until their inevitable divorce.
‘Will you be all right on your own?’ Ellie had ventured to ask her mother.
‘I won’t be on my own. I’ve got you.’
‘But—you know what I mean.’
‘You mean without a husband? I’ll actually be better off without him. Better no man at all than the wrong man. Better no relationship than a bad one.’
Life was hard. Her father paid them as little as he could get away with, and Janet took a job with low wages. Determined to have a successful career, Ellie had buried herself in schoolwork, coming top of the class. In this she was encouraged by her mother, who told her time and again that independence was the surest road to freedom.
‘Have your own career, your own life,’ she’d urged. ‘Never be completely dependent on a man.’
Ellie had heeded the lesson, took a law degree at university and qualified as a solicitor with flying colours. Alex Dallon was eager to employ her. She was a success.
The firm specialised in divorce cases. In the years she had worked there she’d witnessed every kind of break-up for every kind of reason. She’d soon realised that wretchedly unhappy marriages were more common than she’d thought. Men and women swore eternal love and fidelity, then turned on each other in a miasma of hate and mistrust. She wondered if love was ever successful.
Her own experiences gave her no cause for comfort. There were men attracted by her wit and her lively personality. But the attraction soon died when they were faced with an intelligence often sharper than their own, and an efficiency that tolerated no nonsense.
Finally there had been the man she’d described to Leonizio, briefly interested in her but then leaving her for a woman of more conventional charms.
Besides, how could Leonizio want marriage after the disaster that was his last one? His divorce wasn’t even through. He’d be mad to even entertain the idea of getting involved again so soon.
No, whatever the solution was for her situation with Leonizio, it certainly wasn’t marriage. They were both adults. She felt sure that they could come up with a solution for sharing their child that would suit them both.
Reassured that her sensible side had returned, she turned over and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Next morning she went downstairs to eat breakfast in the restaurant. Her table was by the window, looking out on the street. After a while she saw a familiar figure appear, heading for the hotel entrance. She hurried out into the lobby, waving to Leonizio, and he followed her back into the restaurant.
‘Did you sleep well?’ he asked as they sipped coffee.
‘Not really. Too much to mull over. You?’
‘Same with me. Have you done any more thinking about what we discussed yesterday?’
‘We agreed to be good parents, friendly for our child’s sake.’
‘That isn’t what I meant. I proposed marriage. You were going to consider it.’
‘I gave you my answer last night.’
He didn’t reply at once, seeming sunk in thought. At last he said, ‘We’re still virtually strangers. It can’t work like that. At least let’s spend some time getting to know each other. You might find I’m not the monster you think me.’
‘Or I might find you’re worse,’ she said in a teasing voice.
‘I’ll just have to take that risk. I want you to stay with me. You’ll find the spare room very comfortable. My housekeeper will take care of you.’
‘But—I’m not sure. It might be better if I stayed in the hotel.’
‘The more time we spend together the better it will be.’
‘But I don’t think—’
She stopped as she saw a young man approaching their table. He handed Leonizio a piece of paper, saying, ‘Ecco la ricevuta, signore.’
Ellie frowned, recognising just one word. Ricevuta meant receipt.
‘Receipt?’ she asked when the man had gone.
‘I’ve paid your bill here. I called them last night and paid over the phone. There’s no reason why the cost should fall on you.’
It sounded fine and generous, but something about it made her uneasy.
‘Last night?’ she queried. ‘Why? My bill won’t need to be paid until I check out.’
‘Actually—you already have.’
‘What? You mean you—?’
‘I told them you would be leaving this morning.’
‘Oh, really? And the little matter of consulting me slipped your mind. So this is your way of showing me that you’re not a monster?’
‘I just want you to stay with me. Ellie, you’re important to me—both of you. I couldn’t let you go.’
‘You mean you couldn’t let me do what I want if it conflicts with what you want.’
‘It’ll help us get to know each other really well so that we can plan out a future that’s good for all of us. Isn’t that what we both want?’
Ellie regarded him with her head on one side. ‘So that’s how you do it.’
‘Do what?’
‘Conduct your business. Nobody else stands a chance, do they? You get the better of the other guy by doing something outrageous that he can’t fight. Then you put on an innocent look and say, “Isn’t that what we both want?” And he gives in. Or so you hope. And that way you get everyone so scared of you that they can’t fight back.’
‘Are you scared of me, Ellie? Strange that I never noticed. You’re not afraid of anyone.’
‘True. And in my own way I too can be fearsome. I keep my worst side hidden until it leaps out and catches you unprepared. So be very careful.’
‘I’ll bear your warning in mind. As for persuading you to stay with me—I guess I used the wrong method. Perhaps I should try another way.’
‘Such as what?’
‘I could beg you.’ He assumed a slightly theatrical air. ‘Please, Ellie, do this for me. Please. Stay with me for the next couple of days, at least until we can agree on the best way to move forward with this situation.’
Ellie had to concede that he had a point. They did need to sort things out. And maybe a venue more private than a busy hotel was a better place to plan their future. ‘I will stay with you, but only for a few days. And I won’t be sharing your bed.’
He nodded, giving her an unexpectedly warm smile.
‘Whatever
