The Innocent's Secret Baby(9)

'No.'

She didn't need one to remember it.

Even if Raul took her back to the hotel now, it would still be the best night ever.

In fact if Raul were to suggest taking her back to the hotel she would  wave the taxi down herself, for he was kissing her again-a nice one, a  not-going-anywhere one, just sharing in her excitement.

He did not take her back yet.

They walked down the hill, just talking, and he showed her the tiny  streets she would never have found. He took her past the Bocca della  Verità sculpture-the Mouth of Truth-though he did not tell her the  legend that the old man would bite off the hand of liars.

For perhaps she might test him.

Though Raul told himself he did not lie.

He just omitted certain information.

And he continued to do so, even when the opportunity arose to reveal it.

They were now sitting on a balcony, looking out to the Colosseum, and a waiter placed their drinks down on the table.

Cognac for Raul and a cocktail that was the same fiery orange as the sky for Lydia.

He didn't assume champagne, as Bastiano had.

Like this morning at breakfast, she let her eyes wander through the menu selections.

She chose hers-he knew his.

Raul gave her choice at every turn, and that was something terribly new to Lydia.

Finally she had good memories of Rome.

'Salute,' Raul said, and they clinked glasses.

Wonderful memories, really.

It wasn't the sight of the Colosseum that brought a lump to her throat  but the fact that now there were candles and flowers on the table, and  that at every turn Raul had surprised her with his ease and enjoyment.

He did not sulk, nor reluctantly trudge along and put up with things before taking her to bed.

Raul led.

But she must remember it could never-for her-be the City of Love.

Raul didn't do love.

'How did Bastiano take your leaving?' Raul asked, and his question  caught her by surprise, for her mind had long moved on from the hotel.

Raul himself had only just remembered the real reason he was there.

'He was fine,' Lydia replied. 'Well, he was polite. I can't blame him  for being fed up-anyone would be, stuck with Maurice for the night.'

He was about to say that he doubted Bastiano would hang around anywhere he didn't choose to be, but stopped himself.

For the first time since they had met Lydia looked truly relaxed. The  conversation flowed easily, and quite simply he did not want to take the  chance of ruining a very nice night.
         

     



 
But he did need to know more. And he did not need to delve, for a very at ease Lydia was now talking.

'I know he can't stand Maurice.'

'How do you know that?'

'Because Bastiano told me.'

She was stirring her drink and didn't see the sudden tension in his  features. It dawned on Raul that Bastiano and Lydia might already be  lovers for all he knew.

'There was a wedding at the castle one weekend,' Lydia explained. 'It  was a very good one. Of course Maurice had been through the guest list,  and he made a bit of a beeline for Bastiano. He'd found out that he'd  converted an old convent into a retreat, and Maurice wanted to hear his  thoughts on doing something similar with the castle.'

Raul gave a disparaging laugh, and Lydia assumed it was in reference to Maurice's gall at approaching a guest.

But Raul was mocking Maurice's ignorance-Bastiano would never part with his knowledge for free.

'Bastiano wasn't interested,' Lydia said.

'Maurice told you that?' Raul checked.

'No, Bastiano did.' Lydia gave a soft laugh and looked out onto the  street as she recalled that night. 'I was serving drinks, and Bastiano  made some comment about saving him from the most boring man... I  laughed. I knew exactly who he was referring to. But then I felt guilty,  as if I ought to defend my family, and so I told him that Maurice was  my stepfather.'

And there was the difference between them. Raul felt no guilt in not admitting the truth.

Perhaps a slight niggle, but he easily pushed that aside.

'You told Bastiano that Maurice was your stepfather?' he asked.

'Yes.' Lydia nodded. 'Bastiano apologised and said he would speak with him again and pay attention this time.

'And that was it?' Raul checked.

'Sorry?' Lydia frowned.

'That was all that happened between you two?'

She went pink.

'Excuse me,' Raul said. 'That is none of my business.'

The thought, though, did not sit well with him.

But then she told him.

'Just a kiss.'

She screwed up her nose as Raul breathed out in relief that they had never been lovers.

Then the relief dissolved and he loathed the fact that they had even shared a kiss.

'Come on,' he said, confused by the jealousy that arose in him. 'It's dark now.'

Oh, it was.

And busy and noisy.

It was everything Rome should be.

The Trevi Fountain had kept its promise, because she had made a wish to be back under better circumstances and now she was.

They walked for miles, and though the cobbled streets weren't  stiletto-friendly Lydia felt as if she were wearing ballet slippers-the  world felt lighter tonight.

'Where are we now?' Lydia asked.

'Citta Universitaria-my home for four years.'

'I would have loved to have gone to university,' Lydia said. 'I wanted to study history.'

'Why didn't you?'

'I failed my exams.'

Another truth she rarely told.

She hadn't decided to go straight into the family business, as her mother often said.

Lydia had failed all her exams.

Spectacularly.

'I messed up,' Lydia admitted.

She offered no reason or excuse although there were so many.

He knew that.

'I had to repeat some subjects after my mother died,' Raul told her. He  rarely revealed anything, and certainly not his failings, yet it seemed  right to do so now. 'I hit the clubs for a while.'

His honesty elicited both a smile and an admission. 'I wish that I had.'

'I moved here from Sicily to study under great protest-my father wanted  me to work for him. Filthy money,' he added. 'Anyway, after my mother  died for a while I made it my mission to find out how wild Rome could be  at night.'

'Where in Si-'

'I lived there,' he said, pointing across the street.

She had been about to ask whereabouts in Sicily, Raul knew, but she had  mentioned the convent a couple of times and perhaps knew its location.  Certainly he didn't want her knowing that he and Bastiano were from the  same place. So he interrupted her and gave more information about  himself than he usually would.

Raul pointed upwards and Lydia found herself looking at a hotel. It was  far smaller than the one they were staying at, but it was beautifully  lit and from the smart cars pulling up and the guests spilling out it  seemed rather exclusive.

'How could a student afford to stay in that hotel?' Lydia asked.

'It was flats back then. In fact they were very seedy.'

'And then the developers came along?'

'That was me.'         

     



 

And she stared at a hotel-in the centre of Rome, for goodness' sake-and found out that he owned it.

'How?'

But Raul did not want to revisit those times.

'Come on...'

It was late-after midnight-and he'd had enough of taxis to last a  lifetime, and so, despite the hour, he texted Allegra and very soon a  vehicle appeared.

It wasn't a taxi!

She sat in the back and he climbed in and sat so he faced her.

It was bliss to sink into the seats. 'My feet are killing me,' Lydia admitted. 'These shoes really weren't made for walking.'

'Take them off, then,' Raul said, and he leant over and lifted her foot and placed it in his lap.

Lydia could feel his solid thigh beneath her calf, and though she willed  herself to relax her leg was trembling as he started to undo the strap.

He ran his hand along her calf and found the muscle was a knot of tension. He worked it with deft fingers.

The muscle did not relax.

In fact it tightened.

And when her toes curled to his touch he placed her foot so that she could feel his desire for her.

She ought to tell him she was a virgin.

But she rather guessed that Raul wouldn't find her innocence endearing.

His fingers continued to work on the tense muscle till it loosened. High  in her thigh she contracted, and then he removed the sandal and lifted  her naked foot.

'Please don't,' she choked as he lifted it towards his mouth. 'I've been walking...'

'Dirty girl.'

He kissed the arch of her foot, and she tried again to pull away, but  only because the wicked sensation his tongue delivered shot straight  between her legs.

'Raul...' She pronounced it correctly for the first time-it simply rolled off her tongue. 'Someone might see.'

'They can't see in.'

She could see, though.

For that moment Lydia felt as if she could see inside herself.

And she was...

The feeling was so unfamiliar it took a second for Lydia to recognise just what it was.

She was happy.

Just that.

'We're here,' Raul said, and released her foot, and that tiny glimpse of carefree happiness was over.

Just like that.

For she saw him-Maurice-standing outside the hotel.

He was smoking a cigar and on his phone-no doubt to her mother.

'We'll use the side entrance.'

Raul went to the intercom to inform the driver, but her hand stopped him.

'No.'

It was over.

The windows were dark and she knew that Maurice couldn't see in-neither  would he be expecting her to return in such a luxurious vehicle.

'I need to face things.'

'Tomorrow,' Raul said.

And she looked at this man who chose not to get close enough to anyone to remember a birthday.