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At the top stood a tall, exquisite-looking lady dressed in an elegant navy wool gown, the colour broken by a fine hand-pr
inted silk scarf in reds and blues draped casually around her neck and over one shoulder. Impossible to tell her age—anything from forty to eighty, Katy thought.
'Nonna’
This was Jake's grandmother! Katy watched Jake rush up the stairs and kiss the older woman on both cheeks. They were both talking at once in rapid Italian. Finally Jake took his grandmother's arm and led her down the stairs. Katy felt a swift stab of envy as she saw the look of love and respect in Jake's eyes. Would he ever look at her like that? Not very likely...
The change in him astounded her. Somehow, although she knew he was half-Italian, she'd always thought of Jake as very British, but in this setting he was transformed into an emotional, thoroughly Latin male.
She smiled warily at the two of them, feeling a bit like a spare wheel, but Jake flung his arm around her shoulders, and, turning a beaming smile on her bemused face, he said, 'Katy, darling, my grandmother. Nonna, my fiancee Kathleen.'
Katy responded formally, 'How do you do?' and held out her hand, only to find herself swept against the other woman and soundly kissed on both cheeks.
'Your English formality!' she grinned. 'Please call me Maria, and I will call you Kathleen. I have waited such a long time to meet you that I feel as if I know you already.'
What did the woman mean, 'a long time'? Katy was puzzled, but before she could form a question Jake once more flung his arm around her. She felt like a spinning-top.
'I have to leave now, sweetheart; I will be back this evening, but, don't worry, Nonna has strict instructions on how to entertain you.' And, with a brief, hard kiss on her open mouth, he murmured so only she could hear, 'And behave yourself, I will not have Nonna upset,' and left.
Three hours later Katy, hot and exhausted, ruefully recognised where Jake got his arrogant autocratic manner from. It was twelve-thirty, lunchtime, and the two women were being ushered out of the door of an exclusive boutique on the Merceria, the expensive shopping street running from St Mark's to the Rialto.
Jake, in his usual devious manner, had got what he wanted. His instructions to his grandmother had been to take Katy shopping. Maria thought it was for a trousseau; Katy knew different, but did not dare say anything, Consequently she had spent all morning getting in and out of clothes. She shuddered to think what the final bill had come to. Casual co-ordinates, day dresses, lingerie, evening wear, shoes, bags, the lot... Maria had insisted.
Thankfully Katy followed Maria into the palace, and to a small dining-room, where the table was laid for two. The older woman was inexhaustible, Katy concluded, as over lunch she barely paused for breath.
'You know, of course, Katy, when the tragedy happened Jake was a tower of strength. I don't think I could have survived without him.'
'Tragedy?' Katy queried.
'You do not know? I lost my daughter—Jake's mother—my son and my brother all at once. They were skiing in the Dolomites... an avalanche. It was terrible, but Jake stepped in to look after the family firm. He need not have done; he is more English than Italian, but he has great heart. Carlo, my other grandson, will eventually take over the running of Luzzini's when he is twenty-five in two years' time. So you need not worry that I will be forever calling for Jake when you are married. But now enough of tragedy. You must have a siesta. Tonight we have a grand engagement party. You will wear the green ballgown; I think that was the most beautiful.'
Katy choked on her coffee and stumblingly agreed. An engagement party. God, what a mess... Jake would have a fit.
By eight o'clock that evening Katy was a nervous wreck. She was pacing the corridor outside her bedroom, and had been for the past half-hour. She needed to speak to Jake; fury and fear in equal proportions shadowed her lovely eyes. She looked down at the ring glittering on her finger. An engagement party! The guests were due to arrive any minute. What the hell was Jake playing at?
'Waiting for me, Katy, darling? I'm flattered.'
Her head shot up at the sound of his voice. 'At last,' she sighed with relief.
His dark eyes gleamed appreciatively at the beautiful girl before him. She was a vision of loveliness, her blonde hair piled on top of her head in an intricate twist, a few small tendrils escaping to frame her flushed face. Her gown was mint-green chiffon, the strapless bodice moulding her full breasts like the hands of a lover. The skirt fell in soft folds to float around her dainty feet.
'Where the h... ?' Katy stopped, struck dumb by the expression on Jake's face. His brown eyes caressed her and his sensuous mouth parted in the broadest, most beautiful smile she had ever seen. She swallowed hard on the lump that rose in her throat.
'Where have you been?' she breathed softly. 'Have you any idea what is going on? In a few minutes we are supposed to be greeting a horde of guests. An engagement party, for God's sake!' Her voice rose in her agitation. 'Maria has arranged it. What are you going to do?'
'Slow down, Katy. I know. Everything is under control. Give me ten minutes and I will be back to escort you downstairs.'
'But-----'
Jake bent and placed a swift, hard kiss on her parted lips. 'Don't panic...' And he strode on down the hall.
At three in the morning Katy, content in the curve of Jake's arm, said goodnight to the last guest.
'A very successful evening, I think we can all agree,' Maria remarked, a satisfied smile on her face. 'If you two young things don't mind I will say goodnight. At my age late nights are reflected on my face for days afterwards.'
'Nonna, you love them and you know it.' Jake grinned at his grandmother. 'Thanks for a marvellous party.' And without releasing Katy he bent and kissed the older woman's cheek.
Katy added her thanks to Jake's. It had been a glittering evening. Her earlier panic had quickly vanished as Jake, looking magnificent in a black evening suit, had proudly introduced her to a hundred people. He had been the perfect partner, keeping her by his side all night; he had played the part of doting fiance to perfection. So much so that after a couple of glasses of champagne Katy had found herself swept up in the make-believe.
