What were they called? Lizzy found herself wondering. Equerries? Was that it?
The man, who was quite young, and wearing pale spectacles which obscured his eyes, was addressing Prince Rico. His glance had gone briefly to Ben, but not to herself.
What am I? Invisible?
The caustic thought merely made her unease deepen.
Prince Rico was frowning, saying something in a sharp voice in Italian to the man. The man’s expression did not change, remaining impassive. Unreadable.
Prince Rico turned towards Lizzy, shutting out the other man.
‘My father and mother would like to meet Ben on his own for the first time,’ he said to her. ‘Please do not take offence at this. Were you to be there, they would be constrained to be formal, to behave as the protocols dictate. I hope you will understand?’
Fear flared in her eyes. Then, to her astonishment, her hand was taken.
‘It will be all right. You have my word.’
His hands were warm across hers. His eyes, as he looked into hers, were rich with sympathy.
‘Trust me,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Do not be afraid.’
Slowly, very slowly, she nodded. There seemed to be a lump in her throat.
He let go of her hand.
‘You will be shown to your apartments, where you can refresh yourself. I will bring Ben to you. In the meantime, rest and relax. Then, when I’ve brought Ben back, I will show you around.’
He glanced down at Ben.
‘We’re going to meet your grandparents now, Ben, and your other uncle. Your mother is going to have a little rest, and then we’ll go exploring. There’s a lot to see in this palace.’ He bent forward conspiratorially. ‘Even a secret passage.’
Ben’s eyes widened. He slipped his hand into his uncle’s, and Prince Rico started to walk off with him, still talking to him.
Lizzy watched them go.
‘Signorina?’
It was the equerry, or whoever he was.
‘I will show you to your new quarters,’ said the man.
Numbly, Lizzy followed after him.
Ten
sion netted her like a web.
Rico looked about him and frowned. His parents’ private sitting room, which he’d just been ushered into with Ben, was deserted. Yet he’d been told to present Ben immediately. So where was everyone?
‘Rico—finally.’
He turned abruptly. Luca had walked in from one of the antechambers. His brother’s eyes went swiftly from himself to the small figure holding Rico’s hand. For a moment he said nothing, just looked. Then he spoke.
‘Yes—difficult to deny his paternity. Far too much Paolo in him.’ His eyes flicked back to Rico. ‘We were beginning to think you’d never get him here,’ he said. ‘You must be slipping.’ A jibing note entered his voice. ‘For a man who can charm any woman he wants into bed in the blink of an eye, it should have been a piece of cake for you to get the boy’s aunt eating out of your hand.’
‘Cut the sniping, Luca,’ said Rico. His voice was sharper than usual. ‘Where are the parents?’
His brother’s eyebrows rose with a sardonic curve.