Diamonds are Forever: The Royal Marriage Arrangement / The Diamond Bride / The Diamond Dad

Her surroundings …

She paused midway to the north portico at the rear of the sprawling Renaissance palace. It was perched on the lower part of a steep hillside. In the late-morning sun the ornate, three-story structure gleamed like a dazzling white jewel against a backdrop of an impossibly blue sea and sky.

Her gaze lifted to the stunning flag with a white cross on a red field designating the House of Savoy. Below it was a flag with a crown and shield of the reigning Vittorio family coat-of-arms. She’d seen the same insignia emblazoned on the jet’s exterior.

Everywhere her eyes traveled she discovered fruit and palm trees. Flower gardens with too many varieties to name dotted the fluid carpet of velvety green. The marvelous scent of roses mixed with lemon and orange filled her lungs.

Southern California had its share of fabulous estates, but nothing she’d ever seen came close to this. Regina walked back to her. “It’s breathtaking to me, too, and I’ve lived here all my life.”

“No ordinary gardener created this paradise. It’s been done by a master planner. I’m staggered by so much beauty.”

Regina’s heart-shaped mouth curved into a smile that lit her warm brown eyes. “I’ll tell Dizo what you said.”

“Who’s that?”

“His real name is Dinozzo. He’s the oldest son of Guido Fornese, the head gardener, but between you and me Dizo is the genius. I’d never say that to anyone else because I wouldn’t want to hurt Guido’s feelings.”

“I’ll never tell,” Alex assured her.

The younger woman stared at her. “You’re nice.”

“So are you, Regina.” She had a sweetness in her. Though they were only a year apart in age, their life’s experience had been so different Alex felt much older.

“Wait till you see the view of the front from your bedroom balcony.”

Alex put a hand to her breast. “Do you think my heart can take it?” she teased to cover her emotions spilling all over the place.

In that lovely face raised to her she saw traces of the charismatic man who’d cast a spell over her. Otherwise why would she be standing in this Garden of Eden instead of a cubicle on the studio lot in Culver City building a nose for Cyrano de Bergerac.

Gentle laughter broke from Regina. “I’m still alive if that means anything.”

“It means a lot.”

“There’s another reason why Lucca wants you in the blue suite.”

“What is that?” Alex asked quietly.

“I’d better not tell. You’ll find out soon enough.” The comment made her feel giddy with curiosity. “Come on, before he gets after me for not taking the proper care of you.”

The palace had a staff of a small army of people, two of whom opened the doors for her and Regina. Alex stepped onto a checkerboard floor of deep rose and white marble. Across the grand foyer rose an exquisitely carved marble staircase. The walls and niches were filled with statuary and gold-framed paintings of immense size.

When Regina noticed Alex’s interest in everything, she said, “The core of the present palazzo dates from 1467 and was originally the town residence of an ambitious Capriccio banker. The ruling family of the House of Savoy liked the location and bought it in 1498. The families that came after began to build on to it, filling it with great treasures until it looks the way it does today.”

“You’re surrounded by history,” Alex marveled. “The palace is absolutely beautiful inside and out.”

“I think so, too. Some of the most precious items have been moved to the museum so visitors can see them.” They started up the stairs to the second floor.

“Lucca told me the family jewels are kept there.”

“Yes, including the Ligurian diamond. Did you happen to see it on display in New York?”

“Only a glimpse, but during the flight here he let me hold it up to the light so I could see into its heart,” she explained as they curved around to the next story.

Regina paused on the top step to study her for a moment. Alex had no way of deciphering the other woman’s thoughts before following her down the spacious corridor. Everywhere she looked the ceilings and walls were a masterpiece of frescoes and gilt cornices forming frames around them.

When Regina opened the double doors halfway down the east wing, Alex let out a cry of delight. The large apartment with its ornate white woodwork was a vision of blue and white stripes against a smaller blue-and-white pattern on the walls.

Through one set of double doors was a den with a computer and every possible accoutrement for her comfort.

“Lucca will have ordered a lunch tray for you. He wants you to relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you for everything, Regina.”

“You’re welcome. If you need anything, pick up the phone and dial 1 for housekeeping. Dial 2 for Lucca, 3 for me and 0 for an outside line. Talk to you later.”

Dial 2 for Lucca …

Regina shut the doors behind her, leaving Alex, who was charmed by her new world. A fabulous blue-and-white Persian rug covered the gleaming white, marble floors of the sitting room. She walked across it to the bedroom. Alex saw that her suitcase had already been placed at the end of the king-size bed. At the opposite end of the room was a fireplace framed by hand-painted blue-and-white tiles. Exquisite.

Tall French doors had been opened to reveal Capriccio’s curved bay with its myriad of yachts. Drawn to the balcony, she looked down on the terraced grounds where she saw a long, blue rectangular pool graced by ornamental flowering trees and statuary. Exotic plants delineated the borders of each terrace. Steps led down to the private beach. Between the view and the warm, sweetly scented air, the whole ambience was out of a dream and left her speechless.

“After your fright on the helicopter, I didn’t think you’d make it any further than the bed.”

Lucca’s deep male voice jarred her out of her trance. She turned around but couldn’t see him.

“Look up.”

Surprised, she lifted her head and discovered him staring down at her from a balcony on the third floor, one suite over.

“I put you in there so I could keep an eye on you without an audience.”

She assumed he meant the bodyguards. Minus his suit jacket, he was leaning on his forearms, giving her the impression he’d been out there for several minutes and was happy to be home after being away so long. Knowing there were no secrets between the two of them had to make this the supreme moment of his life.

Alex wished she could feel happier about it. “I thought you’d be with your parents.”

“I spoke to them from the plane. They’re expecting me at five this evening after Papa’s nap.”

“So they still don’t know about me?”

“No. I’ll come for you at ten to five. We’ll make our entrance together. In the meantime I have business I must attend to. Enjoy your meal. It happens to be one of my favorites.”

Alex couldn’t fault him for anything.

As he turned away, she glimpsed the play of muscle in those masculine shoulders covered by his silk shirt. His well-honed physique was proof he kept fit. Not wanting to think where his personal business might take him this afternoon, she went back inside the apartment to eat. One of the maids had set the tray on the oval table in the sitting room.

Though the scallops and pasta were delicious, she ate with little enthusiasm, leaving most of it to start making phone calls home. Michelle was her first priority. Alex glanced at her watch. Her boss would be up and getting ready for work by now. Once she arrived on the lot, pure chaos reigned. Now would be the best time to catch her.

Alex hadn’t been looking forward to telling her she wouldn’t be coming back to work. For the moment all she would say was that while she was in New York, she realized she needed a complete break from her life in California. For the time being she was looking into attending medical school and would get in touch with her when her plans solidified.