The Italian's Rightful Bride Part 14

'You made very sure to dodge that,' Gustavo said as they stood on the steps, waving the honeymooners off.

She hadn't realised that he'd noticed.

'Well, it's silly, isn't it?' she said lightly. 'It's just a quick way of making an idiot of yourself.'

'Is that a reference to Freddy?'

'Why should it be?'

'Because you caught Crystal's bouquet, I remember. It doesn't seem to have brought you much luck. Maybe you can't be blamed for being cautious now.'

She took his arm as they joined the others returning to the house.

'My marriage brought me Billy,' she said. 'I call that the best kind of luck. For the rest, there's a lot to be said for being footloose and fancy-free.'

As she spoke she gave him a challenging look that discomfited him.

'Is that aimed at me?' he asked, taking two tall gla.s.ses from a pa.s.sing waiter and giving her one. 'I did apologise.'

'So you ought,' she said, teasing him over the rim with her eyes. 'Anyway, even if I had been...what you thought...well, it's a free country.'

'If you're trying to tell me that it's none of my business what you do-'

'Well, is it?'

'It might be,' he said, regarding her levelly.

She drank her champagne. It gave her time to collect her thoughts.

Outside, the light was fast fading. Inside the lights were coming on and refreshments were being served as the festivities started up again.

'It's been a strange day,' he said, drawing her over to the window, where they could have a little privacy.

'Yes,' she said, not pretending that she didn't understand his meaning.

'The wedding being in the same place-well, memories. Even poor Gina-'

'You mean me being matron of honour?'

'No, her getting flu and missing the wedding. That nearly happened to you. Remember how you got caught in the rain the night before, and we met in the corridor? You looked so wet and bedraggled I was worried about you.'

'Wet and bedraggled,' she mused. 'Yes, I was that all right. Inside and out.'

'What?'

'Nothing. I do remember, but I'm surprised that you do.'

'You didn't just pa.s.s out of my mind, Joanna.'

She gave a shaky laugh. 'Your memory's faulty. One look at Crystal and everyone pa.s.sed out of your mind.'

'For a while. It was a madness, but it was soon over. And then there was nothing but the memories. Today was full of them.'

'Did they upset you?'

'No, I wasn't upset. That's all done with.'

'I hope it is.'

'Do you?' he asked quickly.

'It made you so unhappy, of course I'm glad it's over. There has to be some happiness waiting for you in the future, I'm sure of that.'

'Good,' he said quietly. 'If you're you're sure of it, well-let's talk later. The music's starting again. I've wanted to dance with you for hours. I've been patient, and waited my turn, but now I'm not going to be patient any longer.' sure of it, well-let's talk later. The music's starting again. I've wanted to dance with you for hours. I've been patient, and waited my turn, but now I'm not going to be patient any longer.'

'But suppose I don't want to dance with you,' she teased, smiling.

He took her gla.s.s and set it down with his own, taking her into his arms.

'That can't be helped. You'll just have to put up with it.'

They were on the floor, spinning faster and faster so that she could barely get her breath. His arms about her were firm, drawing her close. The sedate, restrained young man she'd once known would never have held her like this, but this was another man, with a different agenda. Just what that agenda might be, she felt she was beginning to understand.

They might have been born to dance together, their bodies blending like fluid, antic.i.p.ating each other's movements. She felt her excitement mounting, but it was an excitement of the heart as well as the body.

When the dance ended he didn't release her, but swept her straight into the next one.

'I can't breathe,' she laughed.

'Neither can I. Do you mind?'

'No-no!' She was giddy with joy, full of sweet sensations at the feel of his body pressed close to hers.

The music changed again, became a slow waltz. She watched his face, close to hers, and couldn't take her eyes from his lips, which were parted slightly. His warm breath touched her face.

'Joanna-'

'Yes...'

He began to move faster, dancing her towards an open door. As they went through it he kicked it closed. Then she was in his arms, drawn close while his lips sought hers, found them, covered them fiercely.

And in a moment all questions were answered. Everything in her yearned towards him. She had waited years for this moment, and she was going to relish it to the full.

In her mind she'd kissed him a thousand times but the reality was far sweeter. His lips were warm and firm on hers, urgent, demanding, and it was that demand that thrilled her most because everything in her longed to give to him. She would give him anything he asked-if only he would ask...

He cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes with an expression she wanted to see there forever.

But this was only a dream. She knew that because she'd dreamed it so often before. At any moment she would awaken, because n.o.body was allowed to be this happy. It would all be taken from her, but while it lasted she would revel in it.

'I think I've gone slightly mad,' he murmured.

'Yes, I think I have too, but I don't care. I don't mind being mad. I'm tired of being sensible.'

His smile was gentle. 'So am I. Joanna- Joanna-'

'Yes,' she whispered against his lips.

She closed her eyes as his mouth covered hers again and this time she let herself go completely, yielding to the joy of the moment as though nothing bad could ever happen again.

'h.e.l.lo? h.e.l.lo there? Is anyone here?'

She tried to blot out the man's voice but it reached her insistently.

'h.e.l.lo!'

It was reality. It would not be denied.

'Anyone there?'

'Oh, no,' Joanna said despairingly.

'Let's get away before he sees us,' Gustavo whispered. 'It can't be us he wants.'

'But it is,' she groaned. 'Or at least me. That's Freddy, my ex, turning up like a bad penny.'

Gustavo cursed softly. Joanna wanted to rail against fate. It was too cruel that, at the moment when her heart yearned for Gustavo as fiercely as in the past, the miracle should be shattered so harshly. She was trembling, and she sensed the same in him.

'h.e.l.lo!'

'It's no good,' she said. 'I'll have to talk to Freddy.'

'Tell him to go to h.e.l.l.'

'I've tried that in the past. He just bounces back.'

Reluctantly they released each other and turned to see the man standing just inside the door. For the first time she realised that they were in semi-darkness.

'h.e.l.lo, Freddy,' she said, trying to sound calm.

'h.e.l.lo, Jo. Is that really you? I can't see you properly.'

She moved closer, and his face brightened.

'That's better. I say, you haven't got somebody with you, have you? Sorry to break it up and all that.'

'It's all right, Freddy,' she sighed. 'You haven't broken anything up. This is Prince Gustavo Montegiano.'

For the briefest possible moment Freddy seemed nonplussed.

'Uhuh!' in a noncommittal voice.

Then the moment was gone and he came closer, hand outstretched.

'Nice to meet you. You won't remember me, but I was at your wedding. Not exactly a gatecrasher, but brought along by a friend of a friend.'

'Whoever brought you, you were very welcome,' Gustavo said with slightly strained politeness. 'Did you, by any chance, reach this wedding in the same way?'

Freddy roared with laughter. 'Not this time. Mind you, I don't say I wouldn't have, if it had been necessary, but it wasn't. The groom's sister is a good friend of mine, if you know what I mean.'

He finished with a wink that made Joanna say in exasperation, 'Yes, we know what you mean, Freddy, and don't be vulgar.'

'I can't help being vulgar,' he said, hurt. 'I'm made that way. It's part of my charm.'

His face was broad, good-natured and as innocent as a baby's. It was the sort of face Gustavo guessed some women would find appealing. He would have liked to use his fists on it.

'I meant to be here sooner,' Freddy said, 'but I got a bit delayed. Sorry to break up the party and everything, but could I talk to you, please, Jo? It's really you I came to see.'

'Can't it wait until later, Freddy? Like tomorrow?'

His smile was beguiling. 'Ah, there's a problem about that. I'm only here for this evening, and there are things we need to discuss.'

'In that case, I'd better give in,' Joanna sighed.

Gustavo would have taken a wager that people usually gave in to Freddy because of what he described as his charm.

Whatever his charm was, Gustavo was sure he was immune to it.

Joanna shrugged at him helplessly. 'Sorry about this. I have to go.'

'To be sure. I must rejoin the party. Good evening, Mr Manton. It's been a pleasure meeting you.'

He walked out quickly.

He did as he'd said, returned to the party and spent the rest of the evening being the perfect guest. He smiled, he laughed, and all the time he wondered about Joanna. Had Freddy departed yet? And if not, what were they doing?

Then he saw them standing just inside the door, absorbed in conversation, or possibly in each other. Suddenly Freddy moved fast, sweeping her into the dance, twirling her around exuberantly. It was hard for him to make out her face as it flashed past, but Gustavo could tell that she was laughing as though she enjoyed his company.

After a while he made his excuses and went to bed.

As soon as he was alone with Joanna Freddy said, 'I can't see any sign of Billy.'

'No, he's not here. He was terrified he'd end up being a pageboy in satin-maybe even white satin.'

Freddy closed his eyes and winced in sympathy.