Ida frowned. ‘It’s Monday. I thought you’d be working.’ He’d already taken time away from his precious company to track her down in Britain. She hadn’t wanted to assume he’d take more time out of his schedule.
‘I’m delegating. I keep an eye on the business, but I have very good managers now for day-to-day matters. I thought we might go into Florence.’
Her heart leapt. It was somewhere she’d wanted to see for so long. Ever since those forced art-appreciation lessons in London that had unexpectedly turned into a delight, except for the looming threat of her grandfather’s displeasure if she didn’t learn well enough.
‘I’d like that.’
‘Excellent.’
Cesare’s nod was curt and his smile absent.
Because for him this isn’t about pleasure.
She’d forgotten that. She’d let herself be swept away by emotion.
He wants to take you into the city so you’ll be seen together. So word will get back to Fausto. Because Cesare wants to rub his nose in the fact you’re together but not on the old man’s terms.
Ida rubbed her hands up her bare arms, feeling chilled despite the sun’s warmth.
Or was it more than that? Despite Cesare’s dismissive words about not listening to gossip, he’d enjoy showing the world that his missing wife was alive and well and spending her days with him.
Of course that was it. Or at least part of his reason for giving up his time to show her around.
Not because she was special. Because there were benefits.
Ida blinked and stared blindly ahead.
What did you expect? You went into this with your eyes open. You don’t expect any man to put you first for your sake alone.
For the first time since he’d taken her to his bed, Cesare felt uncomfortable. Deeply uncomfortable.
What Ida had just told him seemed to strip a layer off his skin.
He flattened his mouth and tried to focus on the narrow road. Yet every thought was on the woman beside him.
Ida would hate to think he saw her as a victim. Yet what she’d said pierced deep. Her words hadn’t been a bid for sympathy. He’d heard the ache in her voice, her sincerity, and it had dragged him down to earth with an almighty thump.
He’d thought to give her a pleasant day out. He was proud of his home region and wanted her to like it too. But any thought of it as merely a fun outing with his temporary lover had shattered.
It humbled him that something so simple meant so much to her.
Against Ida’s past his own troubles had been minuscule. Her gratitude made Cesare aware of all the good things he’d had. A stable home. The love of hisnonnoand extended family even though his father had been a disaster as a parent. Wealth and privilege, access to the best educational opportunities and so much that he’d taken for granted.
Safety.
Hisnonnohad been a strict disciplinarian but Cesare had never been in physical danger from him. Unlike Ida, whose fear of Calogero had to stem from his capacity for vicious reprisals.
Cesare’s skin chilled at the thought of what Calogero would do if he got his hands on her.
‘Here we are.’ It was a relief to swing off the road, pausing while the electronic gates opened.
Cesare didn’t turn to meet her eyes as he would have earlier today when he’d enjoyed watching her delight in each new experience. And basked in her rare, devastating smiles. At first he’d seen them only in bed, but today, increasingly, he’d watched the curve of her lips and felt entranced.
He hadn’t realised how jaded and self-focused he’d been until confronted with her innocent joy.
His breath rushed out and his skin prickled with shame and regret. And deep inside, his determination to bring down her viper of a grandfather glowed white-hot.
They were silent as they entered the villa. Until Dorotea approached with news that there’d been a delivery for Ida.