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Instantly he dismissed that thought. Sylvia and her husband were happy, but though he dismissed it, one unsettling thought as to that scenario remained: his mother had not been happy. Even during long, endless summers, when her husband and children had been here, she would find reasons to flit back to the city...
There was more to it, Dante was sure, and today he intended to find out what had truly caused the demise of his parents’ marriage. That meant he and Mia needed to talk.
‘Sylvia, why don’t you take the rest of the day off once lunch is done?’
‘But what about dinner?’
‘I’m sure we can manage. In fact, can you please tell all the staff to finish up for the day?’
Dante wanted absolute privacy; he wanted to have things out with Mia.
Lunch was a rather more casual affair when Mia finally descended than the one just before the funeral, but the table had been set up with the same exquisite care. Mia took a seat opposite Dante, her eyes drawn to the livid fingerprints on his cheek.
He looked stunning, even bruised. He wore black jeans and a thin black jumper and was unshaven, and it dawned on Mia she had never seen him in anything other than a suit. Even when he’d used to visit the hospital or drop by the house to visit his father, it had always been on his way back from or headed to work.
It felt odd to see him casually dressed, but in an unsettlingly nice way.
Why did she have to fancy him so? Why couldn’t she deal with him in more familiar, practical ways?
‘What did Ariana have to say?’ Mia asked, as she picked at her starter.
‘Nothing that needs repeating.’
‘Did you apologise?’
‘I never apologise for my sex life.’ Dante shook his head. ‘It’s no big deal.’
‘Well, she shouldn’t have slapped you.’
‘No, though I can’t blame her really. She was also here to deliver a slap from my mother. It probably was my mother who sent her or, if not, who encouraged her.’ He dismissed the incident with a wave of his hand. ‘I can’t be bothered with their drama right now.’
‘Have there been any more articles?’ Mia couldn’t bring herself to look and her phone was still off.
‘There have been,’ Dante said. ‘Though they are all in the same vein.’ He brought her up to speed on other things that had transpired while she’d rested. ‘An extraordinary board meeting has been called for nine a.m. tomorrow. I am to explain myself, apparently.’
‘What will you say?’
‘I don’t know,’ Dante admitted. He had never before felt nervous about facing the board, but he was now—not that he would admit it. ‘The photos should never have happened. I should have been more careful.’ Then he added, ‘Again.’ He was weak where Mia was concerned, Dante realised.
Two years spent holding himself back must have worn down all his reserves because, even with the problem they faced, even with his suspicious mind, he wanted her again. But there were serious issues that needed to be faced now. ‘The fact is, Mia, there is more that will soon be exposed than whatever those photos suggest.’
‘I can’t bear it,’ Mia gulped, but then fell quiet as their plates were cleared away, only resuming when Sylvia left. ‘It was bad enough being picked apart in the papers when I married your dad, but at least they were just implying I was a gold-digger. This is my very private life that’s being discussed.’
Dante had to suppress a smile, deciding it would be inappropriate, but byvery private, he assumed she meant sex. ‘I think it is best you stay here for now, for a few weeks at least, and that way when word gets out, you will be shielded.’
‘I’m not staying here, Dante, hiding away. My family is in England and I need to work.’
‘Please.’
‘Oh, that’s right,’ she retorted. ‘I trapped you. Hooray, I never have to work again! Well, guess what, I don’t want your millions. I want my privacy, and I do not want my baby’s start in life to be some titillating article online. I am going to call work tomorrow and...’ Her voice trailed off as Sylvia came in to serve the next course and they switched to inane chitchat.
Their main was chicken, but Mia declined, and just picked at fennel, orange and watercress salad, which, though light and refreshing, seemed at odds with the subject matter, for her own carelessness was weighing heavily on her mind.
Yes, it took two and all that, but her mistake had changed his world and when they were alone again she told him a simple truth. ‘Dante, I messed up with the tablets. I’m sorry that I didn’t know. And I’m sorry I’m not sophisticated enough to be on the Pill, or carry condoms, or anything like that...’
‘It is me who should have taken better care.’ Dante halted her. ‘I apologise for that.’
They had been utterly lost in each other, Mia knew. ‘I was flustered and careless, but I did take the morning-after pill, Dante.’
