And with that unsympathetic and cutting statement delivered, Gianni swung on his heel without another word and strode off for the helipad.
Jo’s hands knotted into fists. Heforgotto tell her about hiring Fiona? Chance would be a fine thing! Gianni wasn’t that innocent. He had been determined to release her from the demands of Ladymead while the repairs were being carried out. Maybe he thought she was going to sit at Belvedere all day sewing a fine seam or however that stupid phrase went! What did he think that she was planning to do with herself all day? Ever since she’d left uni, she had been running Ladymead, taking care of the accounts, keeping everyone happy, dealing with every little problem.
But maybe that phase of her life was over now that she had Gianni, Belvedere and his other homes to consider, she reflected uncertainly. Was that possible? Did she need to do a rethink about her life too? How dared he speak to her like that though! Yes, she knew very well that he was financing all the work, but he hadn’t had to throw it in her face like that, had he? She could have said in much the same vein, ‘Yes, I know you’re paying for it. Isn’t that why I married you?’
Ironically, Gianni would have hit the roof at that taunt. It wasn’t something he ever mentioned. He had pretty much bought her with Ladymead, but he didn’t like to be reminded of that hard fact. It seemed that he now wanted her to be the woman of leisure he assumed would suit his needs best, always available, always on call, as easy as his past undemanding lovers, there for him the instant he snapped his fingers. Her even white teeth gritted and she said a very unladylike word under her breath.
And now she was stuck with Fiona, whether she liked it or not! Fiona, who was like his sister, she reminded herself grimly. Well, he had accepted her family and she had to accept his, even if Fiona was only an honorary member. She tackled her scrambled egg and fresh toast with a murmur of thanks and a lack of appetite she concealed. Being at odds with Gianni stressed her out. Had she been unreasonable? She called Sybil for a second opinion and Sybil’s annoyance at being summarily replaced without warning reassured her as to her own wounded feelings.
‘Gianni thought he was doing me a favour. He seemed to be expecting us all to be delighted,’ Jo proffered apologetically.
‘And a woman you’ve never met being installed in a house at the foot of your driveway? What on earth was he thinking?’ her great-aunt fumed on her niece’s behalf.
‘The truth is that he doesn’t think a lot about things from my point of view.’ Jo sighed, deciding not to mention the prearranged coffee date, news of which would probably send Sybil into orbit. Talk about Gianni being high-handed! Taking over? Moving her around on his own mental chessboard as if she had no will or wishes of her own and no other life. He was utterly ignoring the truth that she liked to be busy and active as much as he did.
‘He needs to learn to communicate...and fast.’
‘Agreed. It’s quite challenging.’
‘His father is too, although if you give Federico a good dressing-down, he does eventually get the message,’ Sybil informed her tellingly.
‘I thought I had you to thank for that apology of his,’ Jo admitted with sudden amusement. ‘He was very embarrassed. He’s getting rather more human than he used to be. Are you seeing him socially? I don’t like to ask if you’redating.’
‘Good heavens, no!’ Sybil gasped. ‘He’s trying but he’s not there yet, particularly with that stupid stunt he pulled with you and Gianni when he crashed your honeymoon! He’ll have to up his game a lot before I give him another chance.’
But Federico Renzetti obviously went for strong women, Jo reflected thoughtfully as she went upstairs to go through her wardrobe, trying to pick an outfit that would do for a visit to her doctor and, afterwards, the coffee date with Fiona. Dress up, she decided, unable to imagine Gianni having such high regard for a woman who wasn’t elegant, at the very least. She donned a lightweight pair of trousers and a matching top in a light summery print.
Her doctor confirmed her pregnancy and wished her well, sending her off with a prescription for vitamins and a lot of useful advice. Jo walked into the coffee shop and ordered tea, instead of her usual coffee, and took a seat at a table in the window.
A woman pulled up outside in a sports car. She was eye-catching with her mane of black curls tumbling down to her slim shoulders, perfect long tanned legs displayed in a short white skirt and a clinging white sleeveless top that hugged her curves. She strolled into the coffee shop, snapped her fingers at the startled barista and ordered an espresso. Every eye was on her because she looked like a celebrity. Her sunglasses were on top of her head, her sheer confidence showed, and she was, not to put too fine a point on it, gorgeous. She had big sparkling dark eyes, a glowing complexion and luscious red-tinted lips.
‘You’re Jo. I saw the wedding photo online. I’m Fiona Myles. You must have some courage taking on Gianni,’ she remarked with a mocking smile as she approached Jo’s table.
‘You think so?’ Jo laughed, thinking that that wasn’t the nicest way to greet a new acquaintance.
‘Iknowso,’ Fiona replied seriously. ‘He doesn’t wear monogamy well.’
Jo shrugged, not knowing quite how to answer that leading comment. ‘That hasn’t been my experience.’
‘Initially I was simply so shocked that Gianni had gotmarried,’ Fiona admitted in a tone of disbelief.
‘You’re not alone,’ Jo said lightly.
As the obedient barista delivered Fiona’s coffee to the table, she smiled and thanked her. ‘I can’t wait to see Ladymead. I adore old houses,’ she declared.
‘Would you like an official tour tomorrow morning...about ten?’ Jo asked cheerfully.
‘That would be good. I want to get started asap,’ Fiona told her. ‘Gianni has never been patient. In fact, in all the years that I’ve known him, I’ve realised that when he wants something done, he wants it done yesterday. Some people don’t understand that about him.’
And once again, Jo ignored the challenge, the underwritten hint that Fiona knew Gianni far better than Jo ever could. ‘Are you comfortable in the gate lodge?’
‘Very,’ Fiona assured her as she hefted a fat file onto the table and thrust it across to Jo. ‘My most recent commissions. Now, tell me about the repairs that are ongoing.’
Jo was happy to do so while warning that her grandmother and her sisters were planning to move back in as soon as the electric was back on.
‘I’ll advise them to stay where they are,’ Fiona responded. ‘It’s not a good idea to try living on a work site and it could even be dangerous.’
‘I agree,’ Jo said. ‘But my relatives are stubborn.’