Dante's Unexpected Legacy(59)

                ‘I’m fine.’

                ‘Bene.’

                Dante followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table with Bea on his lap. ‘So, piccola, what is this wonderful secret?’

                She beamed at him triumphantly. ‘You’re my real daddy!’

                His eyes snapped shut as he hugged her close. ‘That is such a wonderful secret. It makes me very happy,’ he said when he could trust his voice. ‘Does it make you happy?’

                Bea nodded fervently. ‘I told Gramma and Tom.’

                Dante exchanged a look with Rose over the curly head. ‘And did they like your secret?’

                ‘Yes.’ She looked up at him cajolingly. ‘Will you get me from school now?’

                ‘Like Holly’s daddy,’ explained Rose, busy with the coffee.

                Dante took in a deep breath. ‘I will like to do that very much, whenever your mamma says I may.’

                Bea gave her mother a commanding look. ‘Every day!’

                ‘Dante doesn’t live here, darling,’ said Rose rather helplessly.

                ‘But every time I come to England I will fetch you, piccola,’ promised Dante, and speared Rose with a look which promised discussion on the subject later.

                ‘Mummy was silly,’ Bea informed him.

                ‘Because I wouldn’t let you come to see us until recently,’ explained Rose, wishing she’d explained more to Dante before he came. But she’d been human enough to want to see his reaction when Bea told him her secret.

                He smiled lovingly at his child. ‘But now we are going to Italy together tomorrow to stay in my house.’

                ‘Is it a big house?’

                ‘Quite big, yes,’ he said, ruffling her curls.

                ‘You got children there?’ she enquired.

                Dante shook his head. ‘You are my only child, piccola.’

                ‘But you remember Harriet, the lovely lady who came to see us one day?’ asked Rose.

                Bea nodded with enthusiasm. ‘She’s got children.’

                ‘You are so clever to remember,’ said Dante proudly. ‘Their daddy is my brother Leo, and we shall go to his house to play with Luca and Chiara.’

                ‘Tomorrow?’

                ‘No, but soon,’ promised Dante. ‘Tomorrow we fly in the aeroplane to Italy.’

                Due to her excitement, Bea took longer to get to sleep than usual, and later, after a dinner shared with Dante in determined harmony, Rose’s tension began to mount as she went upstairs ahead of him. ‘You’re in my room,’ she informed him, ushering him inside. ‘I hope you’ll be comfortable.’

                Dante closed the door quietly behind them. ‘Where are you sleeping, Rose?’

                ‘On the sofa bed in my study.’

                He frowned. ‘I should sleep there and you remain here, near to Bea, yes?’