From Italy With Love

by Jules Wake

  Impatient with herself she pushed the bottle away. She just liked the smell. Clean, with a hint of citrus, fresh – she’d definitely have to buy some. Robert didn’t go in for that sort of thing. An expensive con. Soap lasted much longer and did the same job for a fraction of the price.

  Soap didn’t smell this good though. No, she would buy herself some. Everyone could use a little spoiling now and then. She’d enjoyed her pampering session with Siena, even if many of the brand names of the vast array of cosmetics and hair products in gorgeous packaging had been unfamiliar. The designer names on the clothes had been very familiar, although that knowledge until now had all been gleaned from the pages of magazines. Gemma would be so impressed. Laurie had to admit − you got what you paid for. She couldn’t bring herself to look again at the price tag on the Diesel jeans Siena had insisted she keep but they were lovely and Robert need never know just how much they cost. God he’d be horrified. And why did he have to keep intruding on her thoughts?

  What would Cam think? He seemed so laid back. How much did he spend on his jeans? She couldn’t imagine him worrying about it. If they fit, he’d buy them without worrying about the price tag or the designer tag.

  That got her thinking. He did jeans a justice that was for sure. And she shouldn’t be thinking like that but if ever a man was born to wear jeans, it was him. Her mouth went dry. Even with holes in the knees, he just looked so darned sexy.

  And every other female on the planet thought so too.

  At least tonight, thanks to Siena’s handy work, she wouldn’t look completely out of place next to him.

  She was glad that Cam had agreed to come and knock for her when it was time to go down for the pre-dinner drinks. The formality of the instructions made her feel she was in a hotel rather than someone’s home; even the hotel in Paris hadn’t been this grand. She’d never seen quite so much gilt, satin and silk in one place before. The bed was piled high with watered silk cushions, and a plump satin appliquéd coverlet in pale blue which matched the blousy full length curtains with flounces and furbelows gracing the high sash windows. These were anchored to the walls as if they might fly away at any second with heavy brocade tie-backs cinching their middles.

  As she pulled on her shoes, again borrowed, elegant dark blue satin with straps encrusted with tiny diamante studs, the elegant heels sank into the fine velvet pile of the carpet leaving tiny spike footprints.

  A stranger looked back at her from the mirror and she gave a mirthless smile. With her hair up and proper make-up for a change, she looked composed and elegant, almost as if she belonged here. She inclined her head, lifting her chin and assessing herself critically. Her jewellery was simple, a gold chain and small gold studs at her ears. Her long slim arms were unadorned but that simply drew attention to the stark, simplistic tailoring of the dress which did so much for her figure. She nodded pleased with what she saw. At least no one could see how much her stomach see-sawed and turned under the surface.

  Meeting new people didn’t faze her. Working in a library equipped you to deal with all sorts. She smiled, remembering some of the odder visitors she used to have to deal with. What worried her more was how many of the people present would know that she was the prodigal daughter. Did her mother ever talk about her? It wasn’t as if Laurie ever talked about her or Siena.

  Cam knocked at exactly five to seven and she opened the door.

  The moisture dried in her mouth as it dropped open into a surprised ‘o’. She’d never seen him in anything so formal before. The black tuxedo jacket fit his broad shoulders to perfection and the crisp white studded shirt highlighted his tan. For once the stubble had gone, leaving his strong chin smooth and tempting and she could smell the aftershave he’d used. As the thoughts raced through her head, she felt herself swaying on the spot almost hypnotized by his appearance. She wanted to lean in and smell him, run a hand over that smooth masculine jawline. He’d robbed her of speech and her pulse rate shot up like a racehorse out of the blocks. She blinked at him and stood silent in the doorway just staring at him like a complete idiot.

  Luckily he stared back, his eyes widening, the pupils darkening his iris. She registered his brief movement as he shifted on one foot and the duck of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed.

  A dart of satisfaction warmed her at the obvious appreciation in his sultry gaze, although it was also getting a tad embarrassing, no one had ever looked at her quite like that.

  ‘You look nice,’ she blurted out. An understatement if there ever was one.

  Even the formal clothes couldn’t tame the pirate and he gave her a distinctly predatory smile as he looked her up and down. ‘And so do you. Very nice indeed.’

  His smoky eyes were saying an awful lot more.

  She blushed as her heart did that funny flippity flop in her chest.

  ‘Shall we?’ He held out his arm.

  Looping her hand through his arm which felt natural, she fell into step beside him wondering if he might be able to feel her hammering pulse through his jacket. Her fingers linked round smooth firm bicep.

  ‘Thank you.’

  He turned with a surprised expression. ‘What for?’

  ‘For coming to get me. Escorting me down.’

  ‘All part of the service,’ he smiled and for a moment she sobered, remembering why he was here.

  The salon tinkled with light and laughter which they could hear as they approached. A huge chandelier sparkled from the ceiling, its crystals dancing with silver light. Lauren felt as if she was stepping onto a film set; none of it seemed quite real. The room was full of elegant, soignée people, immaculately groomed and presented. The men were to a man in identical black tuxedos and the women, all slim in beautifully smart dresses. Lauren was incredibly grateful for Siena’s work; she felt the part on the outside, if not the inside.

  Cam seemed to know the score because he steered her round to the far edge of the room where waiters were circulating with big silver trays of champagne in tall crystal flutes. With practiced ease, he snagged two glasses and presented one to her.

  ‘To you, you look lovely and only I know you feel like a hen in a fox-house.’

  She shot him a startled look in question. It was exactly how she felt but it was disappointing that her composed façade hadn’t fooled him.

  He leant forward and she felt his breath warm and soft on her neck making butterflies dance in her stomach. ‘You were gripping my arm so hard I thought the blood-flow might stop any second and I’d have to have it amputated later,’ he whispered in a teasing tone. ‘You don’t need to worry. You look … stunning is too commonplace … elegant, un-showy.’

  ‘Oh,’ she whispered back with an apologetic grin. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit nervous.’

  He scanned the crowd and nodded at someone across the room.

  ‘Do you know him?’ Laurie asked, her heart sinking, hoping that he wouldn’t abandon her.

  ‘Mmm.’ Cam’s voice was at odds with the impassive expression his face assumed. ‘Can you see your mother anywhere?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  He smiled. ‘It will be fine. We can leave whenever you like. Duty done. I’m not sure what Miles was playing at but he obviously had a reason for you coming here but it’s up to you how long you stay. As long as we pick up a postcard from the village and get it back to Ron, you’re home and dry.’

  She smiled in gratitude at his timely reminder. Of course she could but then she’d have to say goodbye already to Siena.

  Her sister had been so keen to please this afternoon and they’d enjoyed real time together. It had been sweet of Siena to put all that effort into making Laurie look a million dollars. No one had ever made her feel that special before, prepared to pamper her, or go to all that trouble.

  ‘Ah, Lauren. There you are.’ Her mother appeared at her shoulder and then her expression turned coy. ‘And Cam. Gosh just look at you, all gussied up. Don’t you look rather wonderful?’ A wistful expression crossed her face. ‘Would you be
a sweetie and grab me a glass of champagne?’ She all but shoved him over towards the waiter on the other side the room.

  ‘You’re a dark horse.’ Celeste observed, watching Cam saunter gracefully away. She sighed. ‘Very handsome indeed; he reminds me of your father.’

  Laurie rolled her eyes in disgust and to her horror realised her mother had caught her.

  ‘I did love him very much once, you know.’ Celeste’s face had softened as she clutched at Laurie’s arm.

  Her petite hand felt warm against Laurie’s skin. ‘We were just all wrong for each other. No, I was all wrong for him. He knew. Yes lovely man, he knew. But would I be told?’ Her fingers gripped more tightly. ‘I thought love would be enough. At eighteen I had no clue. Greg,’ her eyes misted for a second.

  It was the first time Laurie had ever heard her speak of Dad with such fondness. ‘He did love me. Enough to try and put me off. He was older and wiser but the more he tried the more I wanted to prove he was wrong.’ Her mouth dipped down and she gave a mirthless unhappy laugh. ‘And he was right, although I don’t think being able say ‘I told you so,’ gave him any pleasure. He was a good man.’

  ‘So why did you leave him?’ Urgency made Laurie’s voice shrill and she glanced round hoping no one had heard.

  ‘Because I wasn’t a good woman.’ Celeste looked thoughtful, her gaze distant as if lost in memories. Then her lips tightened as if in regret. ‘Marrying for love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I wouldn’t encourage any daughter of mine to marry for love. Especially when both parties can be incredibly stubborn.’ Her voice was brittle, her eyes shadowed and for the first time it occurred to Laurie that maybe her mother’s heart had been left a little bruised.

  Laurie wondered if she was supposed to disagree at this point but couldn’t bring herself to utter the words even in as a platitude. Thankfully Cam returned at that moment.

  ‘Here you go, Celeste.’ His smile to Laurie was especially warm and she got the feeling he’d hurried so she wouldn’t be left unprotected for too long. His fingers touched hers in a deliberate gesture as he handed the champagne to her mother with the other hand, a small lifeline as if to say, I’m here. She felt a surge of gratitude; this ordeal would have been a hundred times worse without him along.

  ‘I was just saying to Laurie, you remind me of the girls’ father.’ Celeste was all coy and charming again, the brief moment of sincerity swept away in a second.

  Laurie scowled at her mother.

  ‘Girls?’ asked Cam.

  ‘Laurie and Siena.’ Celeste’s patronising smile suggested he was an idiot.

  Laurie caught the startled look on Cam’s face. ‘Siena is Laurie’s sister?’ His voice registered surprise.

  Celeste let out a tinkling laugh, as if suddenly horribly aware she’d revealed too much of herself. ‘Of course she is. Why would you think otherwise?’

  ‘Sorry Cam,’ Laurie said, oozing insincere politeness to hide her fury that her mother could be so insensitive. ‘I should have explained.’

  ‘Right,’ Cam drawled, his face creasing in puzzlement. ‘So not a step-sister, or a half-sister?’

  Lauren looked at her mother steadily as if daring her to answer.

  ‘Oh, you’re not still bearing that little grudge. Honestly,’ Laurie’s mother smiled widely at Cam. ‘Of course, Siena is Lauren’s full sister. When I left Greg, which was an incredibly difficult decision, I had to take her with me. You have to understand that coping with two children as a single parent … well,’ she lifted her shoulders in a Gallic shrug, ‘it was just impossible. And Laurie was at that difficult age.’

  Laurie clenched her fingers into tight little balls hidden behind her thighs. A single parent shacked up with a multi-millionaire who paid for nannies and housekeepers, holidays across the world and apartments in three capital cities this side of the Atlantic alone.

  ‘Besides, Siena was only young.’

  And, thought Laurie, viciously, prettier, cuter and not so argumentative. She took a long gulp of champagne, almost emptying the glass.

  ‘Siena thinks of Georges as her father. It was easier that way. I knew you’d be alright with your father.’ Celeste pulled a sad face, which Laurie knew damn well was purely for Cam’s benefit. ‘It wasn’t as if you weren’t invited to see us all the time. He was so mean not letting you come to Barbados or on that trip to Lake Tahoe or for the summer in France.’

  The same old justification had been trotted out many times before and Laurie knew there was absolutely no point explaining to her mother why she’d not been able to come but she was damned if she’d let Celeste get away with it in front of Cam.

  ‘It was more to do with the fact that the summer you invited me to Barbados, I had GSCEs, the trip to Lake Tahoe coincided with my mock A-levels and the summer in France, I’d just started work. We only get four weeks holiday a year, sadly not three months.’

  Celeste shook her perfect bob with an irritated toss of her head. ‘The offer was always there. Your father was just being difficult. He could be so stubborn. Ah, here’s Siena. Doesn’t she look lovely?’

  Laurie stared at her mother, wondering if she’d imagined the conversation just minutes earlier. Clearly her parents had loved each other for some brief impossible spell, although it was difficult to believe.

  She turned to look at Siena, who was even more glossily fabulous than she had been earlier. Her dress, a waterfall of brilliant fuchsia silk, was far more showy and dramatic than Laurie’s but then Laurie would never have had the confidence to carry the one shouldered style off. Siena’s hair had now been scooped up into an elaborate style of curls and spirals captured by diamante clips, no – probably diamonds, which sparkled brilliantly in her blonde hair. Even her lustrous lipstick twinkled as if full of pearl dust.

  Siena smiled, ‘What do you think, Maman?’ She spread her hands. ‘Turn around Laurie, show Maman the full effect.’

  ‘Another triumph, darling. You’re getting very good at your little makeovers.’ Celeste rolled her eyes good naturedly. ‘And it makes a change from having to rescue the staff. Thank heavens. I do get fed up with having to retrieve my shoes from the servants.’

  Disappointment flickered in Siena’s eyes. Laurie leant forward and touched her hand.

  ‘You did a fantastic job. I’m really grateful.’

  ‘Pish, you’ve got good genes. Just takes a bit of time and effort.’ Celeste’s mouth narrowed.

  Laurie lifted her glass and drained the rest of it in one.

  ‘Oh look. There’s Francois and Belle.’ A happy smile settled on Siena’s face as she reviewed the crowded room. ‘I do love a party.’ With a little wave of her hand, she glided off, diving into the fray. Her laugh rang out gaily as she was welcomed into a group of equally sparkling people.

  Her mother smiled fondly after her and then turned to Laurie, the expression on her face suddenly chillier.

  ‘You do look better, I’ll say that. I ought to thank you for giving her something to do. Poor thing, she finds it dull here. There’s more for her to do in Paris but Harry likes to be here for the summer.’

  Laurie swallowed hard at the horrid lump that had just formed in her throat.

  ‘Well I’m grateful for her time this afternoon. It was very kind of her.’

  Her mother shrugged, ‘I suppose.’

  The lump slid down Laurie’s throat and settled in her stomach.

  ‘Now I must go and circulate. Enjoy yourselves.’

  Laurie stared after her as she too disappeared into the crowd with a tinkling laugh.

  ‘You OK?’ asked Cam.

  She nodded dully, feeling all kinds of fool. Had she just been a diversion for her sister?

  ‘Let’s grab you another drink? You might as well enjoy the champagne on the go.’ Cam nodded at the black clad waiters circulating with trays of crystal glasses of bubbling white wine. ‘If I’m not mistaken it looks like a Dom Perignon. Know anything about champagne?’

  She shook h
er head which felt heavy. All her earlier elation had evaporated.

  ‘Well you’re about to find out. Come on.’ He grabbed her hand and pulled her round the edge of the room.

  Thank God for Cam; he had a knack of saying or doing the right thing at the right time. For someone who was supposedly so brusque and taciturn, he had an amazingly kind streak. Genuinely kind, she realised.

  The champagne was definitely superior and Cam’s determined conversation thawed out her feelings. She kept an eye open for Siena, but her sister was never still, darting from group to group, her smile brilliant and her laugh carefree.

  ‘Do you know anyone?’ He was so well-travelled, she couldn’t believe he wouldn’t.

  ‘Know them, no. Know of some of them, yes. Usual hangers-on and freeloaders.’ He pointed to a trio of loud and handsome young men. ‘They hang around the racing circuit a lot. Fast cars and big trust funds.’

  Gradually they began to integrate with some of the groups but it was only when Cam disappeared to go to the loo that she realised he hadn’t left her side all evening. She smiled; he reminded her of an unruly Newfoundland dog, guiding her around the room.

  For a moment she studied the gilded crowd.

  ‘Madame.’ A tall good looking man with floppy blonde hair falling over one eye stopped before her. ‘I’m Christophe Baudelaire.’ The heavily accented voice had a husky tinge to it and a lilt at the end of the sentence as if he expected her to know who he was. ‘I know you from somewhere.’ He looked deep into her eyes and took her hand.

  Laurie had to press her lips hard together to stop a burst of laughter escaping. He took the cheese award for the night.

  ‘I don’t think so,’ said Laurie ever so politely. ‘I think I would have remembered.’

  ‘I am sure we have, ma chère. How could anyone forget a beautiful woman like you?’ His heavily accented voice should have been charming, but unfortunately all that Laurie could think was that what he’d just said was ridiculous.

  But he didn’t give up lightly. Now he stroked the inside of her wrist, treating her as if she was some femme fatale, when she was plain old Laurie Browne from Leighton Buzzard who’d scrubbed up rather well for one night only. Did he think it was supposed to be sensuous or seductive or something? It just made her feel weird.