he may well forcibly throw her out of the house with his own two hands.

  Slowly he looked from the necklace to her stricken face and shook his head in disbelief. “You’re quite the little actress, aren’t you? Tears? Or are you just sorry you got caught?”

  Gaby cringed at his remark. “Luca, please let me explain.”

  “Just answer me this one question. Did you or did you not come to Florence for the necklace?”

  Frowning, Gaby looked away. She could lie and say she didn’t, but that wasn’t true. How could there ever be anything real between them, when the circumstances of their meeting were based on something so despicable. She had to make him believe that her feelings for him trumped any notion of taking the necklace. Looking back at him, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

  Luca watched the emotions pass over Gaby’s face. He couldn’t believe it. He’d hoped to God that she would deny it, even if all the evidence showed her to be a liar. He could literally feel his heart breaking in his chest. Piece by piece, crumbling and turning to dust. It was all a lie. Everything! She had used him to get into the Villa for the necklace. That was what she’d wanted from the beginning. “Your silence speaks volumes,” he quietly commented.

  “Would you believe it if I told you I no longer want the necklace. That I would never have gone through with taking it. That I want you more?” Gaby asked, blinking back the tears.

  “Sure. Why settle for a necklace, when you could have a title and all the money you could ever need.” Her gaze turned speculative and her eyes widened. “Yes. I was planning to ask you to marry me. Was being the operative word,” he hissed.

  Gaby reached for him, but he pulled away angrily. “I trusted you Gaby. I believed in you. You made me love you. But not just me. Carmina loves you too. Like a sister. You deceived us into thinking you cared. For what?” His lips twisted in a sarcastic smile and he held up the necklace. “For this?”

  “Luca. I wanted to tell you. Really I did. In the beginning it didn’t seem to matter because you behaved so horribly towards me and I didn’t really know you. And in the end it mattered too much, and I knew I’d lose you if I did. Please believe me, I do care. I love you both.”

  “Yes. But you love money more, don’t you?” he stated, h
is voice cracking. “Love it enough to steal from the very people you claim to love.” Taking a deep breath, Luca reigned in his hurt and settled on coldness. “You’re a liar and a thief, and I want you to leave.”

  “You won’t let me say anything?”

  “Nothing you could possibly say would make any difference,” he bit out from between clenched teeth, “Now please leave, or I will have to call the Polizia. Evidently a common occurrence with your family.”

  Gaby looked at him with daggers. Oh! Did he really want to go there? He wasn’t going to give her any sort of chance to explain. He knew everything! He’d made his decision and it was if a switch had been turned off and there was no way to turn it back on. He wanted her gone, and now. Well, he could attack her all he liked, but there was no way she’d let him speak about her family that way!

  With her hands on her hips Gaby glared at him. “What do you know about my family anyway? Yes, my Grandfather was a thief and yes, he asked me to come here and take the necklace. But do you care why? No. What do you know about financial struggle or hardship? To you that necklace is a trinket. Something to stash away in the family safe and forget. But for me it would solve so many problems of which you have no idea, and could never comprehend.”

  “Oh, I comprehend. I comprehend all of it. And to think I was going to ask you …” His voice petered out and he uttered softly, “Nonna was right. Marrying you, I would have disgraced the Manetti name.”

  Gaby’s hand swung out before she could stop it. It made contact with Luca’s face and seconds later a tell-tale red handprint brightened his cheek. Luca didn’t flinch. Clearly he was used to getting his face slapped by women. But Gaby was mortified. “Oh Luca, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’ve never hit anyone in my life.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” he coldly commented, “At least I know now you’re capable of some degree of feeling.”

  Her eyes filled with tears once again at his words and Luca felt himself softening. He had to make her leave. If not, he may very well break down himself shortly. With that notion, Luca angrily headed over to the door of the library and roughly pushed it open. “Now, get out of my sight! Before I do call the police.”

  “Oh I’ll go,” she spat angrily, following him to the door. “With pleasure I’ll go!”

  As she ventured to exit through the doorway he grabbed her arm and swung her around. “Wait,” he said opening her fist and shoving the necklace into her grasp. “You may as well take this, considering it means so much to you.”

  “I don’t want it!” Gaby shot back at him.

  “Consider it payment for services rendered,” he smiled sardonically.

  Gaby recoiled at his nasty comment and thrust back from his close proximity. Looking at the necklace in her hand, she contemplated how something so cold and hard could cause so much pain to so many people.

  A sudden overwhelming sadness enveloped her, replacing her momentary anger and she spoke calmly. “There was one thing your Grandmother was right about. History certainly has repeated itself. But it has nothing to do with your mother or my Grandfather. Remember Marina, Luca? She threw the necklace back in the Count’s face.”

  “Want to throw it back in my face Gaby? Go ahead,” he challenged. “You can’t hurt me any more than you’ve already done.”

  “No,” she replied grimly, putting the necklace on a nearby table. “You may not want to believe this, but I never wanted to hurt you Luca. I never wanted to fall in love with you either. But just like Marina, if you truly loved me and believed in me, we could overcome this. As it stands, you’d rather throw it all away in anger, without explanation and without hesitation.”

  When he didn’t respond, she continued, “If there is such a curse on the necklace, and it was within my power, I’d much rather reverse it.” Sighing, she stopped at the door, “I wish you all the happiness in the world Luca.”

  “Do you?” he scowled.

  She nodded.

  “Funny,” he said turning away from her, “I thought I had all the happiness in the world. What a fool I am. I guess there’s no such thing as a happy ending after all.”

  *****

  Gaby hastily threw her clothes into the suitcase on the bed. There was no way it was all going to fit back in there. Of course, folding the clothes would have been a better idea, but who had the time when at any moment, Luca could bound through the door and throw her out the window onto the terrace below.

  “Running away?” She turned to see Carmina standing in her doorway. Scanning her face, Gaby was uncertain if she was now a friend or foe.

  “Seems like a good idea to head home at this point,” she replied quickly, continuing to shove her remaining clothes into her carry-on. “I’m surprised you’re still talking to me. I’m sure your Grandmother couldn’t wait to tell you all about it.”

  Tapping Gaby on her shoulder, Carmina pulled her into her arms, and hugged her tightly. “My Grandmother is an old troublemaker.” Taking Gaby by the hand, she sat her down on the bed. “Yes, she told me. But I prefer to get my information from the horses’ mouth –so to speak.”

  “I don’t know where to start …” Gaby sniffed.

  “The beginning’s usually a good place. Just talk to me Gaby. Tell me everything.”

  Gaby spent the next two hours going through everything with Carmina. Her Grandfather’s notorious past, his medical bills, the necklace. It all flowed easily from her lips. It was a relief to finally unburden her conscience. Carmina listened intently through it all, nodding with understanding in places and asking questions when she felt the need.

  When Gaby had finished, Carmina sighed heavily. “Well, I must say you’re Grandfather gives my Nonna a run for her money when it comes to creating trouble. Although, if you hadn’t come to Florence, Luca and I would never have met you, and that would have been a terrible shame.”

  “He’ll never forgive me Carmina. He thinks all I wanted was the necklace.” Tears rolled down Gaby’s face and she choked back a loud sob. “I love him so much it hurts, and I know he’ll never trust me again.”

  “The fool,” Carmina said bitterly. “I could happily strangle him right now.”

  “It’s not his fault; not really. I knew what I was doing was wrong. Couple that with all his misgivings and trust issues –something was bound to happen eventually.”

  “He’ll come to his senses. But it may take some time.”

  “Where does that leave me?” Gaby said sadly. The thought of leaving Italy and never seeing him again was too much to bear. She stood and started to try and zip her suitcase; anything to keep her body, if not her mind, occupied.

  “I’m afraid it doesn’t leave you in the best position at the moment. But know this Gaby; whatever happens you’re my friend and nothing and no-one will change that.”

  Gaby stopped her packing and moved towards her friend with arms outstretched, “I’m going to miss you Carmina.”

  “Not as much as I’ll miss you,” she replied with a sniff, hugging her back. “I don’t have many friends Gaby, but I’m happy to count you as one of them.”

  *****

  The taxi driver loaded his trunk with Gaby’s bags and slammed it shut. Gaby jumped at the finality of the sound. She’d left Carmina in her bedroom, not wanting a long and drawn out goodbye. Holding back her tears by sheer will, she refused to look up at the window of the Luca’s bedroom in case he was there; or more truthfully, if he wasn’t. She hadn’t seen him since he’d told her to leave; though in her heart she’d hoped he would change his mind and at least try and talk about it. But no, she knew he held onto his anger with all his strength and that he would rather lose what they’d had, than forgive her.

  The driver opened the passenger door and Gaby slowly got in. Letting out a deep breath she kept her eyes forward and away from the Villa. Don’t look back, she told herself firmly, leave and don’t look back.

  Luca watched from his window without expression. It was almost surreal. Less than four hours ago he’
d been happy. Happier than he had ever been. And now?

  As he watched Gaby enter the taxi without a backward glance and the car pull away, he cringed at her heartlessness. She felt nothing; not even enough to glance back at him, the Villa or any of the destruction she’d caused. Damn her!

  “Well she’s gone.”

  Luca quickly moved away from the window, wiping the telltale moisture from his eyes and turned to face Carmina. “Yes she is –good riddance,” he replied coldly.

  “You don’t mean that Luca.”

  He pushed past her. “Don’t tell me what I mean or feel Carmina,” he snapped, “You have no idea.”

  “I could happily slap you silly big brother,” she replied with heat. “The best thing that has ever happened to you just left in a taxi, and you don’t even blink.”

  Luca looked at her with disdain. “If the best I can do is a thief and a liar, then maybe I should raise my standards.”

  “Idioto.”

  He snorted. “She made an idiot of me, yes. But I’m not idiot enough to continue being made a fool of,” he bellowed back in frustration. “What I don’t understand is why you forgave her so easily? She used us Carmina.” Luca raked his hand through his hair and sank down on the bed. “She didn’t love me; I thought she did, I believed she did; but she didn’t.”

  Carmina kneeled in front him. “You ask me how I can forgive her? I’ll tell you why,” she said softly. “Because when she explained to me why she did it, I knew it was out of desperation. If I was in trouble, wouldn’t you do anything to help me? Well, Gaby felt she had no alternative. Her family needed help and she thought nothing of the legality or the immorality of what she was doing.”

  Luca gaze hardened, “Like I said, a liar and a thief; just like her Grandfather.”

  Carmina stood and placed her hands on her hips, “Oh, get off your high horse Luca. You think the Manetti’s acquired their wealth by being a bunch of noble and honourable people. You think our heritage is squeaky clean? I’ll have you know our family tree can happily count amongst its forbears; murderers; thieves and yes, liars. So don’t talk to me about character and genes.”