esta, Laura,’ Domenico said gently.
She pulled herself together, trying to breathe normally. ‘Not at my best, I’m afraid,’ she said unevenly, and thrust her hair behind her ears to display the full effect of her bruises. ‘This is a surprise.’
He drew the other chair close and with a familiar ‘Permesso?’ sat down. ‘Ah, Laura!’ His voice was husky with compassion as his eyes travelled over her face. ‘Your mother told me of your fall, but I did not imagine—’
‘That I looked so scary?’
‘That you had been hurt so very badly,’ he contradicted. ‘Are you in pain still?’
‘Not pain, exactly. My face is just sore and throbs a bit. So does my ankle.’ She smiled coldly. ‘If I’d expected to frighten anyone I would have worn a mask. I bought one in Venice, remember.’
‘I do remember. And you did not frighten me,’ he assured her. ‘I feel only sympathy for your injury.’
She found that hard to swallow. ‘The worst part was missing Fen’s wedding. How did it go?’
‘It was very beautiful. But to my great disappointment you were not in the bridal party.’
‘You can see why now.’ She smiled politely. ‘It’s very kind of you to take time to visit me, but shouldn’t you be up at Friars Wood with the other guests?’
He shook his head. ‘I have been there already. I congratulated the radiant bride and her proud husband, and introduced myself to your mother.’ Domenico smiled warmly. ‘She is so much like you. I recognised her immediately.’
‘She looks good, doesn’t she?’ said Laura, thawing slightly.
‘Molto elegante,’ he agreed, and eyed her warily. ‘Mrs Dysart consulted with your mother and made a suggestion.’
Laura raised her good eyebrow. ‘What is it?’
‘She gave me champagne so that you and I may toast the bride and groom together.’ He smiled. ‘The bride thought this was an excellent idea.’
‘Did you come to the wedding alone, then?’
‘Yes, of course,’ he said, surprised. ‘I have rung you twice since Thursday to say I was arriving today, but your number was unobtainable.’
‘I broke my phone when I fell.’ She eyed him suspiciously. ‘Domenico, are you here because you feel sorry for me?’
‘No.’ His chin lifted. ‘But if you do not want me here I will leave the champagne and go.’
She turned her face away, fighting sudden tears, but after a moment she was pulled to her feet and into Domenico’s arms with her good cheek pressed to his crisp shirtfront.
‘You took off your jacket,’ she muttered, breathing in the male scent that was so bone-meltingly familiar she almost forgot she was furious with him.
‘My suit is new,’ he explained. ‘The shirt will wash.’
‘And I thought I was the practical one!’ She tried a laugh, which sounded so much more like a sob his arms tightened.
‘Piangi!’ he commanded, but having been told to cry Laura lost all desire to, and pushed him away.
‘Sorry. My emotions are a bit near the surface since the fall.’
He winced, and touched a finger to her uninjured cheek. ‘You could have done yourself such serious injury, Laura.’ He paused. ‘So. Shall I stay?’
She lifted a shoulder. ‘If you like.’
‘Then I shall fetch the champagne from the car.’
‘I’ll get some glasses.’ Laura limped into the house, and for pride’s sake took time to tie her hair back before collecting a couple of champagne flutes.
‘I feel happier with my hair under control,’ she told Domenico as she rejoined him.
He smiled a little. ‘Bene. I like you to feel happy.’
She raised a cynical eyebrow. ‘Really? You were pretty cutting on the phone!’
Heat flared in his eyes. ‘You hurt me so much, Laura.’
‘You or your pride?’ she said, unmoved.
He shrugged. ‘Both. To help you I paid a very little part of your hotel bill, and in return you accuse me of paying for your body. I believed we had made beautiful love together,’ he added angrily. ‘So, yes, my pride was hurt.’
Her eyes flashed. ‘So was mine, Domenico, when I found out you’d been having a little joke with me.’
‘I have given you my reasons for that,’ he reminded her, and without spilling a drop removed the cork from the champagne, filled two glasses and handed one of them to her. ‘Now we make the toast,’ he said.
‘To Fen and Joe,’ said Laura, raising her glass.
‘To the bride and groom,’ he agreed, and raised his own. ‘Also a toast to you, Laura, with the wish that your beautiful face will soon be whole again.’
‘I’ll drink to that!’ she said dryly. ‘Though even at its best my face is hardly beautiful.’
‘It is to me,’ he said softly.
But Laura couldn’t forget Domenico’s knee-jerk reaction at first sight of it, nor the lady back in Venice somewhere. ‘It was kind of you to come,’ she said politely. ‘I was feeling pretty blue earlier on.’
‘It is very sad that you could not be at your friend’s wedding,’ he agreed. ‘When I learned that you were hurt I wanted to come here at once to see you. But I had to wait while many photographs were taken, then drive to the Dysart home to congratulate the bride and groom, also to ask your mother her permission to visit you.’ Domenico smiled. ‘She is a charming lady.’
‘That she is,’ agreed Laura. ‘Where are you staying?’
‘At an inn called the Forrester’s Arms. You know it?’
‘Yes, it’s a nice country pub with good food, but a far cry from the Forli Palace.’
‘Non importa. A change is good, yes?’
‘It will certainly be that—’ She broke off as the phone rang, and excused herself to go inside to answer it. ‘Hi, Mother.’
‘Are you all right, darling?’ asked Isabel anxiously.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Is Domenico still with you?’
‘Yes.’
‘How long is he staying?’
‘I don’t know. Are you ready to come
