he agreed.
‘I can’t just abandon him.’
‘But can you defend him? When men like that come calling can you drive them off?’
She shook her head. ‘No, I guess I can’t.’ She gave him an ironic smile. ‘If you ever want a job as a bodyguard I’ve got a vacancy.’
‘I’ll remember that,’ he said, returning the smile. ‘But when you return to England, and Wilton pursues you again—’
‘Don’t, don’t!’ she cried. ‘My head’s spinning. I don’t know which way to turn.’
‘Perhaps fate will show you.’
She shook her head. ‘That’s a nice thought, but you can’t rely on fate. You have to fix things for yourself. Only I don’t know how.’
‘But perhaps fate does know how. Just be patient and see what happens. Now it’s time for you to eat something. Nora has prepared you a meal, and Pietro is going to bring it in. He’s determined to stay awake and be one of your attendants. You won’t mind having him fuss over you, will you?’
‘No, of course not. It was terrible for him to see what happened. I know it upset him, and if looking after me helps him cope with it, I’ll be very glad.’
‘Thank you. I knew you’d understand.’
The door opened a crack and Charlie’s face appeared. ‘Can I come in?’
He came to the bed and hugged her. ‘Sorry, sis. I just seem to land you in it, don’t I?’
‘Don’t flatter yourself,’ she told him in the chivvying tone she often used with him. ‘There’s nothing about you that I can’t cope with.’
‘I’m sorry. If it wasn’t for me—’
‘If it wasn’t for you I’d be lonely. Don’t blame yourself, Charlie.’
‘Perhaps I should. Perhaps you should just dump me—’
‘And leave you at that man’s mercy? Get real. Grow up. We’re going to do this my way.’
He gave a comically theatrical salute. ‘Yes, ma’am, no, ma’am, three bags full, ma’am.’
She tried to mimic the salute, and winced at the pain in her arm.
‘No more of that,’ Damiano said. ‘You’ve got to rest every part of you until you’re better.’
‘That’s right,’ Charlie said.
He gave her an uneasy smile, which she returned. It was true, as she’d told Damiano, that Charlie was spoilt and self-indulgent. But his nicer side had a disconcerting habit of asserting itself unexpectedly. As he grew more mature, she thought, that side would be even more in evidence.
‘I’ll leave you,’ Charlie said. ‘Take care.’
He kissed her and went to the door. As he opened it they saw Pietro standing there with a plate in his hand. He advanced to the bed and set the plate on a small table.
Nora was there too, with a tray, but this was Pietro’s moment and she stayed in the background.
‘Are you better?’ he asked anxiously.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Truly? Truly?’
‘I promise. Oh, that food looks lovely.’
But as she took the first bite she went, ‘Ouch!’
‘What’s the matter?’ Damiano demanded quickly.
‘My mouth, where he hit it. It’s just a bit sensitive. I shall have to eat carefully.’
Luckily the food was soft and she managed well. Pietro didn’t take his eyes off her, and she had a sad awareness of how painful this must be for him, given his history.
While she ate Nora unpacked her bags and put the contents in a chest of drawers. Then Pietro and Nora left them.
‘Is that all you can eat?’ Damiano asked.
‘Yes, it’s lovely but I can’t manage any more.’
He removed the tray and sat close to her on the bed.
‘Get some sleep,’ he commanded. ‘Don’t lie awake worrying.’
He wrapped his arms about her, giving her a sweet feeling of being enveloped in warmth and peace. Looking up, she saw his face more gentle and kind than ever before. His lips were barely an inch from hers as he whispered softly, ‘I’m your friend and you can trust me. Don’t forget. That’s an order.’
She gave a weak laugh. ‘I guess it’s an order I’ll have to obey.’
He nodded, and for a moment she thought his mouth would touch hers. She held her breath, uncertain whether she wanted the kiss or not. But in a second it would happen, and she would know.
But his lips brushed hers so softly that she barely felt them.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,’ he murmured. ‘Did I hurt your mouth?’
‘No, you didn’t hurt me,’ she whispered.
‘Goodnight, Sally. We can talk again tomorrow.’
‘Yes—tomorrow—’
‘You’ll feel better then. Your mind will be clearer. But in the meantime, remember you have nothing to worry about. Both you and Charlie are under my care. Trust me.’
She watched as he left and closed the door. Then she closed her eyes, wondering what was happening to her.
She had a mysterious feeling of having been transported into a different universe, one in which nothing was certain and everything was mysterious.
She wondered how she could ever cope in such a place. For many years now she’d valued certainty above all else. It had started in her childhood when, without quite knowing why, she’d known that she was a disappointment to her parents.
Then Charlie was born, and she’d begun to understand. Their joy over having a son had shown her that a daughter would always be second best.
She’d struggled for their attention by plunging into her school work, using her natural gift for figures to get to the top of the class. They had praised her, but she’d always known in her heart that Charlie came first.
Some sisters would have blamed and resented him, but her natural generosity shielded her from bitterness. Plus even as a small child Charlie had a wicked charm that won her over. He was naughty, cheeky, impertinent. He could make her tear her hair out. But his giggle could win her over.
Their parents’ death had made him her responsibility. She’d applied herself to the task with an earnestness that had caused arguments.
