by Carol Grace
“Other members of the staff have helped to fill in the gap, but of course they need supervision. I was merely warning you. When they want something, they can be quite determined.”
Or when they don’t want something, like a nanny, Sabrina thought. “I have had reports of spiders and snakes found in the nannys’ beds,” Sabrina said. “It seems the girls need discipline, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
“Say what you like,” the prince said. “I agree they need discipline, which is why none of the previous nannies were acceptable. They didn’t provide it.”
“It doesn’t sound as if they were given a chance,” she said.
Vittorio looked at Sabrina as if no one had ever questioned him before. She didn’t care. She was in Italy now, the land of her dreams, and no one knew that Sabrina West was previously a wimp and afraid to cross her own step-mother. He was probably going to fire her anyway. It was time someone stood up to the man. Even if he was a prince and a captain of industry, a billionaire and the owner of a bank, he should be willing to bear some criticism. With his record what were the chances she’d last any longer than anyone else? What did she have to lose by speaking her mind? If he fired her, she’d figure out a way to stay here if only for a few days and enjoy a vacation she never thought she’d have. What were the chances of that happening? He needed someone. She needed a job.
He raised his coffee cup and studied her with narrowed eyes. “My job is to make decisions. I hire and fire people every day. People’s lives and their fortunes depend on me. I think I can tell if a nanny will work out within hours, maybe minutes of meeting her.”
Sabrina felt her cheeks redden. Obviously he was observing her in order to quickly make his decision about her. Maybe he’d already made it.
“In any case, as you know, I’m planning to send the girls to a first-rate boarding school. In fact this September in the fall. So the nanny job is only temporary. Are you sure you’re still interested?”
“This fall?” Sabrina didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Many a short-term job would be all she could handle. “I understood it was a year from now. Aren’t they a little young for boarding school?”
“Wait until you meet them to decide that, Ms West. You will agree they need a well-rounded education which is not available here in town.” At least he was talking about her meeting them. Up until that moment she’d had a terrible feeling he was just killing time until he could escort her back to the ferry and get rid of her. “Their former nanny retired over a year ago, and they have been dead set against having a new one. It occurred to me, or rather to my fiancée, when we saw the nannies you sent us, not to wait another year. We believe boarding school is the answer, sooner rather than later, to provide both discipline and academics.”
“I see,” Sabrina said. “Then I suggest you give me a chance,” Sabrina said. “At least until the end of summer when they go to boarding school. If things don’t work out…”
“I’m afraid they won’t,” he said. “Although your resume is impressive, you’ve never dealt with twins before, twins who have an unconventional background.”
Of course she hadn’t dealt with twins before. Who had? With that attitude, no wonder the nannies left so fast. “Twins or triplets, many siblings or none at all, my training has prepared me to deal whatever the situation is. If things don’t work out, the agency will refund your money.” As if Bettina would refund a penny to anyone. She was the most tight-fisted woman in the world. But it sounded good and Sabrina was fighting for her job and her short-term future. She was prepared to promise just about anything. If need be, she’d work her fingers to the bone to refund his money herself.
“In the mean time,” the prince continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “the girls have an interview with the Academy scheduled for next Wednesday which will be in English, the language of instruction. Fortunately they are fluent since they were raised at the knee of Nanny Chisholm, their Scottish nanny.”
Sabrina’s competitive nature rose up to defend herself. No matter how superb Nanny Chisholm was, she, Sabrina would be just as good if not better, or at least be different. “Although they may be fluent in English perhaps they could use some preparation before they enter the academy. I can work with them on grammar, writing, reading, even math this summer before they enter.”
She thought she saw a flicker of interest in his dark eyes, but maybe she was mistaken. Whatever it was, it was enough to jump-start her efforts. “I can tutor them before the interview. I’ll help them get through it and get accepted if that’s really what you want.”
Sabrina knew she had to get her foot in the door of the villa if she had any hope of staying in Italy longer than a day or two. She glanced around at the well-dressed crowd in the café. She sniffed the rain-washed air redolent with the pungent smell of eucalyptus and felt a sudden sense of anticipation as she realized she was actually there in Italy, half-way around the world in a place she’d always wanted to see but never thought she’d have the chance.
She needed a change. She knew that now. She had buried herself in that office on top of Telegraph Hill, sure that she was doing a good job of nanny placement with one exception, the man across the table from her. She needed a jolt out of her rut. She needed to start over. To be challenged. To forget the painful past and get over the mistake she’d made. To prove to herself she could do the job without becoming emotionally attached to her employer. No chance of that happening with the cool, detached prince. This was the place and this was her opportunity. She might even be able to do something for these girls no one else had been able to tame.
“It’s not what I want, it’s what’s best for the girls,” he said.
Sabrina nodded. “That would be me.” She flushed at her own audacity in such shameless self promotion. But if she didn’t promote herself, who would? Not Bettina. What had Bettina told him about her?
“You’re very sure of yourself,” he said. She didn’t know if he approved or not.
“A nanny must always be sure of herself,” she said, squaring her shoulders and meeting his gaze. “If not, her position in the household can be undercut.”
A waiter passed with a tray of different flavored gelatos in glass dishes. She turned her head to watch. Even though she’d eaten all the sandwiches and a pastry, her mouth watered.
The prince snapped his fingers and the waiter stopped. He pointed to Sabrina and he set a dish in front of her.
“Grazie,” she said to the waiter.
The prince gave her a look. Was he critical of her pronunciation or her attitude? Had she mis-spoken? Never mind. Just one spoonful of rich red gelato told her she was in heaven. Richer, creamier and tasting like ripe berries just picked, she let the strawberry gelato roll around on her tongue then she licked her lips.
“First time you’ve had gelato?” he inquired, watching her with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
She nodded. “It’s lovely.”
“How do you know what is required of children applying to an international school in Florence?” he asked, returning to the subject at hand.
“Many of our nannies have prepared children for entrance into private schools both at home and abroad. Surely the school itself will have some information and materials for review.” How did she know? She didn’t. But she would find out soon enough. Was he weakening? Was he considering her proposal?
“We have some material but I haven’t had a chance to look at it,” he said. “The girls are smart enough, but it’s their manners I’m concerned about. They’ve been running wild this past year. I admit I haven’t paid enough attention to them. They need a mother, but she is dead.” A cloud seemed to pass over his face as he said the words. Whether it was grief or guilt or anger she couldn’t tell.
“I’m sorry,” Sabrina said. “No one can replace a mother. I know.”
Vittorio gave her a brief curious glance, but said nothing for a few moments. “My wife died seven years ago just after the girls were bo
rn.” He shifted his gaze to somewhere off in the distance. “I hired Nanny Chisholm from Edinburgh and that was that. But now, As my fiancée Signora Castello says, ‘It’s time to move on.’”
Seven years ago and the man was obviously still grieving. Sabrina could only imagine a love like that that never died. “Your fiancée sounds like a very wise woman,” she said and scraped the gelato dish for the last bit. But what did Sabrina know? She might be a wise woman or not. Right now Sabrina was prepared to give the woman the benefit of a doubt and say whatever it took to get this job.
“The girls don’t like her,” he said, his forehead creased slightly.
“I’m sure they’ll come around,” she said.
“Don’t be so sure,” he muttered. “Not only snakes, but they’ve been known to put spiders in the nannies’ beds to get rid of them.”
“I’m not afraid of spiders or snakes,” she said. Unless they’re poisonous.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said dryly.
She sipped the last of her espresso. It was strong enough that the caffeine would give her the energy necessary to confront the devil twins as well as any spiders they could come up with. If he let her meet them. She had the feeling the way he was frowning at her, that it could go either way. He could just as easily put her back on the next ferry as allow her to put a foot in the door of his villa.
Her gaze locked with his. It wasn’t easy looking into those dark eyes wondering what he was thinking, but she was caught like a fly in a spider’s web and couldn’t look away. She knew her fate hung in the balance and she wondered what more she could say to convince him she was the nanny he needed. She shifted in her chair, then crossed and uncrossed her legs. She didn’t say anything and neither did he. The tension rose until it was almost unbearable. Sabrina’s clothes were still wet, she was chilled, she was tired and wrinkled and hadn’t slept for eighteen hours. And she had run out of things to say.
“Very well,” he said abruptly.
Sabrina sat up straight. She set her cup down on the table with a loud jolt. She was relieved and surprised.
“I’ll give you a week. If the girls pass their interview and get accepted, you can stay all summer and tutor them.”
“You won’t regret it,” she said. She was in. The girls would pass the test and she would stay at least until they went off to school in the fall. She’d worry about her future later.
As if he’d read her mind, he said, “The twins will be attending a day camp this summer, sailing on the lake, horseback riding and other sports.”
“It sounds delightful,” Sabrina said. She didn’t say it, but no matter what else they had going on, they’d certainly need a nanny too. And she was going to be that nanny.
Just as she was about to stand and follow him to the villa, she saw them. It couldn’t be anyone else, two little girls dressed alike in ballet tutus, tiaras and spangled leotards who came whirling and twirling through the tables at the outdoor café right to their table. The sight was one that brought back vivid memories of two other sisters who dressed alike, tormented their baby-sitters and their little sister. Two girls who had spent their childhood making hers miserable - Mindy and Jessica, her step-sisters.
“Caterina, Gianna,” Vittorio said, “how did you get here? You know you are not allowed to leave the villa by yourselves.”
“Marco brought us in the car,” Gianna said. “We told him you wanted us to meet our new nanny. How do you do?” they chorused politely and curtsied in front of Sabrina. These were the naughty twins she’d heard so much about?
Chapter Two
Vittorio watched his daughters act the part of well-mannered little angels, never knowing exactly what they were up to or what they’d do next. Not sure if the chauffeur had really brought them or not. They had the cook, the gardeners and the rest of the staff wrapped around their little fingers. Nonetheless, curtsies were preferable to tantrums which was what they’d thrown when he told them about boarding school. They had made it quite clear they didn’t want another nanny, nor did they want to go to boarding school. They wanted to be free of all authority.
“This school is Aurora’s idea, isn’t it?” Caterina had demanded with her hands on her hips that morning. Sometimes she looked so much like her mother, all attitude and flashing eyes, Vittorio was afraid the spirit of his wife Maddelena had come back to haunt them all, including Caterina.
After what she’d heard, Sabrina West must be surprised to see how well they were behaving, as was he. She could not be unaware of how the girls had treated the other applicants. Tormenting nannies with creeping, crawling creatures was only the beginning. They moved on to more devious tricks then taught them inappropriate phrases in Italian the girls had learned from one of the gardeners. To put it mildly, they had made all the nannies who followed Nanny Chisholm feel unwelcome.
How would Ms West fare when pitted against his offspring during her stay? Would she last beyond a week? Or even a day? It would be a true test to see how her impressive self-confidence stood up to a double-barreled attack of who one nanny called the ‘little monsters.’ She talked a good game, but the verdict was out as to how well she’d do in actual practice.
“I have hired Ms West to help prepare you for the Academy,” he said firmly to let them know it was a done deal and no amount of complaining would get him to change his mind. “You know the interviews are next week.”
Caterina and Gianna exchanged glances. Something passed between them, the kind of silent communication he imagined was only possible with twins. Thankfully they had each other, because he readily admitted he hadn’t been much of a father these past years. He’d buried himself in his work. He’d opened his heart once in his life, when he fell in love with their mother and that ended disastrously. Since then he’d been described by friends and colleagues as a loner. The tumultuous events in the international banking business were now forcing him to take an active role and end his loner status. And to find a solution to the twins’ problem.
“Yes, Papa,” Caterina said.
“Thank you, Papa,” Gianna said.
Surprised at this benign reaction, he glanced at Sabrina. She didn’t look surprised. Hadn’t she read the reports on the girls?
Since there was no way to please them, except by letting them run wild, and they desperately needed discipline, he had decided in the last half hour to hire the nanny who sat across the table from him and send them away to school also. He had no faith in a positive outcome to these decisions, but to his surprise, the reaction of his daughters was so far a positive one.
Ms West was right about the girls being too young to make important decisions. She had confidence, he could see that. Soon he would see if it was misplaced or not. Other nannies had had confidence. She’d need more than that to cope with Gianna and Caterina. Even for a week.
Sabrina West had caught his eye even before she’d arrived. While gazing at the ferry as it passed the villa, he observed the passengers through the field glasses his grandfather had used in World War Two. He was sure Grandfather had never seen a sight like the woman at the railing with her skirt blown above her knees exposing long legs.
From the terrace Vittorio hadn’t seen her eyes were the dark blue color of the lake in a storm. But somehow he’d known she was the nanny. It wasn’t her looks, it was her manner. So many nannies had come and gone he couldn’t remember any physical trait of a single one. Maybe his noticing the color of this woman’s eyes or the shape of her legs were a sign he was ready to get married again, although marrying Aurora Bellesandro had nothing to do with love or passion. It was strictly a marriage of convenience. He’d get a hostess, the girls would get a mother, and Aurora would get a title, for what it was worth. He put no stock in titles, refusing to use his, but others found they were useful if not in the business world then on the social scene.
He’d learned a valuable lesson with his first marriage when passion had led to his deception and her disaster and left him with two motherless girl
s he had no idea how to cope with. This time there would be no romantic expectations. With Aurora he knew exactly what he was getting and so did she.
“It’s time to go,” the prince said as the girls finished their gelato. “I’ve invited the directors from the bank to dinner tonight.”
“Can we come too?” Gianna asked.
“If you promise to behave, and you are accompanied by your new nanny.” He glanced at Sabrina.
“Of course,” Sabrina said, who was watching with fascination the interchange between father and daughters. Either the girls were talented actresses or their reputation had been vastly exaggerated by both nannies and the prince. Though the last thing she wanted was to do was attend a dinner for bankers just when jet lag was setting in and she could hardly keep her eyes open, it was a small price to pay for the chance to see what sort of social activities went on at the villa. Exhausted as she was, the thought of a summer at the most romantic setting in the world – the prince’s villa on the shores of Lake Como made her spirits rise.
“Let’s walk home to the villa,” Caterina said and Gianna agreed. Sabrina could imagine that’s the way it usually was. Caterina was the leader, Gianna the follower, just like her own sisters. Mindy had the ideas, Jessica followed her orders. “We told Marco not to wait. That we would walk home with you,’ she said to her father tucking her hand into his.
The prince looked surprised and almost suspicious at this touch of affection. What was he used to? What was the real relationship between the girls and their father?
“I’d love to take a walk,” Sabrina said. If this was a test of her endurance she ought to pass. After the long plane ride she was longing to stretch her legs and get away from the too-close contact with the prince.
“Very well,” the prince agreed and engaged someone to transport her suitcase.
From what he’d said, and from what other nannies had said about his being cold and distant and reclusive, she didn’t expect to see this much of him, and she definitely didn’t expect him to throw dinner parties, or walk with her and his daughters even for a few minutes. But maybe as he said, things were changing for him as well as the girls.