Page 23 of Second Marriage

'You go, then.' Claire smiled up at him as his eyes moved to her. 'I'm here with Grace so everything's all right.'

'I could be some time, and Grace was very uncom­fortable at dinner,' Donato said worriedly. 'I do not feel I want to leave her tonight.'

'She's been uncomfortable before, Donato.' Claire found it both amusing and touching that this hard, ruth­less business tycoon, who had a reputation for rapier-sharp shrewdness and inexorable authority, had been in a state of quiet agitation for days now, every twinge or ache that Grace experienced throwing him into a mild panic. 'And I'm here. I won't leave her for a minute until you get back, OK? I'll sleep in one of the spare bedrooms in Bambina Pontina if you aren't home before we go to bed.'

'I am sorry, Claire.' He smiled at her ruefully. 'You think I am the fool, eh? The—what does Grace say, now?—ah, yes, the whittler?'

'Of course not.' She grinned back. 'She's precious to you, and the babies are precious, but everything is going to be fine, I promise you. Now you go and sort out what's what and I'll let Grace sleep as long as she wants before we move indoors.'

Once he had gone, albeit reluctantly, Claire sank back on the lounger and reached for a magazine from the pile at the side of her. She wasn't going to think of Romano, she wasn't—because it was a sure-fire bet he certainly wasn't thinking of her. OK, so she'd been less than wise that evening, but he hadn't exactly been whiter than white, had he? And his attitude since had been plain…insulting. She nodded fiercely and buried her head in the glossy pages.

He had known exactly what he was doing. Once it was there she worried at the thought, unable to let it go. It had been a calculated assault on her senses from be­ginning to end, a coldblooded exercise to get what he wanted. It was clear he was an accomplished lover and a brilliant strategist.

The memory of how it had felt to be in his arms swept over her and she shivered helplessly. Yes, definitely ac­complished, she thought wretchedly. Oh, she hated him. But she didn't. She loved him. And therein lay the root of all her anguish.

When Grace woke an hour later Claire was still gazing blindly at the same magazine, but she immediately roused herself and smiled warmly, as though she hadn't got a care in the world, as she said, 'Hello, sleepyhead. Enjoy your nap?'

'Yes, I— Oh—oh, Claire…' A few moments of gasp­ing in air later Grace said, 'I think…I think you'd better call Donate'

Claire had sprung to kneel at her friend's side, and now she was the one who gasped slightly. 'It's not— they aren't coming?'

'They are.' There was a finality in Grace's voice that brooked no argument. 'I was dreaming I was having pains, but I was so exhausted I think I slept through it anyway. But that last one was a definite "get your bag packed".'

'Grace, Donato isn't here.' Claire explained quickly and then added hopefully, 'Do you think you can wait until he gets back?'

'I—'

Again Grace's voice was cut off by a contraction, clearly more powerful than the one before, and it was Claire who said, 'No, you can't, can you? I…I'd better call a taxi. Just try and relax.'

'Not a taxi.' Grace reached out a hand and grasped her arm as she pulled herself into a sitting position. 'I need to go to the loo and get my things anyway, and in that time Romano could be here. Donato would never forgive me if I didn't call him,' she added ruefully.

'Romano?' She knew Donato would want it.

'Yes, call him, would you, and give Donato's office a ring to let him know what's happening? You might get the answering machine but leave a message anyway. That's all we can do.' Grace's voice was marvellously matter-of-fact, she had clearly switched into birth mode and wasn't about to be flummoxed by anyone or any­thing. 'Ring the hospital too, and tell them we're on our way. All the numbers are by the phone in the hall.'

By the time Romano strode through the door, after Claire's terse telephone call of very few words, Grace had just walked through from her own quarters with Lorenzo and Claire at her side and sunk into a chair by the front door.

'You must have driven like a madman,' Grace said blithely, ignoring his frowning dark face as she stood up slowly, Claire holding her elbow. 'There was no need—'

Her voice was cut off, and Claire and Romano took her weight as she leant forward, breathing heavily, as another pain hit. 'They're every six minutes now, so I think there is a need,' Claire said grimly, and their eyes met over Grace's red-gold curls. 'I'd get there as fast as possible, if I were you. Now they've decided to be born they can't wait.'

Romano swore, softly but with heartfelt intensity, and then lifted Grace bodily into his arms, beckoning with his head for Claire to open the front door and saying to Lorenzo, 'Hold the fort, OK? You are in charge now. Claire has told you she has left a message for Donato?' Lorenzo nodded, his brown eyes enormous. 'He will probably come straight to the hospital, but if he tele­phones tell him what is happening—you understand?'

'Sì.' Lorenzo's voice was little more than a whisper. 'And…and Grace…?'

'Grace is going to be fine.' Romano's voice was soft now, tender, and it made Claire want to howl as it touched something deep inside. 'Trust me, Lorenzo. All is well, OK?' His dark eyes were steady as they held the boy's gaze. 'You know I would not lie to you?' he said as he let Grace's feet touch the floor again.

'Sì.' Lorenzo's voice was a little stronger.

'Then take care of things here—I can ask you to do this?' Romano asked quietly. 'As soon as there is news you will be the first to know, but for now Donato needs you to take charge so that he can concentrate on Grace and the babies without worrying about home.'

'I can do this.' Lorenzo's voice was suddenly ridicu­lously like Donato's, and the lump in Claire's throat grew.

'I know.' Romano leant forward, but instead of patting Lorenzo on the head, or ruffling his black curls as he had been wont to do in the past, he held out his hand for the young boy to shake, causing Lorenzo to swell visibly as he solemnly shook his brother-in-law's hand before Romano lifted Grace into his arms again.

He'd handled Lorenzo's nerves perfectly. The thought was at the forefront of Claire's mind as Romano carried Grace, who was now protesting strongly that she was quite capable of walking, out to the BMW, where he deposited her on the back seat and placed a light blanket over her legs. 'Be quiet, woman, and put your mind to your breathing or panting or whatever it is women do at this time,' he said with mock severity, before shutting the car door and indicating for Claire to sit in the front passenger seat.

As the powerful engine purred into life and the car moved smoothly away Claire waved at Lorenzo, who was standing on the steps, until they turned a corner in the long drive and he was lost to view. 'You were very good with him back there.' She spoke the thought that had been on her mind, and Grace added her agreement from the back seat.

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