Lucy Gordon - A Proposal From The Italian Count

Vittorio nodded. ‘Yes I remember Papà saying something like that—I gather they had quite a few adventures together whilst he was there.’

‘Daddy said things like that too. He had such a lovely time with his Italian friend. Only then—’ She checked herself.

‘Then?’ Vittorio said tensely. He had an uneasy feeling that he knew what was coming.

‘Then suddenly it was all over. One day they were close buddies—the next day his friend disappeared. He left a note but it didn’t say much. Just Goodbye my friend. Franco’. No address, nothing. Daddy couldn’t contact him and he never heard from him again. It left him very unhappy after what they’d been to each other.’

‘He told you that? Didn’t he tell you any more about who the man was?’

‘No, just that his name was Franco. If he’d known more he’d have told me, I’m sure. Maybe your father never let him know that he was a count?’

‘Maybe...’ he murmured.

Their eyes met, and what Jackie saw took her breath away. There was an intensity in his gaze as though nothing but herself existed in the world. It was something she’d never seen in any man’s eyes before, and she became suddenly conscious of the soft thump of her own heartbeat.

‘Jackie—’ Vittorio checked himself, unsure how to continue. This was taking more courage than he had anticipated.

‘What’s the matter?’ she asked. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine—but there’s something I must—’

She felt a sudden sense of brilliant illumination—as though the clouds had parted on a rainy day. She’d hardly dared to hope that the vibrant attraction that possessed her possessed him too, but now she let herself wonder if perhaps it did.

A memory returned to her. That astrology prediction had said, The fates are planning a startling new beginning for you. The sun in Jupiter will bring things you never anticipated, and decisions that will change your life.

It was happening. This was the great moment that fate had planned for her. Now surely he would tell her how their meeting had affected his heart, and that was something her own heart longed to know.

She clasped his hand between hers.

‘Whatever you have to say, I know I’ll like it,’ she breathed. ‘We’ve understood each other from the first moment, and—’

‘Yes...’ he murmured. ‘Yes—yes—’

He knew the next few minutes would be tense, but something in her seemed to reach out to him, drawing him into a circle of warmth such as he’d never known before. It was what he needed most in all the world, and he knew a moment of fear lest his revelation ruin things between them.

He raised her hands and brushed his lips against them. ‘I hope so much that you’re right,’ he said. ‘But you can’t imagine—’

‘I think I can. Daddy always said you had to be ready for the unexpected.’ She met his eyes, her own full of happiness and hope. ‘And I’m ready for anything. Say it, Vittorio, and you might like my answer.’

He drew a sharp breath. Now the moment had come when he must find the courage to tell her everything.

But the sight of her eyes shining up at him caused his courage to fail. Suddenly he could see how that light would fade when she knew the terrible truth behind her father’s suffering. The thought of her pain made him shudder, and he knew he could not force himself to speak.

‘I have to go,’ he said uneasily.

‘What? But—’

‘I’m expecting an important phone call. I have to get back to the hotel.’

He rose to his feet and she followed him reluctantly. Suddenly a moment filled with magic had dissolved into nothing, leaving her desolate.

As they walked back beside the river it began to drizzle.

‘Better get back quickly, before it really starts to rain,’ he said.

They hurried the rest of the way, until they reached the shop.

‘I’ll see you again soon,’ he said. ‘We’ll talk then. Take care of yourself.’

Then he fled, devoured by thoughts whose bitterness was aimed accusingly at himself. He was no better than a coward!

His own words came back to him.

You can never tell what fate has in store for you.

It was more true than he could have dreamed. His plan for this meeting had never included the desire to hold her, comfort her, protect her—do anything rather than hurt her. It had overtaken him without warning, reducing him to helplessness. And there was no turning back.

Inside the shop, Jackie hurried up the stairs and looked out of the window in time to see Vittorio vanish around the corner.

She sighed sadly. It was obvious what had happened. He’d been about to kiss her but had changed his mind at the last moment.

Did he want her or not? He had seemed to be trying to tell her something without words. Had she misunderstood him? But he had seemed on the verge of telling her something.

What could it possibly be?

She busied herself opening up the shop. Saturdays were always busy. But somehow she couldn’t get stop thinking about him. He was there in her mind, his eyes glowing with a look that made her heart beat faster.

* * *

Next day was Sunday, which meant the shop was closed. Fearful of missing her, Vittorio hurried there early. He’d lost his nerve the day before, but he couldn’t risk losing it again.

A window opened above him and a voice said coolly, ‘Good morning, Vittorio.’

Jackie was looking down at him.

‘Morning!’ he cried, smiling brightly. ‘Can you come down?’

‘I’m not sure—’

‘Please, Jackie, it’s important. We really have to talk.’

‘We could have talked yesterday.’

‘Please.’

‘All right. I’ll just be a moment.’

She hurried down, full of hope that her tense wait would be over. He seemed to have come close and then retreated, and now she couldn’t bear any more. It must be the dream she’d longed for. They had known each other such a little time, but what did time matter when their hearts reached out to each other?

Perhaps his feelings were stronger than he’d known before, which was why he feared expressing them. But she would open her arms and her heart to him and they would both know happiness.

As soon as she appeared downstairs he put his arm about her shoulders.

‘Let’s have some breakfast in the café. It’s nice and comfortable in there.’

‘And we can talk,’ she said eagerly.

When they were settled she waited for him to speak, but again he felt silent, as though attacked by doubt at the last moment. Her heart sank. Her hopes had risen so high. She couldn’t bear to lose them again.

‘Vittorio, please tell me,’ she said. ‘Whatever is on your mind I can tell it’s important.’

‘Yes, it is...’ he said hesitantly.

‘Then please be brave and say it. Are you afraid of what I’ll say?’

‘I might be,’ he said. ‘I don’t think you can imagine—’

She touched his face. ‘Tell me, Vittorio. Let’s get it out between us and then tell each other how we feel.’

‘Yes,’ he murmured. ‘You’re right. Do you remember—?’

‘Remember?’

‘How we talked about our fathers yesterday.’

‘Yes, I remember, but—’

‘I should have told you then. It’s a terrible story, Jackie, but I have to tell you. Your father once placed a bet that won a million pounds.’

‘But that can’t be true! He’d have told me—we’d never have been in the situation we found ourselves in if that had been the case.’

‘He didn’t know. My father and yours were out together one night. Your father got tipsy, and he was dozing when the results were announced. When he awoke my papà had taken the winnings and kept them.’

Jackie had a terrible feeling of having crash-landed. The words reeled in her head. Only one thing was clear.