Dante's Unexpected Legacy(24)
‘Carry him.’ Bea hugged the toy to her chest possessively, and then beamed as the doorbell rang. ‘Gramma! Can I open the door?’
‘Go down slowly,’ called Rose. She collected a couple of books and followed with the bag, suddenly aware that it was very quiet below instead of Bea’s usual joyful reunion with Grace. She flew down to the hall to find her daughter scowling at the man smiling down at her.
‘Buonasera, Rose,’ said Dante. ‘Will you introduce me to this beautiful young lady?’
Struck dumb for a moment, Rose’s first reaction was fury because all her cloak and dagger efforts had been useless. Dante was face to face with her child and, as a second strike against him, Mummy looked a mess while he, as always, looked wonderful. ‘Why are you here?’ she demanded.
His smile faded. ‘I hope to change your mind about dining with me. But I make a mistake, yes?’
Dante’s English was usually so good it was obvious she’d thrown him off balance.
‘Not at all,’ said Rose coolly. ‘Do come in.’
Bea clutched Pinocchio to her chest, glaring balefully at the visitor.
‘My name is Dante Fortinari,’ he told her. ‘What is yours, bella?’
‘Beatrice Grace Palmer,’ she announced militantly.
‘My daughter,’ said Rose, in case he was in any doubt.
‘You are very fortunate,’ said Dante, looking up from the fair curls to meet Rose’s eyes. ‘Perhaps we could dine early and take Beatrice with us?’
‘No!’ wailed Bea, incensed. ‘I want to go to Gramma’s.’
To Rose’s relief, the doorbell rang again. ‘Go and open the door again then, darling. This time it is Gramma; Tom, too, I expect.’
‘Mrs Palmer, Mr Morley, I am delighted to see you again,’ said Dante, shaking hands with the surprised pair in turn as they exchanged greetings. He smiled wryly. ‘I came with hope to change Rose’s mind about dining with me.’
‘I’m sure she’d be delighted to do that,’ said Grace, narrowing her eyes at her daughter as Bea swarmed up into Tom’s arms and sat there, secure and hostile, scowling at Dante.
‘Are you packed and ready, Honey Bea?’ asked Tom. ‘If so, we’ll take you home to supper.’
‘Yes, come along, darling,’ said Grace, manfully ignoring the undercurrents simmering in the hall of Willow House. ‘It was lovely to meet you again, Dante.’
‘My pleasure, signora.’ He smiled at the little girl in Tom’s arms. ‘It was a pleasure to meet you, too, bella.’
Another scowl was the only response.
‘Bea,’ said Rose in a tone the child knew well.
‘Sorry,’ she said and then, to everyone’s surprise, gave Dante her most irresistible smile. ‘Not Bella. I’m Bea.’
He returned the smile in delight. ‘I apologise!’
‘Bye-bye,’ she said firmly, hugging Pinocchio closer.