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Where to go? Somewhere close enough to the capital to be able to return easily, but far enough away to avoid prying eyes.
Stefano entered the room, brow furrowed in concern. ‘All okay?’
In those days after his father’s abdication, only his best friend knew the true extent of the trouble his father had caused. Alessio stilled. The solution stood in front of him. One he’d used a few times before when riding his horses had ceased to be enough. ‘I need to escape for a few days. The usual way.’
Stefano nodded, yet his eyebrows rose again. ‘Will Hannah be joining you?’
‘Yes.’ Alessio clenched his jaw. He would have no judgement on this, not from his friend. ‘Are you going to ask whether I know what I’m doing?’
Stefano gave him a wry smile. This man was one of his closest supporters. Like a brother. He placed a hand on Alessio’s shoulder and gave a brief squeeze of solidarity.
‘I don’t have to, my friend. I think you know exactly what you’re doing. And for once it’s what you want to do, rather than what you believe you should. That’s agoodthing.’
Stefano released him and left the room, phone to his ear. In his office, all alone with the weight of his ancestors’ portraits around him, Alessio wasn’t sure he could take any comfort from his friend’s parting words.
CHAPTER NINE
HANNAHWALKEDDOWNa gangplank to the harbour at dawn. The whole journey had been cloaked in secrecy. She had been told to pack for the beach for two days, and that was it. Not that she’d come to Lasserno prepared for needing beachwear. When she’d told Alessio, a host of bags had arrived in her room. Clothes with tags from designers who left her breathless, so she simply stuffed it all into a duffel bag she’d brought with her. In the pale morning light Alessio looked nothing like his usual self, unrecognisable in shorts showing off his strong calves, a T-shirt, cap jammed on his head, like a disguise. The whole episode was all subterfuge. He’d even driven them here through a back exit of the palace, with no entourage. Something cloak and dagger about it thrilled her.
They arrived at a magnificent yacht that looked as if it had come straight out of a classic movie, with three soaring masts and gleaming, honeyed wood. Alessio helped her aboard, where they were met by the crew. He shook their hands. Introduced her.
‘Remember, the same rules as last time,’ Alessio said.
The captain nodded. ‘Of course, sir. We’ll be underway immediately.’
‘Thank you.’
NoYour Highness...no bowing. Little ceremony at all, as someone spirited away their bags. Alessio slid a hand to the small of her back and they traversed the expansive deck to the bow. As they reached the rail, Alessio checked his watch. She placed her hand over his wrist.
‘You do that constantly.’
‘I want to see if we’re leaving in good time.’
He’d told her this weekend was for them, to get away. It seemed as if he never could, always managing his day to the last second. She turned his wrist over, unclipped the burnished gold band and slid the timepiece from his wrist. Rubbed a thumb over his pulse-point. Over the mark the clasp had left. Relishing the feel of his smooth, golden skin under her fingers.
‘You need to stop sometimes.’ She clasped the watch in her fist as Alessio let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing as if some weight had been removed. ‘I’d like to pitch it into the sea to make sure you do, but it’s probably valuable.’
‘My maternal grandfather gave it to me.’
‘Did you like him?’
The corner of Alessio’s mouth kicked up into a smile. ‘I did.’
‘Then I’ll keep it safe.’ She slipped it into the pocket of her skirt, its weight against her thigh. A reminder of how little time they had, which was something she shouldn’t even be thinking about. She should be living in the now, because her time here had always had an end date. Hannah tipped her head back to look up into the complicated rigging.
‘This is an amazing boat.’
‘Il Delfino. A schooner built in 1910. One hundred and seventy feet long, if you’re interested.’
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘So are you.’
She smiled, breath catching in her throat. ‘Thank you.’
Since her parents had died, there’d been no one to tell her she was beautiful. Her dad had said those words to her, to her mother, all the time. Back then her parents had made sure she felt as attractive as an awkward teen could, with pimples and hormones causing trouble. On the other hand, her aunt and uncle hadn’t realised what she’d needed. Or hadn’t cared. Maybe the only thing they’d ever been interested in was the money her parents had left.
Tears burned at her eyes. There was no time for them here. Instead she stared out over the horizon. Ribbons of pink and gold threaded through the sky. The cool breeze brushed her face.
