Page 167 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

Sanzio had made it clear that he’d engineered that confrontation with Tonia at the gala, for the reasons he’d expounded. Was she glad he had, or not? Perhaps she was. Not for the experience—which had been horrible—but for the outcome. That was what she should focus on. Be glad for.

Because I know now, because of Sanzio, Tonia can no longer do me any harm. I don’t believe her any more, what she thinks of me. Her power over me is broken.

She felt her heart swell. It was all—all—thanks to Sanzio. All that was so, so wonderful now about her life. Happiness filled her, as it had ever since that unforgettable night at the agriturismo when he’d made her his. Desiring her as she so longed to be desired by him—as she did him.

It was that, above all, that allowed her to know how false her sister’s jibes had always been, how untrue her sneers. Now Tonia could never hurt her again.

Besides, why should she see her again any time soon? She and her husband would be heading to his chateau on the Loire and Tonia would be showing off in Paris, not Rome. As for now, Sanzio was whisking her up to Milan and the Lakes. They would have another relaxing little holiday, just as they’d had in Lazio, then return to the Palazzo, take up their work there again.

Her expression warmed. Softened. How wonderful Sanzio was to her—how happy he was making her.

But beyond the limits of her consciousness, hovering somewhere in the outer recesses, she felt a shadow gathering. A shadow she did not want to face. Not now—not yet. It would come, she knew it must—and she would face it then, she must. But for now, she wanted only to deny its presence and focus only on what she had.

Sanzio wanting her. Desiring her. Being with her. And she with him.

What we have is good, so very good.

She let it lie there, that warm glow that always came when she thought of Sanzio, as she swiftly made her selection to pack, before changing into the moss-green shift with a matching jacket that was expensively suitable for shopping for high-priced antiques. She redid her hair in a chignon and applied light make-up. She was just glossing her lips when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller.

It was Tonia.

Surprise was her first reaction—then wariness. Extreme wariness. Cautiously, very cautiously, she answered. Tonia’s response was immediate.

‘We need to meet. Today.’

‘What…what for?’ Eleanora’s reply was hesitant. What on earth was this about?

Her sister enlightened her. ‘Because I want to stop the gossip—and you should want to stop it too.’

‘Gossip? What gossip? Why?’

‘From last night, of course. First Carla over that damn dress, then you stalking off with Sanzio—the man I dumped to marry Edouard—and making a total show of cutting me dead the rest of the evening. Of course people were talking—and not in a good way!’ she said bitingly. ‘So, I want us to be seen together to shut the gossips up. Oh, come on, Ellie—’ her voice changed ‘—it’s only a damn drink!’

She named a time and a venue, and hung up.

Slowly, Eleanora lowered her phone to her dressing table. Her thoughts were racing. Was she mad to think of meeting up with Tonia? On the other hand—

Sanzio had consistently put a gloss on past events—that he and Tonia had a mutually agreed split. Did last night’s waspish encounter then conspicuous avoidance of her sister indicate otherwise? Would Sanzio be seen as jilted for someone with a fancy title and blue blood in his veins, not the red blood of a self-made man?

So maybe her being seen with her sister would reaffirm the gloss that Sanzio preferred?

I could do it for his sake.

And maybe not just for his?

Maybe there’s another reason to meet her.

Last night, she had made the perfect riposte to Tonia’s jibes, refusing to be put down by her. Hadn’t she decided, just before Tonia phoned, that her sister could not harm her any more because she no longer believed what Tonia told her?

So maybe meeting her would reinforce that—show me I can, finally, stand up to her. Show Tonia too. Sanzio has proved to me that I am desirable, and beautiful.

So there was no more harm Tonia could do to her.

I am beyond the reach of her malice, for I am safe in Sanzio’s desire for me…

It was all she needed to know. All she needed Tonia to know. And she could know it right now, today. She reached for her phone. Texted Tonia. Agreeing to meet.

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