the Signora's brow, and eventually she silenced Annunziata with a
slight gesture.
'So is in Rome,' she said, turning to Juliet. 'Why not you also?'
Juliet moved her shoulders wearily. She found this interrogation
embarrassing, particularly in front of this young stranger, although
judging by the puzzled expression on her charming oval face, she
did not understand much of it.
'Because he didn't ask me to,' she answered bluntly, then forcing a
smile turned to Signor Peretto and asked whether they had had
breakfast.
The Signora belatedly recalled her social obligations. 'Francesca,
come here,' she ordered. 'I wish to present you to Giulietta who is to
marry Santino.'
'No.' Juliet shook her head. Under the circumstances she couldn't go
on with this charade any longer, she decided. 'We-we have
decided that we should only make each other miserable, signora,
and I-have decided to return to England.'
'This I do not understand,' the Signora said roundly. 'Later you shall
explain. But now go and take off that crumpled dress.'
Juliet was more than happy to obey. As she went back up •the
stairs, she could feel the puzzled gaze of the girl Francesca boring
into her back, and could understand her bewilderment. Presumably
she had been brought here to meet her future sister-in-law, only to
learn that it had been a wasted journey. In a way, Juliet felt almost
regretful. Francesca had a sweet face and gentle eyes, and on a
different occasion, under other circumstances, she would have
enjoyed making her acquaintance.
. She had a quick bath, and changed into a flared cream skirt and a
long-sleeved navy silk shirt before making her way downstairs
again. Annunziata was serving coffee and hot rolls, and the Signora
gestured to Juliet to join them. Juliet was half afraid that another
inquisition was about to start, but instead the Signora chatted
amiably about the forthcoming wedding, about guest lists and china,
and the bishop who had agreed to perform the ceremony. Stealing a
glance at Francesca under her lashes while this recital was going
on, Juliet thought she had never seen a girl look quite so glowingly
radiant at the prospect of her wedding, and she was thankful in her
heart that all her scheming had crane to nothing, and that she had
not managed to prevent Mario from marrying a girl who was clearly
besotted about him. She hoped very much that Francesca would
never hear about his lapse, and was glad that Jan was miles away in
Rome at this moment.
When breakfast was over the Signora ordered her husband to take
Francesca round the castello, and Juliet knew that the interrogation
could not be deferred any longer.
'Show her everything,' was the Signora's last instruction as the pair
prepared to depart. 'I have things to say to Giulietta.' She watched
them leave the room, then turned to the clearly apprehensive girl in
front of her.
'Now you explain,' she ordered. 'Until now, I think you marry my
Santino. Now you say you not marry. Why? Do you no longer love
him?'
Juliet felt a gasp rise in her throat and suppressed it hastily. So her
well-kept secret had in fact been an open book to everyone, she
thought unhappily, and there was no point in making any denials
under the Signora's shrewd gaze. They would not be believed.
'It isn't that.' She bent her head. 'But you see Santino doesn't really
want to marry me.'
'You speak of that tale he tells me-that he proposed only because
he has dishonoured you.' The Signora made a small contemptuous
noise. 'I do not believe that. Santino is a man of today. As I tell
myself later, he does not care for such things. Besides,' she added,
'you are the sister of that other one. What does my family owe you?
Nothing!'
She saw Juliet flush miserably and patted her hand. 'I should not
have said that. My son tells me you are different and I believe him.
So why will you not marry him?'
'You don't understand.' Juliet realised that complete frankness was
the only answer. 'We never were-really engaged. It was just a
story we made up.' Wearily she explained why Santino had insisted
on the pseudo-engagement.
The Signora heard her out, open-mouthed. 'Then why did he not tell
me this?' she demanded.
'I don't know.' Juliet shook her head. 'He-he said that I was to tell
no one that it-it was a hoax. And I haven't -until now. Only I'm
going away- tomorrow, I hope, and it probably doesn't matter any
more.'
The Signora sat frowning darkly. 'And my Santino is in Rome with
that other one, your sister?' She cast the heavens a malevolent
glance. 'And to think that I blessed myself that I had one son not a
fool!'
'Don't blame Santino,' Juliet said with some difficulty. 'He-he
didn't intend that it should work out like this.'
'Who knows what he intended?' the Signora said acidly. 'I doubt if
he know himself.' She studied Juliet for a moment and her
expression softened. 'So you love my son,' she said gently. 'Well, is
simple. Stay here and marry him. Tell that other one, your sister, to
go run a jump.'
Juliet felt more like crying, but she found herself smiling
unwillingly.
'I-I can't do that, signora. And Santino doesn't want me. He would
have-taken me when he thought I was Jan, but it all changed when
he discovered the truth. I-I really must get away. It will be easier
all round if I do.'
'But will it be easy for you?' The Signora gave Juliet a long
questioning look, and shook her head at what she saw. 'Do not do
this thing, piccina,' she urged gently. 'Stay and fight.'
Juliet sighed. 'I have nothing to light for, signora, ' she said simply.
'It's better if I just-go, believe me.'
All day they waited for Santino to return, and at last, as evening
approached, the Signora yielded to her husband's persuasions and
agreed to return to the villa outside Messina where they were
staying with Francesca's aunt and her family. She would, she said,
return, however, and the promise was uttered in a tone that boded
ill for Santino.
Juliet had finished dinner and was sitting alone in the salotto telling
herself that another night on the sofa was out of the question, when
she heard the sound of the car. For a moment she felt like flight,
then she clenched her hands into fists and sat down again, hiding
them in the folds of her skirts.
Jan came in first. She was laughing as she entered, and it seemed to
Juliet's over-stretched nerves that there was a note of triumph in that
laugh. She checked when she saw her sister's quiet figure.
'Darling,' she said, 'how sweet! Sitting around like faithful
Penelope!' She sauntered across to the sofa and sat down at the
other end of it, raising her arms languorously above her head.
'It has been,' she murmured, a tantalising smile playing about the
corners of her mouth 'Quite some trip.'
Juliet forced her stiff mouth to work. 'I didn't know you were going.'
Jan's smile widened. She had all the appearance of the cat who has
had the cream and intends to make the saucer hers as well. 'Santino
was most insistent, sweetie,' she said gaily. 'To be frank-and I
know you won't mind my mentioning it-I think he finds this
engagement of yours a teeny bit of a bore. I expect it seemed like a
good idea at the time. Well, he may get engaged on the spur of the
moment, but he certainly won't get married in the same way.' She
paused, but Juliet said nothing, so after a minute she continued
gently, 'Just one more thing, darling. I really wouldn't wear my heart
on my sleeve quite so openly. That little scene on the
beach--dragging him off with you like that when you could see he
didn't want to go-not awfully dignified, my love. Learn to be a
good loser.'
Juliet rose to her feet. 'I don't think I want to learn anything, thank
you,' she said quite courteously. 'I shall be leaving here in the
morning anyway. But before I go, there's one thing I must say, Jan,
although I never thought I would for Mim's sake. You are without
doubt the biggest bitch I've ever met, and I very much hope that I
never have to set eyes on you again, sister or not.' It was her turn to
smile then at the look of utter astonishment on Jan's lovely face.
'And please ask Santino not to disturb me tonight,' she went on. 'If
he would just leave my money and passport here in the salotto, I'll
collect it on my way out.'
'Don't be a fool,' Jan said icily. 'How do you propose getting out of
this dead-and-alive hole unless he takes you?'
'I'll find a way,' Juliet said. 'I'd rather walk back to Rome in my bare
feet in any case than ask either of you for the slightest favour.'
She heard a slight movement behind her and turned to see Santino
standing in the doorway. Judging by the grim look on his face, there
was little doubt he had clearly heard her last remark.
Juliet turned and made for the stairs, not faltering when his voice
rang after her. 'Giulietta!'
She took no notice. She was just setting foot on the bottom stair
when he caught her.
Furiously she shook his detaining hand from her arm. 'Please let go
of me!'
'I have some things to say to you.' He needed a shave, she noticed,