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Dante decided he preferred Ariana feisty and argumentative and was worried as his dejected-looking sister headed off. ‘Keep an eye on her, Mamma.’
‘Of course.’ Angela nodded. ‘I am going to go.’
‘First hear this,’ Dante said. ‘As soon as Mia is out and everything has been settled, I shall transfer the house to your name. I am sure he left it to me rather than you so that if she contests the will, as I expect her to, there is less chance she will win. It is rightfully yours and—’
‘I don’t want the house, Dante,’ Angela cut in.
Dante was stunned.
She had wept over this house. Sobbed to Ariana how she missed being at home. Cried at the wake and said she had ached for two years to be back in Luctano.
‘Surely you want it. You said—’
Again she cut in. ‘Dante, I have done my time here. It is beautiful, yes, but I don’t want the headache of the endless staff it takes to run the residence, the grounds, the stables, the vines. This house is a labour of love, and my love for it died long ago. I like my apartment in Roma. I cannot say it more clearly than that. I don’t want the house.’
‘Did you ever?’
He saw his mother’s shock at the question, and he instantly regretted raising the matter today, but his father’s death had thrown up so many questions. Though clearly his mother had no intention of answering any of them. ‘I shall see you in Roma, Dante.’
Roberto had already left and, with the mourners all gone, Dante stood by the fire and waited for relief to hit, for the day had gone as well as it could have. No drama, no scenes, his father had been laid to rest.
So where was his peace?
Yes, his father’s death had thrown up many questions.
His mother didn’t want the house?
Had she ever?Dante’s question had not been a spontaneous one—the thought had been brewing for some time.
He remembered the rows in their childhood that had stopped when the twins had arrived, but then again, there had been an awful lot of trips by his mother to Rome. She would come and visit Dante at school there, even though he boarded.
Suddenly, Dantecouldplace his mother’s lover.
Signor Thomas, his English tutor at school.
Dante had always felt lied to.
Never more so than now.
CHAPTER FIVE
MIAHADLONGSINCEleft the family and mourners to it, and was packing up the last of her things.
She took off her wedding and engagement rings and placed them in her purse. She cast a final longing glance around Suite al Limone, feeling torn to leave it behind.
Mia didn’t feel completely ready to yet.
When she heard the last of the cars leaving and the drone of voices fade, she rang down for one of the staff to come and take her cases down to the car.
Except there was no response to her summons.
She made her way down the stairs and saw that Dante had stayed till the last.
‘Where are the staff?’ Mia asked.
‘I said they could be finished for the day—the tidy-up can happen tomorrow,’ Dante said. ‘It has been a long and emotional day for them too. Don’t worry,’ he added, ‘I am going to head to the hotel now. You will have the place to yourself soon.’
‘There is no need for you to go to the hotel, Dante.’
