Dante's Unexpected Legacy(6)

                ‘Grazie. I miss her very much.’

                ‘Do you miss your wife, too?’

                ‘No. Not at all.’ His eyes hardened. ‘The marriage was a bad mistake. When Elsa soon left me for another man my brother said I should thank God for such good fortune. Leo was right.’

                Rose looked him in the eye. ‘Odd you forgot to mention Elsa when we first met.’

                His mouth twisted. ‘I did not forget. I refused to let thoughts of her spoil my time with you. I was very angry because she refused to cancel a fashion shoot to accompany me to Fabio’s wedding.’

                ‘So you made do with me.’

                ‘No! This is not true, Rose. I took great delight in your company.’ His eyes held hers. ‘Am I too late to apologise for leaving you so suddenly?’

                ‘I completely understood when I heard that your grandmother had died.’ She held the brilliant blue gaze steadily. ‘Not so much when I was told about Elsa.’

                His jaw clenched as he beckoned to a waiter. ‘I need more cognac. Will you join me?’

                ‘No, thanks.’ She got up. ‘I’m a bit tired, Dante, so—’

                ‘No!’ He sprang up. ‘It is early yet. Stay a little longer with me, Rose, per favore.’

                Since only sheer pride had forced her to make the first move, she nodded graciously and sat down again, eyeing Dante’s glass. ‘Should you be drinking that before a long drive?’

                ‘I am not driving. I have reserved a room here at the hotel tonight so that I can be your guide to the city tomorrow.’

                Rose stiffened. ‘Charlotte asked you to do this?’

                ‘No, she did not. It was my idea.’ He lifted a shoulder, his eyes cold again. ‘Non importa, if you do not desire my company I will leave in the morning.’

                That would be the best move all round, as Rose knew only too well. But she was a stranger in a city foreign to her and didn’t speak a word of Italian, so it was only practical to take advantage of someone native to the place. After all the trouble he’d caused her, he might as well make himself useful.

                ‘I’d appreciate your services as guide, Dante. Thank you.’

                ‘It is my great pleasure, Rose!’ He reached across the table to touch her hand, eyes warm again. ‘I will try to make your stay memorable.’

                He wouldn’t have to try hard. In spite of her initial rage at the sight of him, it had taken only a minute in Dante’s company again to remember how easy it had been to fall in love with him all those years ago. He’d been a charming, attentive companion who’d shown unmistakable signs of returning her feelings on Charlotte’s wedding day, which had made it all the more devastating when she’d learned about his missing fiancée after he’d gone. In sick, outraged reaction to the blow, she had immediately blanked him out of her mind and pretended she’d never met him. And because she’d flatly refused to listen whenever his name came up, Charlotte had eventually given up mentioning him. Yet Charlotte had sent Dante to the hotel with her letter. Rose made a note to have words with Signora Vilari on the subject next time they spoke.

                She took her hand away. ‘Won’t it be boring for you, Dante, showing me round a city you know so well?’