Since meeting Dara he had slowly lost interest in the party scene-except for when he opened up a new club. As a bachelor, he had spent his leisure time mainly involved in drinking too much and buying the fastest cars. He'd had no difficulty living in hotels for months at a time. He hadn't known what it meant to have a home.
Dara had shown him just how fulfilling life could be. But now he got the feeling that she felt their life was lacking somehow. If she was happy, why was she escaping to Syracuse every chance she could get?
An image of the longing in her eyes when she spoke about the child there filled his mind. It was suddenly blindingly clear that Dara had developed a newfound yearning for motherhood. And somehow that yearning wasn't something she felt comfortable sharing with him. The thought jarred him, leaving an uncomfortable knot in his stomach.
Leo ran a hand through his hair and threw the yo-yo back into the box. He had never once questioned Dara's steadfast opinion on family. She had made it clear that she would never have children, and that had suited them both. The idea of fatherhood had never been something he aspired to. His own father had been a spectre in his life-one who had drifted in and out, leaving him uncertain and confused. As an adult he had never once considered the idea of starting a family of his own.
But lately he had begun to grow tired of the constant travelling. These days the only place he wanted to be was here, with his wife, in their true home. He had wanted to say that to her last night, but they had got sidetracked.
He walked back to the castello just as evening was setting in and found Dara waiting for him in the kitchen. A bottle of vintage Prosecco sat on the table, two glasses beside it.
‘I'm sorry I took so long.' She winced, pouring him a generous glass of wine.
Leo took a sip, appreciating the taste for a moment before shrugging. ‘You have a business to run, carina. I have to accept that I can never have you all to myself.'
‘I've turned my phone off for the evening, so I am one hundred per cent yours. No distractions.' She smiled, pressing her mouth to his.
Leo held her at arm's length, noticing the shadows under her eyes. ‘Good. Because I'd like to continue our discussion from last night.'
Dara removed herself from his arms, turning to take a long gulp from her own glass. ‘I'd rather we just leave that, actually. I must have been overtired and emotional.'
Her laugh didn't fool him. ‘Dara, are you unhappy?' he asked, and watched her face snap up with alarm.
‘Why on earth would you think that?'
‘You seem...unfulfilled, somehow. These trips to Syracuse tell me that perhaps you might have changed your mind about some things.'
Dara looked momentarily miserable, her expression filled with intense sadness before shifting back to a mask of calm. Anyone else might not have noticed, but Leo knew her better than anyone.
‘It's nothing that I plan to act on,' she said coldly. ‘There's no need for you to worry.'
‘Why would I worry? We are husband and wife, Dara. We make these kinds of choices together. Maybe I should go with you to Syracuse so you can help me to understand.'
‘That's definitely not what I want,' Dara snapped.
‘Per l'amore di Dio.' Leo sucked in a breath to control his frustration. ‘Dara, for God's sake, what do you want?' he shouted harshly, feeling instant remorse as she flinched.
They stood in silence for a moment, toe to toe in the silence of the kitchen.
‘I won't be shouted at.' Dara spoke quietly. ‘I need some time alone. I'll see you at dinner.'
She practically ran from the room. Ran away from him.
Leo frowned, looking out of the window at the waves crashing against the cliffs. He had lost his temper-but could she blame him? He was her husband, and yet she was determined to battle whatever was bothering her alone. He had a right to know what this was about.
Clearly the answer lay in Syracuse. If she wouldn't go with him, then he would have to go alone.
Dara awoke to a note on her pillow from Leo, telling her that he had some business to attend to and that he would return by the afternoon. His words were plain and to the point, with none of the flowery terms of affection that they usually used. She felt a pang of hurt that he hadn't woken her before leaving, and now she faced a day in the castello alone with her thoughts.
She had been hostile and unfair last night. And now she had driven a wedge between them. She sighed, falling back onto the soft Egyptian cotton bedspread, and stared up at the ceiling.
It wasn't that she didn't want to share her inner turmoil with her husband. She just felt that it was pointless to do so. Yes, she had formed a bond with Luca. Yes, for the first time in her life she had felt the all-encompassing yearning to care for a child as her own. But she would never do it. She would never be so naive as to assume that she was in any way qualified to be a parent. She was a very good wedding planner, and she hoped she was a satisfying wife. But she was not cut out to be somebody's mother.
Her own mother had been warm and caring. She had given up her career in hotel management to stay at home as a full-time parent and had made it clear that she believed all women should do the same. Dara knew that Leo didn't think that way-he went out of his way to promote equality in his company, and often commented on how proud he was of his wife's accomplishments. And yet the image of her mother baking in the kitchen would always be her measure of what a good wife looked like.
She stared out at the waves crashing onto the cliffs below. Why was she having all these thoughts now? She loved her life. She had more than most women could dream of.
Needing to escape her overactive thoughts, she walked to the window. The winds were too high today to walk down on the beach, and being outside in the chilly December air wasn't her idea of a relaxing getaway.
It had been Leo's idea to take time off work, and yet here he was abandoning her on their third day. Clearly he was annoyed, and was choosing to punish her.
Her mind wandered back to the orphanage once more. She was restless and annoyed with herself for allowing this charade to go on for so long. It wasn't fair to the little boy or to the hopeful orphanage staff. She needed to explain herself and give them a clear idea that she would no longer be visiting.
She could see Luca one last time.
Before she'd even realized what she was doing, she'd picked up her car keys and was powering up the cobbled driveway in her Porsche. She could be at the orphanage within the hour, and back well before lunchtime. Leo wouldn't even know she'd gone anywhere.
The familiar white stucco facade of the orphanage was like a balm to the uncomfortable ache in her chest. Dara knocked on the door and stepped back when it swung open to reveal the kind-faced head of the orphanage-Matron Anna.
‘Signora Valente, I'm surprised to see you here.' She frowned. ‘I thought you were in Palermo this week?'
‘What would make you think that?' Dara smiled as she stepped inside and let the younger woman take her jacket.
‘Signor Valente said that you were so busy this week...'
‘He did? When were you speaking with him?' Dara frowned, just as a roar of laughter came from the nearby common room. A familiar voice drifted down the hallway-a deep male voice filled with mischief and laughter.
Dara moved silently towards the doorway of the common room, her heart hammering uncomfortably in her chest. The children were all gathered in the centre of the room, on the floor, and each of their little faces was beaming up at the man who stood in the centre of their circle. Leo stood poised with a red yo-yo in his hand. His posture was like that of a magician about to wow his crowd.
‘And now for my next trick...' he proclaimed, waiting a moment as the children shouted loudly for him to continue. ‘This one is called the lindy loop. Are you ready?'
The excitement in the air was palpable, and every eye in the room was trained on Leo as he set the red object on an intricate movement up in the air. The yo-yo caught several times on its string, before spinning up into the air and down to the ground and then landing safely back into its master's hand.
The children clapped loudly, shouting multiple requests for new tricks at their entertainer. Leo was calm and indulgent, chatting easily to the crowd of little people in a way Dara had never seemed to master. She had spent weeks trying to gain the confidence of these kids, and the most she'd managed had been sharing lunch at the same table.
Luca always stayed by her side, though.
Her thoughts back on the present moment, she suddenly absorbed the fact that her husband was here. In the orphanage. He had lied to her, and for that she should be furious.
And yet all she felt was a same sense of anticipation. As if she was hurtling head first down a hill and she had no power to stop it.