Page 48 of Winter With You

Luca frowned. ‘Even bored kids would do something or take something. Your computer? Cash? They didn’t take anything?’

‘Well, the lock was forced and there was a smashed glass but the only thing I could find that was missing was one of my umbrellas. But, you know, it is an umbrella. I could have easily left this somewhere the last time I used it.’

Now the shiver down his spine turned into a freezing chill. An umbrella. He may not know 100 per cent about what had happened to Gabriella with the dress or Errol’s ‘incident’ but there was no doubt in his mind about this. This was Ronnie, on his father’s payroll. Scaring Sybille, his boss. Invading her home. To get to Luca. Except Sybille hadn’t immediately shared the information, so had Gabriella and Errol been next steps?

‘Before you say anything,’ Sybille continued. ‘I have increased my security. I have new locks and I have installed an alarm that is already annoying me greatly.’

‘Good,’ he replied.

‘It is good that it annoys me?’

‘No, you know what I mean.’

‘OK, so let us put that out of our minds and instead place our focus on the next look for Miss Felix. I believe we do not have long.’

She was right. Here he needed to focus, keep his head and his job until he worked out what to do next.

‘We? You think I should have your help?’ Luca asked. ‘Because, Sybille, using Errol wasn’t about my capabilities. It was about thinking outside the box on this occasion and⁠—’

She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ‘Relax, Mr Manning, I wish only to observe. I think you might be able to teach me a thing or two. What they say about old dogs and new tricks, I have never believed it.’ She smiled. ‘Now, let me make us some coffee and you can tell me how you plan to better all these mentions in the press with the next look.’

Sybille left the space and Luca took a breath. As well as creating something special for Gabriella and keeping it under tight guard before her next event, he now had to make a decision about his father. But he was concerned the only option he had left was to make the visit he had pledged never to undertake. But when it came to the people he cared about, the people who knew nothing about the true murkiness of the Marcello business, he wasn’t willing to risk it.

30

Gabriella stopped outside the doors to the main room of La Façon. ‘Phoebe, the dog can’t come in here. I don’t even know why it’s following us. We should call the dog pound or something. Isn’t that what they do in America?’

‘No! Because on TV shows, the dogs get taken to the pound and then they’re put down!’ Phoebe gripped the dog’s fur like it was a beloved family member already about to be torn from their midst.

‘That can’t be true,’ Gabriella said. ‘I mean, there’s nothing wrong with him. And the way he ate those dog biscuits was not saying “frail”.’

‘He will be good. Won’t you, Mr Darcy,’ Phoebe said, stroking the dog’s ears.

He had a name! That was attachment already and called after a literary hero…

‘And after here, Phoebe? When Cheyenne has finished being distracted by signage issues at the library event? When we have to go back to the hotel?’

Phoebe didn’t answer, just continued to stroke the dog’s fur and whisper words of affirmation in his slightly grubby-looking ears.

‘Goodness! What do we have here?’

A French accent echoed around the corridor and Gabriella looked at the immaculately dressed little woman who was now standing before her.

‘Hello,’ Gabriella said. ‘I’m Gabriella Felix. I have an appointment with Luca.’

The woman smiled. ‘I know you do, my darling. But, please, introduce me to this furry person.’ The woman stepped towards Phoebe and the dog, hand already out to pet.

‘This is Mr Darcy,’ Phoebe introduced. ‘And I’m Phoebe Felix.’

‘I am Sybille. This is my place. And I am honoured to meet you, Phoebe and Mr Darcy.’ She stroked the dog before turning back around. ‘And it is very good to meet you too, Gabriella.’

‘Sorry about the dog,’ Gabriella said. ‘It’s not ours. We just⁠—’

‘It is no problem. Look at him. So cute,’ Sybille stated. ‘Phoebe, shall we go and see what I have for him in the kitchen? Luca is ready for you.’ Sybille indicated the doors while she, Phoebe and Mr Darcy walked in the other direction.

Gabriella pushed at the doors and then stepped into the room. And there was Luca, dressed impeccably as usual, black trousers, black shirt, those curls…

‘Hello,’ she greeted.