Page 38

And she wasn’t strong enough to deny him twice. ‘Sure.’

As they headed to the grand entrance there was the tap-tap sound of stilettos, and a surprised, ‘Gabriel!’ from a stunning Donatella.

‘Donatella.’ Gabe nodded and switched to Italian, and Stella could just make out what was being said. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I just dropped in—there was something I needed a signature on.’

‘It couldn’t wait until tomorrow?’

‘You know I like to get things done. Then I was chatting with your grandfather on the terrazzo.’

‘He’s up?’ Gabe checked.

‘The nurse is just about to take him to bed. Though I’m sure if he sees you he might stay up. We could all…’

He cut her off. ‘Buona notte, Donatella.’

She clipped off like an angry pony, and as her footsteps faded he spoke.

‘Stella, I wasn’t expecting my grandfather to be up at this hour, let alone on the terrazzo…’

‘I’ll go,’ Stella said.

‘I didn’t mean that, just that we should stop and have a drink. I honestly haven’t seen him outside in such a long time.’

‘Well, I shan’t mention the film or anything. I wouldn’t want to upset him.’

Gabe thought for a moment. There was a charm to Stella, a softness in her ways, and he simply knew she would not cause upset. ‘You won’t upset him. Come and say hi.’

They walked along the entrance hall.

‘You live here?’

‘Not in this part. I have a separate wing.’

It was beautiful, yes, but it was lonely, all this grandeur for one man, and she understood why he had to move it on. But it was sad too, Stella thought as she looked at the portraits of past Rinaldis that lined the walls.

‘Where are you?’

‘I’m not.’

The legacy ended with his grandfather, it seemed.

He led her through a very formal lounge with the French windows flung open and the view an endlessly changing surprise, for the sky was lilac this evening.

And gazing out at it was a very old man in a pale blue linen suit, sitting alone.

‘Hey,’ Gabe said as he approached his grandfather, and Stella watched as the elderly man’s face lit up when he saw his handsome grandson. ‘I wasn’t expecting you to be up.’

‘Clearly,’ the old man said, and she was touched that they both spoke in English in front of her. ‘I wanted to see you in the jacket.’

‘Good!’ Gabe said, so quietly pleased to see him shaved, dressed and up. ‘This is Stella.’

‘It is a pleasure to meet you.’

‘She works for Sir Charles Atherton.’

‘Ah.’ He smiled in recollection and directed a question to Stella. ‘How is Sir Charles?’