Eliza swallowed a walnut-sized knot of emotion. 'You … you had a right to be upset … ' She couldn't look at him. She lowered her gaze again and stared at her engagement ring instead.
There was the sound of Alessandra waking in the nursery-the rustle of bedclothes and a plaintive wail.
'I'll go to her.' Leo moved past and Eliza listened as he greeted his little daughter. He spoke in Italian but she could hear the love in his voice that was as clear as any translation. 'Buongiorno, tesorina, come ti senti?'
Was it wrong to wish he could look upon her as his treasure too?
CHAPTER SIX
WHEN ELIZA CAME into the nursery Leo had Alessandra in his arms. 'I'll carry her downstairs for you but I won't be able to join you for breakfast,' he said. 'I have an online meeting in a few minutes.'
'Good morning, Alessandra,' Eliza said, reaching out to touch the child's hand that was gripping her father's shirt. 'It looks like we've got a date for breakfast.'
The little girl huddled closer to her father's chest. 'I want to have breakfast with Papà.'
Eliza exchanged a brief glance with Leo before addressing the child again. 'I'm afraid that's not possible today. But I'm sure Papà will make a special effort to have breakfast with you when he can.'
Alessandra's thin shoulders slumped as she let out a sigh. 'All wight.'
Once Leo had placed his daughter in her high chair in the breakfast room he kissed her on the top of the head and, with a brief unreadable glance at Eliza, he left.
Marella, the housekeeper, came bustling in, cooing to the child in Italian. 'Buongiorno, angioletta mia, tutto bene?' She turned to Eliza. 'You have to feed her.' She nodded at the food in front of the child. 'She can't do it herself.'
'But surely she's old enough to do some of it on her own?'
'You'll have to discuss that with Signor Valente,' Marella said. 'Kathleen always feeds her. Tatiana, the O and M teacher, is trying to get Alessandra to do more for herself but it's a slow process.'
Eliza settled for a compromise by guiding Alessandra's hands to reach for things on her plate such as pieces of fruit or toast. The little girl was reluctant to drink from anything but her sippy cup so Eliza decided to leave that battle for another day. She knew how important it was to encourage Alessandra to live as normal a life as possible, but pushing her too fast, too soon could be detrimental to her confidence.
Tatiana, the orientation and mobility teacher arrived just as Marella was clearing away the breakfast things. After introducing herself, Tatiana filled Eliza in on the sorts of things she was doing with Alessandra while Marella momentarily distracted Alessandra.
'We're working on her coordination and spatial awareness. A sighted child learns by watching others and trying things for themselves, but a vision-impaired or blind child has no reference point. We have to help them explore the world around them in other ways, by touching and feeling, and by listening and using their sense of smell. We also have to teach what is appropriate behaviour in public, as they don't have the concept of being seen by others.'
'It all sounds rather painstaking,' Eliza said.
'It is,' Tatiana said. 'Alessandra is a bright child but don't let that strong will fool you. When it comes to her exercises she's not well motivated. That is rather typical of a vision-impaired child. They can become rather passive. Our job is to increase her independence little by little.'
'She seems small for her age.'
'Yes, she's on the lower percentile in terms of height and weight, but with more structured exercise she should catch up.'
'Is there anything I can do to help while I have her on my own?'
'Yes, of course,' Tatiana said. 'I'll write out a list of games and activities. You might even think of some of your own. Signor Valente told me you are a teacher, yes?'
'Yes. I teach a primary school class in a community school in London.'
'Then you're perfect for the job,' Tatiana said. 'What a shame you can't be here permanently. Kathleen is a sweetheart but she gives in to Alessandra too easily.'
'The post is only for a month,' Eliza said, automatically fingering the diamond on her left hand. 'I have to get back, in any case.'
'Don't get me wrong,' Tatiana said. 'Leo Valente is a loving father, but like a lot of parents of children with special needs, he is very protective-almost too protective at times. I guess it's hard for him, being a single parent.'
'Did you meet Alessandra's mother before she died?' Eliza asked.
Tatiana's expression said far more than her words. 'Yes and I still can't work out how those two ended up married to each other. I got the impression from Giulia it was a rebound relationship on his part.' She blew out a breath as her gaze went to where Alessandra was sitting in her high chair. 'I bet that's a one-night stand he's regretted ever since.'
Eliza could feel a wave of heat move through her cheeks. I'm sure it's not the only one, she thought with a searing pain near her heart. 'Leo loves his daughter. There can be no doubt of that.'
'Yes, of course he does,' Tatiana said. 'But it's probably not the life he envisaged for himself, is it? But then, lots of parents feel the same when they have a child with a disability. It's hard to get specialised nannies. Children with special needs can be very demanding. But to see them reach their potential is very rewarding.'
'Yes, I can imagine it is.'
'At least Signor Valente has the money to get the best help available,' Tatiana said. 'But it's true what people say, isn't it? You can't buy happiness.'
Eliza thought of Leo's brooding personality and the flashes of pain she had glimpsed in his eyes. 'No … you certainly can't … '
The morning passed swiftly as Tatiana worked with Alessandra in structured play with Eliza as active observer. There were shape puzzles for Alessandra to do as well as walking exercises to strengthen her muscles and improve her coordination. The little toddler wasn't good at walking on her own, even while holding someone's hand. Her coordination and muscle strength was significantly poorer compared to children her age. And, of course, what was difficult to the little tot was then wilfully avoided.
Eliza could see how a tired and overburdened parent would give in and do things for their child that they should really be encouraging them to do for themselves. It was draining and exhausting just watching the little girl work through her exercises and, even though Tatiana tried to make the session as playful as possible, Alessandra became very tired towards the end. There was barely time for a few mouthfuls of lunch before she was ready for her nap.
Eliza sat in the anteroom and read a book she had brought with her, keeping an ear out for any sign of the little girl becoming restless. An hour passed and then half of another but the child slept on. She could feel her own eyelids drooping when Marella came to the door with a steaming cup of tea and a freshly baked cup cake on a pretty flowered plate.
'You don't have to stay here like a prison guard.' Marella placed the tea and cake on the little table by Eliza's chair. 'There's a portable monitor. Its range is wide enough to reach the gardens and the pool. Didn't Signor Valente show you?'
'No … I expect he had too many other things on his mind.'
Marella shook her head sadly. 'Poor man. He has too much work to do and too little time to do it. He is always torn. He wants to be a good father but he has a big company to run. He'll drive himself to an early grave just like his father did if he's not careful.'
Eliza lowered her gaze to the cup of tea she was cradling in her hands. She thought of Leo getting through each day, feeling overly burdened and guilty about the competing demands of his life. Who did he turn to when things got a little overwhelming? One of his mistresses? How could someone he was just having sex with help him deal with his responsibilities? Did he turn to anyone or did he shoulder it all alone? No wonder he seemed angry and bitter a lot of the time. Maybe it wasn't just her that brought out that in him. Maybe he was just trying to cope with what life had thrown at him-just like she was trying to do, with limited success.
'I can imagine it must be very difficult for him, juggling it all.'
'After you've had your tea, why don't you take a stroll out in the garden?' Marella said. 'I'll listen out for the little one. I'll take the monitor with me. I'll be on this floor in any case. I have to remake the bed the agency girl was using.'
Eliza could think of nothing better than a bit of sunshine. It seemed a long time since she had been in the fresh air. The villa was becoming oppressive, with its forbiddingly long corridors and large gloomy rooms. She put her cup down on the table. 'Are you sure?'