Wife in the Shadows Read Free Page A

stranger, the heart and spirit torn out of him after his wife’s death—little more than a sad ghost in a house which had once been filled with sunshine and laughter.
    Had found himself, scarcely out of boyhood, excluded from his own grief in the face of his father’s desolation.
    And without the tenderness and support of Nonna Cosima, who had taken him into her own home, he would have been left very much alone.
    As he emerged from the darkness of that time, he’d sworn that he would never allow anyone to make him suffer like that. And nothing had happened since to persuade him to change his mind.
    His marriage would be a practical arrangement without illusions, he vowed silently, and he would set himself to make it work.
    Therefore, as a beginning, he would decline Silvia’s suggestion that as Ernesto would be away the following weekend, they should take advantage of his absence at some discreet
albergo
in the wilds of Umbria or Reggio Calabria.
    Instead, he thought, crumpling the note in his hand, I will be spending the time in close consultation with thebuilders at Vostranto, so I shall call her tomorrow and make my excuses.
    And after that, I shall also ask Ottavio for Lucia’s phone number.
    ‘No,’ said Ellie. ‘It’s very kind of Madrina to invite me, but I’ve already made my plans for that weekend. I’m sorry, Silvia.’
    ‘You don’t sound it.’ Her cousin leaned back in her chair, pouting. ‘I suppose you’re off to bury yourself at Nonna Vittoria’s shack as usual.’
    It might only be a small house, but it was hardly a shack, Ellie thought drily. And Silvia clearly hadn’t thought so when she discovered that their grandmother’s will had left Ellie in sole possession of what could be an eminently desirable property in a charming fishing village on a beautiful coastline. She had raged about the total unfairness of the bequest for weeks if not months, accusing Ellie of wheedling her way into Nonna Vittoria’s good graces.
    By which Ellie supposed she meant visiting her grandmother regularly and remembering her at birthdays and Christmases. Something Silvia’s busy social life had overlooked most of the time.
    ‘And how can you even think of it when you could be staying in the lap of luxury at the Villa Rosa?’ Silvia went on.
    ‘Perhaps I don’t find the lap of luxury particularly comfortable,’ Ellie said drily. ‘Especially when I’m aware that I’m the only person present who’s actually an employee instead of an employer.’
    Silvia waved a languid hand. ‘Oh, you’re far too sensitive,
cara.
Besides Madrina adores you, and you owe her a visit. She has said so, and will be so upset if you refuse.’ She paused. ‘And you could do me the most enormous favour too.’
    Ellie’s hand stilled in its task of refilling their coffee cups. Ah, she thought, without surprise. Now we’re coming to it.
    She said, ‘Oh God, Silvia, you haven’t been losing money at bridge again, not after the things Ernesto said last time.’
    ‘Oh, that.’ Silvia looked down, playing with the emeraldand diamond ring on her wedding finger. ‘I’ve hardly touched a card for months. Truly. Anyone will tell you.’
    ‘Except that I don’t know anyone to ask,’ Ellie returned, scenting an evasion. ‘And I have no money to bail you out, so don’t even think about it.’
    ‘That’s not what I’m asking,’ Silvia denied swiftly. ‘It’s just that—well—Ernesto is being a little silly at the moment about my going away without him, even to see my own godmother, and if he knew you’d be there too, I’m sure he’d change his mind.’
    Ellie brought over the fresh coffee, placing the cup on the table beside her cousin’s chair.
    She said slowly, ‘It’s not like him to play the heavy husband. Silvia, you’re sure that you’re not the one who’s being silly?’
    Silvia flushed angrily. ‘And what makes you an authority on married life? I wasn’t aware that you even had a