‘Have you, darling?’
Bea nodded vigorously. ‘Dante’s my daddy!’
There was delighted laughter and, to Rose’s surprise, a ripple of applause from the people gathered waiting there. Charlotte passed Bea to her husband, Fabio, and hurried down the steps to throw her arms round her friend, both of them too emotional to say a word until Rose drew back, grinning happily through her tears.
‘This is a lovely surprise—mind the bump, little mother!’
Dante gave them time to recover then introduced Rose to his sister Mirella and her husband, Franco. ‘This is Rose,’ he said with pride. ‘And the little angel with Signora Vilari is my daughter—as she has already informed you.’
‘And I am his brother,’ said a deep voice with a more pronounced accent, and Dante grinned as he turned Rose to meet Leo Fortinari, easily recognisable as an older, more saturnine version of his brother.
‘Il capo, Rose. My boss,’ said Dante, saluting smartly.
‘Senior partner, not boss,’ said a familiar voice as Harriet Fortinari detached Rose from Dante. ‘I’m so glad to see you here. Come and meet my children—they are dying to play with Bea. Will she like that?’
‘She’ll love it,’ Rose assured her, and looked at Dante. ‘Will you get her?’
‘Yes, amore.’ He grinned. ‘If you think Charlotte will let her go.’
Leo Fortinari issued strict instructions to his son, Luca, and daughter, Chiara, to take great care of Bea, and Franco Paglia did the same with Mario, Renzo and Vittoria, who were older, but just as eager to play with the child as the others, but brought her running back to Rose first.
‘I want my jeans,’ Bea said urgently, and Maria Fortinari nodded in approval.
‘Come with me and your mamma to change, bella. It would not be good to spoil that lovely dress.’
While the exchange was made, Maria smiled warmly at Rose and patted her cheek. ‘Welcome to our home, cara.’
Rose blinked hard. ‘Thank you, signora.’
The striking dark eyes misted over. ‘It is so good to see Dante happy again. I am very grateful to you.’
‘Nonna!’ said Bea, dancing impatiently in her blue trainers. ‘Want to play now—please,’ she added at a look from her mother.
‘Va bene,’ said Maria, clearing her throat. ‘Let us go out. Come, Rose, join the others for a glass of wine while I return to the kitchen.’
‘Can I help in any way?’
Maria patted her hand. ‘Not today, grazie. I have help in the kitchen. Enjoy the day with the others.’
Rose found it only too easy to enjoy herself in company with Charlotte, Harriet and Mirella on the loggia while she watched a very happy, excited Bea running riot with the other children.
‘I’m on lemonade,’ said Charlotte, pulling a face as she raised her glass to her husband, who was talking to the other men, but with one eye on his wife.
‘It is best for now,’ said Mariella with sympathy.
‘You still have to keep off the wine if you nurse the baby yourself,’ put in Harriet. ‘But it’s worth it, isn’t it, Rose?’