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“She would prefer to speak to you herself, obviously, but when you insisted she come as arranged, she desired most of all not to inconvenience you by postponing. I can assure you that I know her wishes, and she’s here to make sure I deliver her sentiments properly.”
He lifted an eyebrow at Charlotte. “You cannot speak at all?”
“No,” Will said. “Unfortunately, the doctor has ordered her not to make a sound. Not even a greeting. So you’ll have to listen to me drone on, I’m afraid. We appreciate it’s not ideal for either party, but short of delaying, it will have to do.”
Antonio cocked his head to the side. “A pity, Maddison, not to hear your voice. I hope the surgery was not for any serious matter?”
She shook her head, and Will said, “No. Nothing nasty in there, just a couple of nodes that needed to be removed. She’s completely well and will be back to her old self in no time.”
“Wonderful to hear. Please come in. I’ve prepared lunch for us.”
Charlotte looked at Will and gave him a curt smile. It was a good thing she’d practiced with the silverware.
Walking through the entryway, she continued to ignore the opulent surroundings that she normally would have admired. Antonio may not be a good man, but his decorator had talent. Most of the surroundings were understated despite how large the residence was.
“I didn’t ask,” Antonio said as he walked them out onto a large terrace with views of a beautiful garden. “I hope you’re still able to eat?” He pulled out a chair for her, and she nodded before sitting. “Excellent.”
Will outlined the latest developments as created by Maddy and himself while they ate. Charlotte kept her face neutral as instructed, pretending not to care.
“I can safely say we continue to be in agreement,” Antonio said after wiping his mouth with his napkin. “This whole partnership has exceeded my expectations in so many ways.” He laid the cloth in his lap.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Will said. “Your business is very valuable to us, and we look forward to a prosperous partnership, reaching—hopefully—far into the future.”
“Yes.” He looked at Charlotte with an odd smile on his face. “Can I get any tea or coffee for either of you?”
Maddison always had a cup of coffee after lunch. Charlotte could remember from several of the transcripts that, when Antonio offered a coffee, she always took one.
She nodded.
“Coffee?” he asked.
Another nod.
“Cream and sugar?”
Maddison only had cream. Was he testing her? She quirked her mouth to the side, and he laughed.
“Just cream. I know. You thought I’d forgotten.”
Will looked at his watch. “Don’t forget, Maddison, we have that three o’clock in the city. Sorry, Antonio, but after the coffee, we will need to be on our way. We’ll be in touch with further details and get working on preparing everything for the first shipment. We expect it will be a couple of weeks before the paperwork will be in order.”
“Does that mean you won’t stay for dessert?”
“You know very well that Maddison is not one for desserts.”
“But I have something very special prepared. She won’t want to miss it.”
He looked at Charlotte, and she demurely flipped her hand in acquiescence.
“Very well,” Will said. “But we will need to keep it brief.”
Antonio snapped at a butler, who dipped his head, then went inside. “We can have it now, while the coffee is being prepared.”
The butler returned within minutes, and Antonio stood, retrieving the lidded tray from him.
He placed it before Charlotte. “I want you to know that this is especially for you and no one else.” When he lifted the dome, a moldy slice of bread was revealed.
She sensed Will stiffen beside her.
