Lucy Gordon - The Venetian Playboy’s Bride

‘What do you mean?’

‘Guido’s romancing a new woman,’ Marco said. ‘It’s the talk of Venice that he’s spent all this last week with her, even taking days off work. When does Guido ever neglect his business? I tell you uncle, it’s serious.’

‘Why the devil didn’t you tell me this before?’

‘It seemed safer to get the evening over first,’ Leo said.

‘Is anything known about this woman?’ Francesco demanded, in alarm.

‘Only that he met her while he was rowing.’

Francesco snorted. ‘A tourist, looking for a holiday romance, ready to disport herself with the first gondolier she meets. Lady Dulcie is a woman of class, and he neglects her for a floozie! Is he crazy?’

‘He’s a Calvani,’ Leo observed.

The moon was high in the sky as Dulcie sat watching the Grand Canal drift by her. Venice was gently closing down for the night. The little waterside bars were emptying, and lights were going off. Now and then she could see a couple wandering by the water, arms entwined, then vanish into a calle, swallowed up by darkness the moment before their lips touched. A few gondolas were still drifting past, seeming to move from shadow to shadow. Every one of them seemed to contain lovers embracing, oblivious to the gondolier who grinned and looked over their heads. He’d seen so many lovers before.

But as far as Dulcie could see none of them was the man she was seeking, and she sighed, wondering what he was doing right now, what had kept him from her tonight, and how soon must she say goodbye to him? Perhaps he would call to say how much he’d missed her, and must see her. There might even be a message for her in the hotel.

She controlled her impatience, hurrying to the suite and fumbling with the key in her eagerness. But when she called the desk there were no messages. Dispiritedly she sat and stared at the telephone.

Suddenly she realised that she wasn’t alone. There was a noise from the second bedroom, and the next moment the door opened.

‘Jenny!’ Dulcie exclaimed.

‘Hello!’ The young girl threw her arms about Dulcie in an eager greeting. ‘It’s so lovely to see you.’

‘But what are you-I mean, I didn’t know you were coming.’

‘Dad said he thought we might enjoy a little vacation together. That’s why he booked this suite, so that there’d be room for both of us.’

‘Did he say why I was here?’

‘Only that you were doing some market research for him. I know he’s always expanding his business.’

It didn’t seem to occur to Jenny to be suspicious, but then, Dulcie realised, she knew nothing about her work, and so there was no reason for her to think the worst. Yet Dulcie had a terrible feeling that things were going badly wrong.

‘You look gorgeous,’ Jenny said, surveying the evening dress. ‘Oh, Dulcie, is it a man?’

‘I’ve had dinner with three men, and none of them the one I wanted,’ she said distractedly. ‘Now I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.’

‘Three is too many,’ Jenny said wisely. ‘One is better, if it’s the one you want. Oh, Dulcie, I’m so blissfully, blissfully happy. It was wonderful to see him again.’

Dulcie tensed. ‘What was that?’

‘When I arrived I called Fede straight away, from the airport, and he came to collect me, and we kissed and kissed. He said he’d missed me so much and then-’

‘Wait a minute,’ Dulcie said, trying to ignore the cold hand that clutched at her stomach. ‘You’ve been with Fede this evening?’

‘But of course. Who else? He didn’t think he could make it at first-’

‘But no doubt he changed his arrangements,’ Dulcie said, her eyes kindling.

‘I suppose so. I didn’t ask. What does anything matter beside the fact that we’re together?’

So that was where he’d been tonight, Dulcie seethed inwardly. He was playing fast and loose with the pair of them. And to think she’d been trying to see the best in him!

‘Where are you going?’ Jenny called as Dulcie strode to the door.

‘Anywhere!’ she flung over her shoulder.

As soon as she was out of the hotel she plunged into the maze of little dark streets. She didn’t look where she was going. She didn’t care. Jenny’s innocent words had ripped the lid off the pretence that had sustained her for days. She’d read herself lectures about being on her guard, being professional, never quite trusting him. And all the time she’d been slipping under the oldest spell in the world.

It was dark in the calles. With only one light halfway along each one it was easy to stay out of sight, so she flattened herself against a wall, and stayed there as couples drifted past in the gloom, heard rather than seen, their voices low and full of emotion, fading into silence.

The city of lovers…

And she’d tumbled into its trap like a green girl who knew no better. Forewarned, forearmed, she’d still tumbled giddily into love while kidding herself that she was safe. Fool! Fool!

Serve me right, she thought defiantly. I’ll know better next time.

But there couldn’t be a next time, not quite like this. There might be other relationships, but never again would she feel the happiness and safety that had been like a blessing while he tended her. All an illusion. That was what hurt the most.

She moved further into the shadows, wondering if she would ever see a way out.

From his vantage point at a little bar across the Grand Canal Guido was able to watch Dulcie’s departure. He leaned his arms on a rail as she went past in the boat, thinking how tragic it was to be so near and yet so far.

He allowed half an hour for safety before returning home, even managing to whistle as he entered, only slightly out of tune.

So far, so good, but had his cover been blown? Liza had promised to ‘lose’ the key to the cabinet where the albums were housed, but suppose his uncle had a spare and had managed to take out the family snaps? There would be his face for Dulcie to recognise. Then she would have said-and Uncle Francesco would have replied-and there would have been a row-Leo and Marco would have roared with laughter-and now here he was heading for another row.

He considered emigrating. A snake-infested swamp might be nice. Or anywhere that was a long way away.

‘There you are, you villain!’

The voice echoed down the long marble hall, followed by Francesco with a face like thunder, then Leo and Marco, determined not to miss the fun.

‘Uncle, I can explain-’ That was safely vague when you weren’t quite sure what you were supposed to be explaining.

‘Certainly you should explain, not to me but to that charming young lady. The way you’ve treated her is abominable.’

‘That-depends on how you look at it,’ Guido said, carefully feeling his way.

‘That any nephew of mine-’ Francesco broke off, fulminating, leaving Guido as much in the dark as ever. ‘Get yourself in here.’ He indicated his study which struck Guido as ominous.

The study was unrevealing. Wine glasses stood about, suggesting that everyone had spent some time in here, but the count took up his position in front of the cabinet, hiding the contents.

‘She’s a lady, do you realise that?’ the count boomed. ‘And you’ve behaved as though she were no more than-well, I don’t know what to say!’

I wish you’d say a lot more, Guido thought. Then I might get a clue.

‘She was charming about it,’ Francesco went on. ‘Oh, yes! Breeding tells, although she probably wants to hang you from the highest lamppost after what happened tonight.’

‘What-exactly-happened tonight?’ Guido asked.

‘You ask me that?’

‘Yes, I did actually. And you two-’ Guido whirled on Leo and Marco ‘-can stop grinning or I’ll have your hides.’

Had she seen the pictures or hadn’t she? If he didn’t find out soon he’d have a nervous breakdown.

‘Scusi signori.’ Liza had glided in like a ghost and began gathering wine glasses. Moving directly in front of Guido she gave him a brief thumbs up sign. He relaxed, but only a little.

‘I’m sorry about tonight but something came up,’ he said. ‘And if, as you say, she was charming about it-’

‘Lady Dulcie,’ Francesco said with awful dignity, ‘was naturally very disappointed not to have met you. She particularly asked me to tell you that.’

‘Did she?’

‘I also assured her that you would be at the masked ball, and she said how much she looked forward to meeting you there. She stressed that this meeting meant a great deal to her.’

In his eagerness to bring Dulcie and Guido together the count was gilding the lily, giving Dulcie’s polite words a meaning they were never meant to bear. To Guido, his nerves already jangling, they sounded ominous. Clearly Dulcie had discovered the truth, but instead of denouncing him she was keeping her wrath for their next meeting. This was her message to announce the approach of doom.

‘Er-I think perhaps-excuse me, Uncle, something else has come up.’

He got out as fast as he could.

IT WAS a mile to the Vittorio if you knew the backstreets well. Guido dodged and dived, taking a short cut that led through the house of a friend called Enrico, pilfered a glass of Enrico’s wine and a kiss from Enrico’s wife, before vanishing, calling his thanks over his shoulder.

A few minutes short of the hotel he found himself beside a small canal. Hurrying along, he nearly collided with a woman coming the other way.

‘I’m so sorry-Dulcie! I-’

But her face told him the worst, and her words confirmed it.

‘You are the lowest of the low,’ she flung at him.

‘If I could just explain-’

‘What is there to explain? Only that you’re a devious rat, and that I know already.’

‘Dio mio! You did see them.’

‘See what?’

He tore his hair. ‘I wouldn’t have had this happen for the world-’

‘Then why do it? Oh, of course, you meant being found out. I suppose you thought I’d never discover the truth about you-’

‘I was going to tell you myself, I swear I was.’

‘And that was going to make it all right?’

‘Of course not but-if I could make you understand how it came about. It was an accident. I know I should have told you everything from the start, but does it really matter so much. Just one tiny little deception-’

‘One tiny little-? I don’t believe you said that. I should have known when you stood me up tonight, giving a very fishy excuse, in fact no excuse at all. Something came up! Surely you could have managed something better than that?’

‘I couldn’t think of anything,’ he admitted. ‘But now you know, can’t we start again?’

‘Am I hearing things? Even you couldn’t be so devious and unscrupulous-’

‘Cara, please, I know I don’t measure up to your high standards, but I will. I swear I will. Did I really do something so terrible?’

‘If you have to ask that you wouldn’t understand the answer. There’s no point in talking any more. Goodnight, and goodbye.’

‘You mustn’t leave now. Stay and listen to me.’ In his eagerness he took hold of her shoulders.

‘I don’t want to stay, and please let go of me.’

‘I can’t just let you go.’

‘You can’t do anything else. Take your hands off me.’

‘Just another few minutes,’ he begged.

‘What kind of fool do you take me for? Let go.’

She tried to thrust her way past him, but he dropped his hands to her waist and drew her close.

‘I’ll let go,’ he said firmly, ‘when I’ve explained this.’

She tried to escape. This kind of ‘explanation’ was too dangerous. But his lips were unexpectedly fierce on hers. He was kissing her like a man whose life depended on it, as if he feared he might never get the chance again, and there was a forcefulness in his lips and his arms that thrilled her even while she fought to stay aloof.

She could feel the treacherous excitement creeping through her. Her heart and sensations cared nothing for the warnings of her head. They wanted him, wanted what was happening now, wanted it to continue…

‘Let me go,’ she gasped, managing to free her mouth.

‘I can’t do that,’ he said, also gasping. ‘I daren’t in case I never find you again. I won’t risk that.’

‘You’ve already lost me. I was never yours in the first place-’

He silenced her in the only way possible. It wasn’t fair, she thought wildly. She’d fought this temptation since the moment she’d met him, and now he was forcing her to feel it when he’d just come from Jenny.

The thought of Jenny gave her the courage she craved. Putting out all her strength she managed to free herself. He took a step back, fighting to keep his balance while she fended him off. Neither of them realised they were standing so close to the water until he toppled in with a yell and an almighty splash.