‘Allof you? Your mother’s cousin had a family?’
The investigator’s report hadn’t mentioned it. Just that she lived in a small community.
‘No. Just me.’ She caught his stare and went on. ‘Kate ran an artists’ commune. There were a few women who lived there permanently and others who’d come for a summer or a few weeks.’
‘That must have been...interesting.’
Cesare tried to imagine growing up surrounded by artists on an isolated island.
Ida’s mouth tucked up at the corner and he felt it like the caress of fingers down his sternum, heat spreading through his chest. He wanted, as he’d wanted from the moment she’d stepped from the house, to gather her close and lose himself in her sweet body.
It took all his determination to keep his distance, not take her back to bed.
It didn’t help that her dress was the colour of crushed raspberries and reminded him of her pretty nipples that peaked so easily, begging for his attention. Or that the narrow straps left her shoulders bare.
‘Itwasinteresting,’ she said with another small shrug. ‘Kate had been a teacher and home-schooled me. But I learned a lot more than was on the curriculum.’
‘You learned from the other artists?’
She hadn’t spoken about being an artist. Surely he’d have remembered if she had? But then, he’d been so focused on Calogero and countering his schemes, how much attention had he really paid to Ida before their marriage?
Enough to want her. That had never been in doubt. He’d carried it like a badge of shame because lusting after his enemy’s granddaughter was weakness when he needed to be strong.
Cesare didn’t feel that way now. Life, his feelings, and above all Ida were far more complex than he’d once imagined. He leaned in, waiting for her answer.
‘I’m a competent potter.’ She ticked off one finger then another. ‘I can spin, weave and make felt. I’m told my lino cuts show real flair, though I’ll never make a painter.’
Her wry amusement was deeply appealing, and Cesare felt his mouth twitch in response.
‘Plus I have some talent at making jewellery.’
‘Is that what you want to do? Make jewellery?’
Her eyes met his, that soft, delicate green bright and clear. ‘No. Those women were real artists. I just picked up skills because I had time and opportunity.’
‘And there wasn’t much else to do on your island?’
Her eyebrows rose as if he’d revealed the pity he felt for a girl wrenched from her home and stuck in such a place.
‘It wasn’t that bad. I learned German from Traudl and she told the best stories. She was an illustrator and spun tales about dragons and witches and the most amazing places. Peggy had been an accountant and taught me baking and bookkeeping. Beatrice taught me ballet.’ Cesare heard the rising inflection of enthusiasm as Ida paused, leaning down to rub her ankle. Then she caught his gaze on her and straightened. ‘Zara taught me self-defence.’
This time her smile was more of a grimace and Cesare wondered if Ida had ever needed to use those defensive techniques. His stomach rolled over.
‘It sounds like a well-rounded education. Much more varied than mine.’ He paused. ‘So how did your grandfather fit into your life?’
Ida’s expression shuttered. ‘He was legally my guardian, though Kate brought me up. The year I turned twelve, he insisted I start visiting him in London. It didn’t matter that he was a stranger or that Kate had reservations. He threatened to take me from her if I didn’t obey.’
Cesare swore under his breath. A man who’d threaten to take an orphaned child from a place where she’d found sanctuary was barbaric. But that tallied with all he knew of Calogero.
‘Didn’t you want to see London and meet your grandfather?’
She met his eyes, moving the crumbs of flaky pastry on her plate. ‘I can’t help you bring him down, you know. I don’t have that sort of inside information. So if you’re hoping I’ll reveal some juicy nugget about his business or his plans, you’ll be disappointed.’
Her words sliced deep, leaving Cesare feeling surprisingly guilty.
He took a moment before replying.
‘You’re right. That was one of the reasons I wanted you to stay. Any information I can get about him is helpful. But...’ He held up his hand as she leaned away from him. ‘I’m genuinely curious about you. Not because I’m mining for things to use against the old man.’