A Bride Worth Millions by Chantelle Shaw

Author:Chantelle Shaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

ATHENA’S FOOTSTEPS ECHOED on the black-and-white chequered floor of the entrance hall at Villa De Rossi. Luca’s secluded home, set in thirty acres of stunning parkland with views of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains, was a haven of peace and tranquillity after vibrant Las Vegas. Athena had fallen in love with the villa at first sight, and after three days of exploring the house and beautiful gardens she felt incredibly lucky that she would be able to spend time here for the year while she was married to Luca.

But if the past few days were anything to go by she would not be spending much time with her husband. She hadn’t seen him since the evening they had arrived at the villa and he had shown her to a suite of rooms: a large bedroom, en-suite bathroom and a charming sitting room overlooking the lake.

She had eaten dinner in splendid isolation in the wooden-panelled dining room, and when she’d asked the affable butler, Geomar, if the Conte—she had been shocked to discover that Luca had a title—would be joining her, she had been informed that he was very busy.

Whatever it was that occupied him, it wasn’t to do with his work.

His design studio, on the second floor of the villa, was a huge space, which must have been created by knocking through several rooms. Athena had taken a quick look inside, and had been amazed by the dozens of sketches pinned to the walls. Luca’s designs. He was obviously a gifted artist, who used bold pencil or charcoal strokes on his drawings, and she had thought how fussy her own drawings were in comparison.

Luca had not been in his studio or in his study when she’d looked. The villa was huge, and she remembered he had said they would be able to keep out of each other’s way most of the time.

At least the staff were friendly—and Geomar and his wife Elizavetta, who was the cook and housekeeper, spoke reasonably fluent English. She would have to find someone to give her Italian lessons, Athena thought. The two nurseries in nearby villages where she had made enquiries about a possible job both required her to be able to speak at least basic Italian.

The late summer sunshine pouring through the front windows filled the entrance hall with golden light and danced across the portraits of the De Rossi family lining the walls. Luca’s ancestors shared his classically sculpted, rather haughty features, but she noticed that none had his curious amber-coloured eyes. The two most recent portraits were of a stern-faced couple who Athena guessed must be Luca’s grandparents and, in contrast, a last picture of a smiling woman wearing an eye-catching orange dress. She was very beautiful, with long black hair and slanting eyes, and she looked so vividly alive that Athena almost expected her to spring out from the canvas.

‘My mother—Beatriz.’

Luca’s gravelly voice sent a ripple of reaction through Athena and she spun round to see him walking into the hall through a door which was usually kept locked.

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