The Rinuccis: Carlo, Ruggiero & Francesco: The Italian's Wife by Sunset

How unscrupulous could a man be?

‘So you be good,’ she said, in a voice that was shaking with laughter and passion. ‘Or I’ll get my rolling pin out.’

For answer, he seized her hands in his, raising them to his lips, kissing the backs, the palms, the fingers.

And everyone saw him do it.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SOL appeared in Della’s room the next morning, looking much the worse for wear.

‘Your mother’s in the shower,’ Carlo said, letting him in. ‘How did the rest of your evening go?’

‘Nuts to it. Myra just vanished. I didn’t even see her to say goodbye.’

Carlo kept a straight face. It was clear now that Myra had gone to the party hoping to snare a Rinucci, and had presumably struck gold. He made a mental note to call his brothers and ask a few carefully worded questions.

‘But the car brought you back here safely?’ he said, apparently sympathetic.

‘When I realised that you two had already left without me—’

‘We were being tactful,’ Carlo assured him. ‘After all, things might have worked out with Myra—or someone else—and then you wouldn’t have wanted us around. Coffee?’

Sol slid thankfully into a chair while Carlo filled a cup, then called Room Service and ordered another breakfast.

‘So, what’s the programme for today?’ Sol said, yawning. ‘I seem to be at a loose end now.’

‘My programme is to spend the day with your mother,’ Carlo said, speaking in an easy manner that didn’t quite hide his determination. ‘Just the two of us.’

Sol seemed to consider for a moment.

‘That was quite a show you and Mum put up last night,’ he mused.

‘Be very careful what you say,’ Carlo told him quietly.

‘Yes, but look—just how seriously can you—? Aw, c’mon, people think we’re almost the same age. How am I going to tell the world, “This is my dad”?’

‘You leave me to worry about that. If you give your mother any trouble, you’ll have me to deal with.’

‘What do you mean, trouble? I have a terrific relationship with her.’

‘Yes, you take, and she gives—and gives, and gives. I don’t entirely blame you for that. I was the same at your age, selfish and greedy, but I was luckier than you. I had a twin who was as jealous of me as I was of him, plus several older brothers ready to thump the nonsense out of both of us. There was also my father, to look out for my mother. Della’s had nobody—until now.’

But Sol was holding an ace, and he played it.

‘If you give me any trouble, you’ll have Mum to deal with,’ he said.

He spoke with a touch of defiance, but it was only a small touch because he’d seen something in Carlo’s eyes that most people never saw, and it made him careful.

‘You could be right,’ Carlo said thoughtfully.

‘So we understand each other?’

Carlo gave him a brilliant grin that would have chilled the blood of anyone more perceptive than Sol.

‘I understand you perfectly,’ he said. ‘And in time you’ll understand me.’

A knock at the door announced the arrival of the extra breakfast, and by the time Della emerged from the shower Sol was concentrating on food.

‘Don’t question him,’ Carlo said genially. ‘He had a bad night.’

Della hugged her son. ‘Poor darling. What are you going to do now?’

‘We’re going to spend the day together,’ Carlo said. ‘You and I need to go back to Pompeii, to start making a plan of action, and Sol’s dying to come with us and hear all about it.’

The beaming smile Della turned on him effectively shut off Sol’s protests.

‘Sol, that’s wonderful. You’re really interested?’

‘Of course,’ he said bravely. ‘I can’t wait to see—everything.’

‘I’ll meet you both downstairs in an hour,’ Carlo said, departing.

He used the hour hiring a car large enough to take the three of them. When they emerged from the elevator he hurried forward.

‘I’ve had a call from someone who wants to discuss progress on the dig,’ he told Della. ‘He’s waiting for me at Pompeii now, but he can’t stay long so we have to get moving.’

‘Oh, but—Sol wanted to do a little shopping first—’

‘No time. Sorry. Let’s go.’

Before anyone could argue they were in the car and on their way. Della was a little surprised, but she supposed he needed to see how the work had progressed in his absence. And she appreciated the way he made Sol sit beside himself, and talked to him throughout the journey about the fascinating tasks that awaited them.

Not that Sol seemed to appreciate this as he should. She couldn’t see his face, but she could read his back view without trouble, and her lips twitched.

‘You’re wicked,’ she murmured to Carlo, when they had parked the car and were walking to the site.

‘Just wait,’ he said, grinning. ‘The best is yet to come.’

His team greeted him with riotous cheer, then welcomed Sol warmly. He brightened up when Lea, a young woman in brief shorts and top, smiled at him and said, ‘Have you come to help us? There’s so much digging to be done. Just look at me.’

He did so. Perspiration had caused Lea’s long, elegant legs to shine and her top to cling to her.

‘I guess I wouldn’t mind helping out,’ he said, and found a trowel in his hand before the words were finished.

Carlo put his arm around Della’s shoulder.

‘You and I should go and consider the rest. We need to have serious business discussions.’