Just over half an hour later Cesare returned to his study after seeing his lawyer out.
He still couldn’t believe it. He’d been sure Ida would find some last-minute reason not to agree to a divorce. Yet it had gone smoothly. She’d read the papers, asked a few questions, then signed without hesitation.
He was on the way to becoming a free man.
Exultation rose.
It had taken years to manoeuvre Calogero out of the business and soon he hoped to see the old villain behind bars. Now the unwanted wife Cesare had been blackmailed into accepting had agreed to a divorce without a murmur.
Why would she do that? If she ran true to type, as venal as her grandfather, she’d make his life difficult while she tried to negotiate a better pay-out.
Cesare had so many questions that needed answering. Plus any inside information he could get about Calogero could only help his cause.
‘How do I get to Florence?’
Ida stood near the window, the light creating a fiery nimbus around her bright hair. Sunshine backlit her, revealing the delectable figure beneath that filmy dress.
Cesare’s pulse stalled then sped into overdrive, thundering through his body. He hesitated a second, telling himself it was her unexpected question that threw him, not the desire clawing at him.
He moved into the room. ‘Why?’
‘To leave, of course. I’ve signed the papers.’
Ida was full of surprises. Once more she defied expectations. But their business wasn’t over.
‘Shall we sit and discuss that?’ Because he could do without the distraction of seeing her body so lovingly revealed against the light.
After a second, she shrugged and took a chair near the fireplace. Cesare took the one opposite.
‘You want to leave?’
She frowned. ‘Naturally.’
‘And go where? To your flat where your grandfather’s man will find you?’
She stiffened. ‘That’s no concern of yours.’
‘It is if you’ve fallen out with Calogero.’
Or was it his henchman she feared?
Wary eyes held his, but she said nothing.
‘Have you, Ida? Have you fallen out with the old man?’
Her lips curved into a crooked smile that snagged something buried deep inside. ‘You could say that.’
Then, as quickly as it came, that hint of humour disappeared, leaving her expression strained. Once more Cesare felt that unexpected tug of connection. As he had last night when she’d been scared.
‘You could stay here for a short time,’ he said slowly, gauging her reaction. ‘You’d be safe and I’m guessing you’ll need time to plan your next move.’
Instantly a voice sounded in his head.
Remember your father. His poor decisions, his foolishness when in thrall to some woman.
But this was different. Cesare wasn’t taken in by Ida. He simply recognised her terror and couldn’t ignore it.
Her eyes rounded. ‘Why would you do that?’