‘Word has it Mr Silveri would never have made it without considerable help from your father,’ the first journalist said.
Bella turned to face them. ‘That’s not true,’ she said. ‘Edoardo was always going to make it in spite of his background. That’s just the sort of person he is. He’s strong and determined. My father saw those qualities in him and nurtured them. He would be very proud of the man Edoardo has become. Now, please leave me alone. I have nothing more to say.’
Bella pretended to do more shopping until she was sure she wasn’t being followed before she drove back to Haverton Manor. She wondered if she should tell Edoardo about the paparazzi in the village but then decided against it. She didn’t want anything to spoil the rest of the time they had together. It would all too soon draw to a close. She couldn’t stay down here for ever, even though she longed to. But she couldn’t settle for anything less than total commitment. If Edoardo didn’t love her enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her, then she would have to walk away, even though it would break her heart to leave him.
Bella had only been back at the manor half an hour when she got another call from her mother. She answered it while she was making the bed up with fresh linen in Edoardo’s room. ‘Mum,’ she said tucking the phone between her cheek and her neck as she straightened the covers. ‘I was wondering when you were going to call.’
‘Yes, well, I’ve been busy sorting out the mess José left me with,’ Claudia said. ‘Speaking of bills, can you lend me a couple more thousand?’
‘Lend?’
‘Don’t use that tone with me, young lady,’ Claudia said. ‘I’m still your mother, you know.’
‘You’re always leaning on me to sort out your finances. Dad gave you a massive settlement after the divorce. What have you done with it all?’
‘Oh, well, now, listen to you,’ Claudia said in a la-de-da tone. ‘You’re a fine one to criticise. You haven’t had to work for anything in your life.’
‘I know that,’ Bella said. ‘But I’m going to work now. As soon as I get my inheritance, I’m going to set up a trust fund for an orphanage. In the meantime, I’m going to look for work as a volunteer. I want to make a difference in a child’s life, just like Dad did with Edoardo.’
‘Your father’s little experiment certainly backfired, didn’t it?’ Claudia said.
‘I’m not even going to ask you what you mean by that,’ Bella said.
‘I called around at the house in Chelsea and the girls said you weren’t home,’ Claudia said. ‘Don’t tell me you’re still holed up with Edoardo.’
‘I’m coming back on Saturday,’ Bella said. ‘I’m meeting Julian at the airport.’
‘What’s he going to think when he hears you’ve spent the last week or so with another man?’ Claudia asked.
Bella moved away from the bed as if that would put some distance between her and her conflicted feelings. ‘Mum, I’m not going to go ahead with the engagement. I want to talk to Julian in person about it. I don’t think it’s fair to him to do it on the phone.’
Claudia gave a little scoffing noise. ‘That thug has got under your skin, hasn’t he?’ she said. ‘I knew he would. I told you what he’s up to. He wants you for your pedigree. Nothing else.’
Bella’s hand tightened on the phone. ‘Edoardo is not a thug,’ she said. ‘He’s a gentle and caring man. You don’t know him. He’s not what you think at all.’
‘You’ve been sleeping with him, haven’t you?’ Claudia said.
‘Mum, I don’t want to have this conversation with you.’
‘He only wants you for your money,’ Claudia said. ‘That’s why he won’t allow you to give me any. He wants it all to himself.’
‘No, that’s not true,’ Bella said, springing to his defence with all the emotion she had tried for so long to keep under wraps. It came bubbling out of her like a drain that had finally been unblocked. ‘He’s not offering to marry me. He won’t marry anyone. It’s because of his past. He suffered terribly as a child. You have no idea of what he’s been through. He’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I won’t have you or anyone say such horrible things about him.’
‘You silly little fool,’ Claudia said. ‘I suppose you fancy yourself in love with him, do you?’