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‘Everyone who has a drop of Sicilian blood probably did!’
Aurora gave a small smile and took a sip of her drink, but she didn’t lean forward in glee and share the details with him. He knew Aurora hurt for her friend.
‘We just sat there in the church…waiting,’ she told him. ‘Waiting and waiting for the bride to arrive.’
‘Did you have any clue that Antonietta wasn’t going to show up?’
‘No.’
‘Aurora…?’ he checked.
‘It’s the truth, Nico. I guessed she wasn’t happy, but I knew no more than I told you that night—’
Whoops!They were trying not to refer to that.
‘I was surprised and a bit hurt that she didn’t ask me to be her bridesmaid. And I knew she wasn’t thrilled at the idea of marrying Sylvester, but her father is so forceful. Both families are.’
‘And so you sat in the church and you waited…?’ Nico prompted.
‘Yes. A car arrived, and then word spread that it was not the bride—just Antonietta’s father. The priest spoke to him outside.’
‘And…?’
‘A fight broke out in the church. It was terrible, Nico. As soon as I worked out what was happening I left and got a ride up to her parents’ house, but Antonietta was already on thecuccetteto France.’
‘She took the train out?’
Aurora nodded. ‘I miss her very much, but she will never be back. She wrote and told me, but I knew it already—for howcanshe come back? Her name is mud all through the village and beyond. Not with her friends, but she has a very large family.’
Nico would have liked to tell her that time would heal things, but he knew only too well how people could hold a grudge.
‘Anyway,’ Aurora said, ‘I’ve decided that I’m going to go and see her.’
‘In France?’
She nodded. ‘As soon as I’ve saved up enough and have some leave owing I’m going to book my flight.’
He wanted to point out that she’d already have enough money if she would just let him pay her for his father’s care. Nico really wanted her to have that holiday with her friend in France, but he’d have to work out a way to give it to her. Without offending her, of course. Or misleading her.
‘Do you want another drink?’ Nico offered. ‘Or perhaps we could get dinner.’
‘You told me to step out of your shadow, Nico,’ Aurora said. ‘You told me that I was here for work. We’ve caught up on family and friends, so let’s just keep it about business.’ Aurora was proud of herself for that, at least.
‘Okay. Tell me about this idea you have.’
‘I thought you didn’t deal with assistants?’ Aurora sneered, reminding herself of how appalling his treatment of her today had been. ‘I’m going to speak with Vincenzo tomorrow. I will givehimmy idea and watch as he gets promoted.’
He smiled.
It was the most dangerous thing, for she could feel her resolve melting like the ice cubes at the bottom of her glass.
‘Tellme, Aurora.’
‘No.’ But she was so excited that she couldn’tnotshare it. ‘Okay—I think we should offer a very exclusive package for weddings at the temple ruins.’
‘I don’t own that land.’
‘But you own the land that surrounds it, and without that access it’s very difficult to get to.’
