Page 61
Robertu blew out a breath. ‘He’s going to bring us all down if anyone follows it back to our business.’
They arrived at the gardens and stood leaning against the wall, looking over the water to the Three Cities. ‘So much rebuilding to be done over there,’ Valentina said, desperate to change the subject. She didn’t have the capacity to care about Lawrenz’s business dealings, though she could see Robertu wanted her to.
‘And here,’ he muttered. ‘And are you… you know, well?’
She knew what he was asking. ‘He’s been all right for some weeks. Calm. Not accusing me of working against him or having affairs, though he accused me of making eyes at Danjel’s coach. The man is in his fifties!’ she said, rolling her eyes.’
‘He’s mad, Leni, you know this.’
She sighed. ‘Not mad, as in lost in his mind, but his behaviour appears as a madness of sorts, for sure. The rages come and go – there’s no accounting for his swings in mood. Sometimes he’s very excited about something, and right now that’s Marseille and his new venture there – whatever it is. Other times, he barely talks. And of course he drinks too much.’ She looked sideways at her brother-in-law as he gazed far away to the horizon. ‘You know he suspects us of being lovers.’
‘In all my dreams I wish that were true.’
‘Robertu! I’m being serious.’
Now he turned to face her. ‘So am I.’
‘You have to stop. I’m married to your brother and that’s that.’
‘But what if something happened to him? Then—’
‘Enough. I really don’t want you talking like this.’
At her scowl, he appeared chagrined. ‘I’m sorry. Truly, Leni. Sometimes the emotion I feel towards you overwhelms me, that’s all. I just want to whisk you away from this life.’
She smiled gently. ‘To where?’
‘Anywhere you wish to go.’
‘And Danjel?’
‘Danjel too. He is my blood. I would treat him as a son.’
Valentina paused. ‘I’ve never told you this, but he accused me of becoming pregnant with Danjel to Ganni.’
He stared at her. ‘What is he thinking?’ he said, shaking his head with despair.
‘He’s delusional, Robertu. His thoughts are out of control, so fanciful that they are ridiculous, and as with this one, incredibly offensive.’
He looked down. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault.’
‘It’s our families’ fault for forcing the marriage on you. How is Danjel coping?’
‘I’ve given up hope that Lawrenz might ever treat the boy fairly or as his own. All that matters to me now is that I can raise Danjel to an age where he’s old enough to escape his father.’
Robertu met her gaze. ‘I know Lawrenz hurts you.’
She shrugged. ‘So what? I can’t escape it.’
‘Does he hurt Danjel too?’
‘Not physically. But it all affects him, more and more as he gets older.’
She let Robertu take her hand. ‘I will be here for you, for whatever and whenever you need.’
She smiled sadly. ‘There’s nothing you can do, except maybe at times like these, when he’s away, allow me some time away from the bar.’
