Leila only had to glance at Raffa to know how he felt about this woman. They adored each other, she realised, standing back as the giant of a man and the tiny woman embraced each other. When Raffa stood back to introduce her, she discovered that his grandmother had been well briefed in advance of her arrival.
‘I hear congratulations are in order,’ she exclaimed, drawing Leila into a hug. ‘I’m so happy for both of you.’
Leila’s gaze found Raffa’s, and she wondered now if he’d told his grandmother some cock-and-bull story regarding their relationship.
He shrugged and his eyes were full of amusement as if to prove that Raffa Leon answered to no one.
‘Come with me, Leila,’ his grandmother invited warmly, unaware of the tension between her grandson and her guest. ‘We’ll have tea in the garden. I think Rafael has got your message,’ she added with amusement. ‘You have the most expressive eyes.’
‘I’m sorry if I’ve offended you,’ Leila said as they sat down.
‘Please don’t apologise. I know Rafael, and I always make up my own mind, whatever he tells me.’
A table draped with a delicate lace cloth and an array of fine china had been set out for them beneath the generous shade of an ancient frangipani tree. Following Leila’s glance across the manicured lawn as Raffa headed back to the house, his grandmother leaned forward to remark, ‘Don’t look so worried, Leila. The Dukes of Cantalabria have always been notoriously unscrupulous when it comes to choosing a bride.’
‘A bride?’ No amount of good manners could hide Leila’s feelings. ‘I’m not sure what Raffa has told you, but I’ve no intention of marrying him.’
‘Of course not. Please forgive me. Seeing the two of you together takes me back to my own youth.’
‘I’m afraid ours is not a lasting relationship.’
‘With a child between you?’ the dowager queried. ‘I’d say there’s a lifetime’s commitment between you. Milk or lemon, my dear?’
‘Lemon, please.’ Leila’s voice took on a new intensity. ‘I just don’t want to mislead you in any way.’
‘How are you misleading me?’ The old lady frowned as she passed Leila a delicate porcelain cup and saucer. ‘Any fool can see my grandson is head over heels in love with you.’
Leila almost laughed out loud, but, in deference to Raffa’s grandmother, she killed the impulse in favour of being frank with her. ‘Raffa’s not in love with me. All we shared was a moment of—’
‘Pure passion,’ his grandmother supplied with a nod of her head. ‘Don’t look so surprised, Leila. I was young once. And please...I don’t want you to feel awkward around me. I can assure you, it would take a lot more than your pregnancy to shock me. I’m only surprised Rafael can be so calm about it.’
‘Calm?’ Leila tensed.
The old lady started as if she had been jolted out of revisiting memories from the past.
‘Forgive me, Leila. I knew this day would come. I just wasn’t sure how Rafael would cope with it. It’s great credit to you that he’s taken it so calmly. I’m delighted for him—for both of you.’
Far from being reassured, Leila was doubly anxious, and determined to get to the bottom of Raffa’s mysterious past. ‘Is there some family problem I should know about?’