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Things were far from okay. The car was wedged precariously, with the sea pounding below, ready to claim them as it had claimed Sant Lavia.

Gabe knew his parents were dead, he hoped for different, but deep down he knew. And that meant he was responsible for Beatrice now, but he couldn’t get to her. All he could do was reach over and stroke her cheek, terror gripping him that she didn’t move. Surely the carrier would have kept her safe, for she looked perfect, just so still. Taking her tiny hand, there was a surge of relief as her fingers closed around his.

‘Hey,’ he gently said, determined not to scare her. ‘It’s going to be okay,’ he insisted.

Except her grip was loosening, her rosy cheeks turning pale, and all he could do was comfort her. ‘I love you, Mamma and Papà love you too, you are so loved…’ He wanted to scream for help, to hear sirens, to know someone was on their way…instead, he fought to stay calm, to reassure his tiny sister.

He had to grow up in a matter of seconds, and so he thought of what his parents did when she was crying and sang her a lullaby as she left this world…

* * *

‘You missed one,’ Stella said, noticing he had skipped a page, her hand moving to turn back, but his fingers closed over hers.

‘Not now.’ There was an abruptness to his tone, but then he cleared his throat and spoke low enough only for her ears. ‘My sister,’ he explained. ‘My grandfather can’t talk about her,’ Gabe said. ‘It upsets him.’

‘Of course.’

Apart from that teeny glitch it was a wonderful night and when Eduardo headed off, a tired but smiling Geo called for the nurse. ‘It is time for me to retire.’

Geo stood, but he gestured to Gabe to come over. He embraced him and kissed cheeks, and as the nurse waited respectfully, ‘Buona notte, mio lione.’

Gabe smiled. ‘You haven’t called me that in forever.’

‘Always my lion.’ He looked over to Stella. ‘Buona notte.’

‘Goodnight, Conte…’

‘Geo,’ he said, and she understood what Sir Charles had meant about having the privilege to call him that.

‘Thank you—you’ve been so generous, letting me see the ballroom and your beautiful photos.’

‘It was a pleasure to spend this evening with you, Stella.’

The nurse was about to turn the chair, but his grandfather put up his trembling hand, first to halt the nurse and then to invite Stella to, ‘Come, my dear,’ gesturing her towards him, and Gabe watched on, more than a little stunned that his grandfather invited her to farewell him in a familial way. Stella hesitated, her English reserve perhaps holding her back, but then she leaned down and kissed him, first on the right cheek and then on the left.

* * *

‘Thank you,’ Gabe said when he had gone, wishing she would sit back down, but Stella remained standing as he sat. ‘He enjoyed reminiscing.’

‘I enjoyed hearing it,’ she admitted.

‘Wasn’t quite what I intended when I asked you back.’

‘I know—’ she smiled ‘—but it was lovely, though I really do have to go.’

‘Don’t head off.’

‘I must, I have a lot on tomorrow. Pino’s picking me up at eight.’

‘Stella—’ he caught her hand as she stood ‘—stay here tonight.’

‘No.’ She pulled her hand back or she’d be on his lap. She was torn, wanting to leave but knowing it would be more than her heart could take to stay.

To know him more.

But also, it felt a little disrespectful to his grandfather, even if his quarters were some distance away.

Oh, Gabe was mid-thirties, she guessed, and no doubt he often brought women back.