The Tuscan Tycoon's Wife

Leo switched on the bedside light and saw the heap separate itself into its various parts, which included a blanket, a pillow, and one tomfool female whose red hair stood up on her head in a shock.

‘What is it?’ she asked, sitting up. ‘Has something happened?’

‘No, Paulie and I were concerned for you, so we came to see how you were.’

‘That’s very kind,’ she said, guessing the truth at once. ‘I’m fine.’

‘She’s fine, Paulie. You can go to bed now, and sleep tight.’ Leo sat down on the floor beside Selena with the air of a man taking root.

‘Er—well, I just—’

‘Goodnight, Paulie.’ They spoke as one.

Forced to accept defeat, Paulie backed himself out of the door. The last thing they saw was his scowl.

‘I could have coped, you know,’ Selena said.

‘When you’re well, I’m sure you could,’ Leo said tactfully. ‘But let’s wait until then. Underneath Paulie’s flabby exterior there’s a very ugly customer waiting to get out.’

‘I reckoned that. But that’s three times in one day you’ve come galloping to my rescue. I just don’t want you to think I’m a wimp.’

‘After the day you’ve had, aren’t you entitled to be just a bit of a wimp?’

‘Nobody is entitled to be a wimp.’

‘Sorry!’

‘No, I’m sorry,’ she said contritely. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude. I know you were trying to be kind, but all this rescuing is getting to be a bad habit.’

‘I promise not to do it again. Next time I’ll abandon you to your fate, I swear.’

‘Do that.’

‘Are you all right on the floor?’

‘I put up with the bed as long as I could,’ she complained, ‘but it’s insane. Every time I turned over I went six feet in the air. This is much better.’

‘I’d better leave before I fall asleep.’ Suddenly he found himself vague. ‘Where am I? Is the party over?’

‘Must be.’ She smiled, fully understanding. ‘Was the whisky very good?’

‘Barton’s whisky is always good. And I should know. I had plenty of it.’

‘Shall I help you back to your room?’

‘I think I can make it. Lock your door when I’m gone. I wouldn’t put it past Delia’s little boy to try again.’

But then he remembered that the door it didn’t lock. He sighed. There was only one thing for it.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked as he returned to the bed and scooped up a blanket and pillow.

‘What does it look as if I’m doing?’ he said, dropping to the floor and stretching out across the door. ‘If he can open this door now he’s a better man than I take him for.’

‘You promised to leave me to my fate next time,’ she reminded him indignantly.

‘I know, but you can’t trust a word I say.’

Blessed sleep was overtaking him. His last coherent thought was that he’d be made to suffer for this in the morning.

But at least she would be safe.

He awoke feeling better than he had any right to after what he recalled of the barbecue. Already he could sense the house stirring about him, and reckoned it was safe to leave her.

It was better to be gone before she awoke. He wouldn’t have known what to say to her. Inside him he was jeering at himself for going into what he ironically called ‘chivalrous mode’.