Page 39 of Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child
‘Nor were we lovers,’ Carlotta said. ‘Ah, I can see from your expression that’s what you thought. But we were never more than friends.’
Carys remained silent. ‘Friends’ was often a euphemism for something more. Was Carlotta trying to gull her? What reason could she have?
‘You must believe me, signorina—’
‘Carys,’ she said abruptly. Formality seemed absurd now.
‘Carys.’ Carlotta gave her a faltering smile. ‘There was no marriage plan, except as a notion put forward between our families. Alessandro’s stepmother and my father resurrected the idea. It had been discussed years ago when we were just teenagers, but it never came to anything. Alessandro and I…’ She shrugged. ‘We grew up together, but there was never that special spark between us. You know?’
Carys knew. The spark Alessandro ignited in her had blazed like wildfire, instantaneous and all-consuming, incinerating everything in its path. Her doubts, her natural reticence, every defence she had. Oh, but it had been glorious. Heat drenched her chilled body, just remembering.
She looked into the other woman’s earnest face. Could it really be true?
‘But Livia told me…’
Carlotta nodded. ‘Livia promoted the match. She and my family thought a marriage would be in all our interests.’
Something about her diffident tone caught Carys’ attention. ‘Interests?’
The other woman shrugged one shoulder. ‘Business. You know how bad things were after Alessandro’s father died. It was touch and go whether Alessandro would lose the company.’
No. Carys hadn’t known. She’d guessed things were grim. Had tried to offer support, but the more she’d tried the more he’d turned from her, isolating himself.
‘There was talk of a merger, saving Alessandro’s company and boosting my family’s.’ She paused and looked down at her hands. ‘Plus I’d been through a difficult time and they thought marriage to Alessandro would save me from myself.’
‘I’m sorry. I don’t understand.’ This was beyond Carys.
Carlotta raised her head and met her gaze squarely. ‘I was recovering from anorexia nervosa.’ Her liquid dark eyes dared Carys to condemn her, but Carys felt only horror that anyone, much less this beautiful woman, should be struck down by the insidious condition.
‘Two years ago I was barely out of hospital. With my family’s help, and with Alessandro’s, I was just beginning to find my confidence. To go out and even think of starting work again.’ She shook her head. ‘It took Alessandro’s strength and persistence to force me out into society. Even at that worst of times for him, he found time to help me. If it hadn’t been for him beside me those first few times, even my parents’ support wouldn’t have got me out the door.’
‘I saw you with him,’ Carys found herself saying, ‘at a hotel in town. You wore full-length gold. You looked like a fairy princess.’ And Carys had never felt more an outsider, standing in the shadows looking in at the glittering world she’d never be part of. At the man she’d lost.
‘I remember that night.’ Carlotta nodded. ‘The gown had to be altered so much. But the full length and long sleeves hid the worst of my condition.’
‘I’d never have guessed. You were breathtaking.’ Carys sank back in her chair, her head reeling as she digested Carlotta’s news.
Was that why Alessandro had seemed so protective? Because he was worried about Carlotta’s health? But why had he never said anything to Carys?
‘You don’t believe me.’
Carys looked up to find Carlotta watching her. ‘I do. I just…Livia deliberately let me believe…’The older woman had told her baldly that Alessandro was engaged to marry someone of his own social circle. That he was simply with Carys as a final fling before settling down. She’d even dropped by unannounced with a box of printers’ samples for him. It had been full of wedding invitations.
‘Livia wanted the marriage quite badly. At one stage it looked as if the company might go under. Which, if you forgive me saying, would impact on her own wealth.’
Livia as a desperate woman? The idea hadn’t occurred to Carys. She seemed so assured, so regal, so in control. But perhaps if her position was threatened…
‘I heard about the engagement elsewhere too,’ Carys said slowly. At the time the evidence seemed insurmountable, especially when Alessandro had refused to explain, merely stating baldly he would never behave so badly and accusing her of infidelity! ‘I met your cousin, Stefano Manzoni.’
