Page 40 of Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child
‘You know Stefano?’
‘Not know, precisely. He took me for coffee and drove me home.’ Carys refrained from adding Stefano had viewed her disillusionment with Alessandro as an invitation to sexual dalliance. For all his charm and flattery he’d had more arms than an octopus.
‘Ah, Stefano had hopes of that merger. When it became clear it wouldn’t happen, he spent a lot of energy aiming for a hostile takeover. But he didn’t succeed. He was no match for Alessandro.’
The pride in Carlotta’s voice made Carys watch her carefully, but she read no sign of possessiveness. No hint of intimacy in the way she spoke of Alessandro.
‘I’m sorry my friendship with Alessandro hurt you. If I’d known—’
‘It wasn’t you.’ Carys leaned forward at the other woman’s obvious distress, instinctively accepting what she said as true. It was far more likely that Livia, jealous of her position and eager to shore up the family wealth, had gone all out to scare off an upstart foreigner.
And how little effort it had taken! Carys had been her own worst enemy, only too ready to believe her. The knowledge made her stomach churn in self-disgust and regret.
Alessandro had grown unapproachable, shunning her attempts to comfort him, but if Carlotta was right, he’d never betrayed Carys!
Excitement buzzed through her veins. A crazy delight that he had been loyal to her, though he hadn’t loved her. That meant so much.
It meant that though all personal feelings were at an end between them, Carys was marrying a man she could respect.
‘But now everything is right between you both,’ Carlotta said with such a sweet smile Carys didn’t have the heart to disabuse her. ‘I’m glad. Alessandro deserves happiness.’ She stood, and for the first time Carys noticed the large portfolio resting against her chair. ‘And now perhaps we can discuss your gown. I have ideas I hope you’ll approve.’
Alessandro replaced the phone with careful precision, a scowl dragging at his brow. The sound of Livia, so rarely flustered, still gabbling her excuses, rang in his ears.
He wasn’t in the mood for excuses.
While in Australia he’d been unable to contact his stepmother in person. Frustration had built with each passing day till he’d simply left news that he was bringing home his fiancée and requesting she start the wedding preparations.
It still galled him to discover he’d lived with Carys Wells prior to his accident but hadn’t been told about her after his coma. That Livia had kept it from him and told his staff not to refer to the woman who’d been his lover.
As if he needed protecting from his past!
He shot to his feet and paced the room.
Livia’s explanations didn’t alleviate his thwarted fury at being kept in the dark. It didn’t matter that Livia thought Carys on the make, out to snare a wealthy man. Or that Carys had already walked out of his life. Or even that the doctors had said it was best if he were left to recover his memory without prompting.
He should have been told.
Livia’s talk of a possible match at the time with Carlotta meant nothing. Alessandro knew without being told what had prompted that—Livia searching for an easy way to shore up the family finances. As if he and Carlotta would ever make a match of it. And, more to the point, as if he’d abrogate his responsibility to salvage the company by buying his way out of trouble with his wife’s money!
He rubbed his jaw, realising he now had an explanation for Carys’ belief he’d two-timed her with Carlotta. Livia had no doubt blown their friendship out of all proportion.
For a moment he considered enlightening Carys, proving he was innocent of her accusations. But she wouldn’t believe him. The distrust flashing in her eyes was too easy to read.
He turned and strode back across the room, unable to ignore any longer Livia’s most important revelation.
She’d hinted the affair had been a casual fling, because he’d kept Carys to himself and refused social invitations.
But that only stirred his curiosity. There had been plenty of lovers in his life, yet he’d never been reluctant to take them out publicly. That was one of the functions they performed— company at the many social events he attended.
His skin prickled with preternatural awareness as he remembered Livia saying while Carys was in residence he’d shunned the social whirl, preferring to stay home with his lover. Such behaviour was unprecedented.
And the only reason he could fathom was unthinkable.
That he’d been totally absorbed by her, unwilling to share her with others.
His ability to fixate on what interested him had been one of the keys to his business success. And though he hid it well, his possessive streak was well developed. He hadn’t liked to share his toys as a child, and as an adult what he had he held on to.
