you should think again about being married. It seems to me that you’re heading for disaster.’
‘And it seems to me,’ he said, ‘that you are very candid—for an employee.’ He allowed the point to register, then continued smoothly. ‘But put your mind at rest. I promise I am becoming more reconciled to my fate with every day that passes.’
‘But yours isn’t the only point of view that counts. Can you honestly say the same for Paola?’
He shrugged. ‘That is for you to find out.’
‘And if I can’t do what you want?’ she said slowly. ‘If she won’t accept this marriage—what then?’
He laughed. ‘I have infinite faith in your powers of persuasion, mia bella. Besides,’ he added, his voice hardening slightly, ‘you must see that Paola needs to be married. There are no other options open to her. She is not trained for a career, although she has spoken vaguely of modelling, and she has no qualifications. At school, she was regarded as a charming feather-brain.’
‘Maybe she’d be very good at modeling,’ Clare suggested, without much hope.
‘She has the looks,’ he agreed. ‘But no discipline. A life that required her to get out of bed before midday would have little appeal. I doubt she has the stamina either. It is a physically taxing existence.’
Clare bit her lip. ‘Poor Paola.’
He shook his head. ‘You need not pity her. Because she will be happy—and safe. She needs above all someone who will look after her, and prevent her from doing something reckless and ruinous.’
‘Like marrying the wrong man,’ Clare said bitterly.
He slanted a smile at her. ‘But by the time the wedding takes place, mia bella, she will not think that. I guarantee it.’
A curious emotion stirred inside Clare, compounded of anger and something perilously like envy.
She said, ‘Heaven help her.’
‘Heaven is where the best marriages are made, Chiara.’ The undercurrent of laughter in his voice goaded her. ‘Isn’t that what they say?’
‘I think,’ Clare said coldly, ‘that “they” talk an awful lot of nonsense.’ And relapsed into a fulminating silence.
The Villa Minerva lay at the head of a small valley, a tawny sprawl of a house, crowned in faded terracotta tiles and enclosed protectively by the encircling arms of the craggy dark green slopes which reared behind it.
Like an old, proud lion sleeping in the sun, Clare thought with an involuntary lift of her heart, as she caught her first glimpse of it through the trees that lined its steep, private road.
She’d expected something far more stately and grand, even intimidating. But, apart from its considerable size, the villa looked reassuringly home-like.
She thought, ‘It’s beautiful,’ and only realised she’d spoken aloud when she caught the flicker of her companion’s smile, and a murmured ‘Grazie.’
Minutes later, the car negotiated a gateway guarded by tall stone pillars, and drove into a large paved courtyard fronting the house, where a fountain in the Baroque style sent lazy arcs of water curving into the sparkling air.
Guido had barely stopped the car at the foot of the short flight of steps which led up to a massively timbered front entrance, when Paola came running out to meet them.
‘Clare, you have come.’ Face and voice were stormy. ‘I did not think it would happen—not when Guido has set his other jailer on me,’ she added, giving the Marchese a venomous look as he emerged from the car.
‘Ah,’ he said. ‘Then Tonio is here. Bene.’
‘It is not good—’ Paola began rebelliously, but Clare stepped in.
‘Pardon me,’ she said levelly, ‘But I understood I was coming here as your companion, Paola. As a friend. Not a jailer. But if that’s how you see me, I’ll leave now.’
‘No, I did not mean it.’ Paola put a placatory hand on her sleeve. ‘I spoke hastily. I was just so angry when Tonio arrived.’
‘I cannot think why,’ Guido said coldly. ‘He is here on estate business to consult with me, and it is more convenient for him to stay in this house. His presence should not affect you. You need not even speak to him.’
‘Not speak to him?’ Paola’s voice lifted in outrage. ‘Someone I have known my entire life? Of course I shall talk to him.’ She grabbed Clare’s hand. ‘Now come and see your room.’
‘My luggage,’ Clare began.
‘Matteo will see to that.’ Paola tugged her into the house.
‘Matteo?’
‘Guido’s maggiordomo. And his wife, Benedetta, is the housekeeper.’
Clare found herself in a big, shadowy entrance hall with a flagged floor. At the far end, a wide stone staircase led the way to the upper floor, its harsh lines softened by a central strip of thick crimson carpet.
High, narrow windows admitted slanting pools of sunlight, and as she was whisked towards the stairs Clare noticed a number of double doors spaced at intervals around the hall. But before she could speculate where they might lead, she was halfway to the first floor.
‘Are they the only staff?’ she queried with slight breathlessness.
‘Dio, no.’ Paola gave a little laugh. ‘There is a cook, and two maids, as well as Guido’s driver—and his secretary. Then there is Alberto, the gardener, and the men who work for him. And Franco, who looks after the horses…’
‘A cast of thousands,’ Clare commented drily. ‘I didn’t realise there’d be horses here.’
‘Guido likes them.’ Paola’s tone was offhand. ‘When he was younger, of course, he played polo.’
‘You don’t ride?’
Paola shuddered dramatically. ‘No—nor play tennis, although Guido wishes me to learn.’
Clare smiled. ‘It’s a terrific game. You might enjoy it.’
Paola tossed her head. ‘Oh it is far too hot, and, besides, I do not like to run about. Although sometimes I swim in the pool,’ she added on a note of self-congratulation.
The Marchese might have been right about Paola’s lack of stamina after all, Clare thought wryly, following the younger girl along a broad gallery.
‘Do you play tennis—and ride—and go for long walks?’
‘Why—yes.’
‘And you truly like these things?’ Paola sighed gustily at Clare’s affirmative nod. ‘I shall never understand—never. But it’s good, because you can be a companion for Guido, and I shall have some peace.’
But that’s not the plan at all,
