Page 33 of Unveiled As The Italian's Bride
‘We don’t need to go over the money thing,’ Kate mumbled. ‘It’s all perfectly fine. If you could tell me what sort of things I need to...er...do before the wedding.’
‘What sort of things?’
She sighed. ‘Normally a wedding is a big deal. The mother of the bride gets involved. Flowers need to be chosen, menus tasted and bridesmaids’ dresses picked out.’ Her breath caught in her throat and she looked away hurriedly. That was not going to be on the cards for her.
‘I understand.’ Dante flushed.
‘What was it like first time round for you?’
‘Come again?’
‘Luciana... It must have been splendid.’
‘It was a—a noteworthy event in the calendar for many important and influential people in Italy,’ Dante said roughly. ‘But that’s by the by. Unless you have a particular wish to get involved in the detail, there will be a team of professionals more than capable of handling it all. Naturally, should you have any preferences with regard to flowers or decoration...’
‘No.’ Kate lowered her eyes.
Dante hesitated. ‘Of course,’ he expanded a little awkwardly, ‘if your mother—your parents—would enjoy some contribution to the arrangements...?’
‘What?’
‘Your mother. You mentioned that there is usually involvement from the mother of the bride. I can tell you that Luciana’s mother was quite detached from the arrangements for my previous wedding. It was all left satisfactorily to the army of people employed to ensure the smooth running of the event. But, naturally, in this instance—’
‘No!’
Kate gulped down a fortifying mouthful of her wine and stared at him with alarm.
Dante’s eyebrows shot up, to which she offered a weak smile in return.
‘I’m not following you. Why the extreme reaction?’ He frowned. ‘Anything you feel I ought to know?’
‘Anything, like what?’
‘Your parents—is there a problem with them travelling here for the wedding?’
‘They won’t be coming, I’m afraid.’
‘Why would that be?’
‘Because...’ She drew those two syllables out until she ran out of breath while Dante looked at her in expectant silence. ‘Okay. I haven’t told them.’
‘You haven’ttoldthem?’
‘I... I didn’t really see the point.’
‘No point...’
‘It’s not as though it’s the real thing.’ Kate rushed into hurried speech. ‘And they would be disappointed.’
‘Disappointed?’
‘I honestly don’t want to talk about this.’
‘I’m sorry but I do.’ He looked at her in silence and then said, in the voice of someone making up his mind, ‘Indeed, I insist upon it. Arrangement this may very well be, but I don’t believe in a cloak-and-dagger approach. I would also like to meet your parents.’
‘No!’
‘Why not? Are you ashamed of them? Of me?’
