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‘It’s good you were here before they arrived.’

‘Yes,’ Stella agreed.

She felt she’d got the very best of Sant Lavia.

The very best of Gabe.

And with that she would be happy.

Chapter Seven

GABE WOKE EARLY, as always. He almost felt hungover, but there had been no excesses yesterday.

Well, an excess of feeling, or joy, and he guessed that explained it, because he hadn’t allowed himself to develop a tolerance for that.

And he would not start now.

He knew that Stella was being picked up at eight, and very deliberately he waited until nine, then called Reception at Bella Vista and asked to be put through to her suite.

He waited, breath held in his lungs, his fingers drumming silently on the walnut desk…regretting yesterday enormously, for he had got by far too close. Then the receptionist spoke.

‘Mi dispiace, signore, la Signorina Harper ha già lasciato l’hotel.’

Miss Harper had checked out.

Gabe exhaled in relief.

He hadn’t been ringing in the hope she was there—he’d been calling to ensure she had gone.

* * *

‘Signor Gabriel…’ There was a knock at the door and the worried round face of Signora Maria appeared. ‘Il Conte doesn’t look well but is refusing his medicine. I’ve called for the doctor.’

Gabe took the stairs to the top floor and braced himself to go in. Indeed, his grandfather did not look well.

‘Hey,’ Gabe said. ‘What’s all this about you not taking your medicine?’

‘I don’t want to sleep through my own death,’ Geo said.

‘Nonsense,’ Gabe said. ‘You did too much yesterday, that’s all.’

‘Gabe, please don’t pretend. We both know I am dying.’

Gabriel was silent for a moment and then nodded. ‘Tell me what you want me to do.’

‘Sit with me.’

‘Of course.’

That he could do.

It was a long and difficult day. The doctor came but his presence annoyed Geo, as did the nurses, so they agreed to wait in the lounge, ready to be called if required. And when Gabe found out the press had arrived, he made it his mission that his grandfather did not find out.

‘Get the police if you have to,’ he told Eduardo. ‘Just keep them the hell back.’

There was some chaos in the grounds, but there was nothing but peace in Geo’s bedroom.

‘I’m glad I met her.’ Geo looked over. ‘Your young lady.’