Italian Marriage: In Name Only by Kathryn Ross

Author:Kathryn Ross
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance: Modern, General, Romance, Romance - General, Fiction, Fiction - Romance
ISBN: 9780373527649
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-04-13T04:00:00+00:00

Victoria stood in front of the mirror and studied her reflection. The suit was boring, the shirt beneath it prim. But maybe Antonio wanted her to look businesslike so that she would be taken seriously as his wife.

Who knew what was going through his mind, or what this was all about.

Anyway, she had complied with his wishes, had even pinned her hair back into the chignon that he had requested. She bit down on the softness of her lower lip as she remembered how he’d told her he disliked her hair when it fell around her shoulders. The remark had hurt, but she couldn’t understand why, because she didn’t care what he thought of her, she reminded herself grimly.

She’d had to remember that fact a few times last night as she’d sat alone in the formal dining room being waited upon by Sarah. Had to remind herself that she’d rather have eaten alone than dine with a man who really didn’t want her company. Yet a stark feeling of isolation had plagued her.

Crazy, given that she didn’t want to be around Antonio anyway—and loneliness was something she was used to.

How was it she felt more lonely here than she did in her apartment when Nathan was in bed and she was eating a solitary supper?

Maybe it was just the fact that she missed her staff and friends in the restaurant. Maybe it was that she wasn’t used to being waited on by someone and felt uncomfortable with that too. She had offered to eat in the kitchen, had asked if she could help with any chores that needed doing, but Sarah had looked appalled.

‘It’s not your place to work in a kitchen, Signora Cavelli!’ she had said.

‘But I’ve worked in a kitchen nearly all of my life,’ she had told the woman quietly. ‘And besides, I like cooking.’

The woman had pursed her lips and muttered something about it not being quite right or proper.

Whatever that meant. Victoria sighed. She couldn’t pretend to be something she wasn’t.

Today she had gone into the kitchen anyway and had made breakfast for herself and Nathan before the woman had realized she was in there.

‘You really shouldn’t be doing that,’ Sarah had said when she’d walked in and found her. ‘I’m supposed to be looking after you!’

‘Well, I’m just not used to that!’ Victoria had said honestly. ‘And anyway, I was hoping if I spent some time with you in the kitchen I could pick up a few tips on authentic Italian cuisine while I was here.’

There had been a brief moment when she wasn’t sure if the woman would just shoo her out anyway, but then the stern features had relaxed and she had shrugged. ‘Every region of Italy has its own different authentic cuisine—which area were you interested in?’

It was strange but after that they seemed to get along quite well. They’d spent an amicable few hours glancing through recipe books and Victoria had felt more relaxed than she had in a long time.

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