Second-Best Wife by Rebecca Winters

Author:Rebecca Winters [Winters, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781460872161
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1995-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

BY THE time they found the Ridolfi farm on the outskirts of Loretello, the late afternoon sun had lost a little of its heat. Luke shut off the air conditioner and lowered the windows so they could breathe the luscious scent coming from the vineyards lining the road.

The tile-roofed farmhouse rested on a hillside surrounded by well-tended crops of vegetables planted in perfect lines. A middle-aged farmer working down one of the rows heard their car and waved.

After a brief exchange which she couldn’t follow, Luke translated. Apparently the man named Lorenzo said they would find his father, Carlo, over the other side of the hill tying vines.

Once more the car followed the meandering lane until they arrived at another stretch of vineyard. Here they came upon the short, leather-faced family patriarch in dark beret and white shirt sleeves. He looked at least eighty years old, yet worked with the speed of his son.

Luke got out of the car and walked over to him. For the next ten minutes Gaby stayed put, watching and listening in rapt attention as the two men conversed back and forth, using their hands to demonstrate everything they were saying. A long time ago she decided that if you tied an Italian’s hands, he wouldn’t be able to talk at all.

When she saw Luke unexpectedly put a hand on the old man’s shoulder and shake the other one in a firm grip, her heart rate accelerated because she had a feeling he’d learned something important.

Luke’s black eyes held a triumphant gleam as the two men walked toward the car. The old farmer’s mouth broke into a broad smile when Luke introduced her as Gabriella.

“What have you found out?” she cried, hardly able to contain her excitement.

“Carlo’s great uncle once removed was Vittore Ridolfi. Apparently Vittore was the outcast of the Ridolfi clan who farmed a piece of family property in the next valley.

“The story goes that as a young man, he had a bit of a wild streak and went to Rome for a fortnight. When he returned, he brought back a young woman who’d already had a baby by another man.”

“Amalia! Then that means my great-grandmother might have been born in or around Rome.”

Luke nodded. “Yes. He insisted on marrying her, but the family refused to recognize the child. When the girl, Gabriella, grew up, she ran off with an American and was never seen again. It broke the mother’s heart. They died childless.”

“Oh—” Gaby’s eyes smarted painfully. “How sad for them when my great-grandmother was so happy in her own marriage.”

Luke expelled a breath. “Carlo says the girl was known to have her mother’s red hair. She was also reputed to be a great beauty, just like you.” His voice sounded thick.

She knew he was only passing on the other man’s compliment, but his tone made it so personal, her body trembled.

As if Carlo understood what was going on, he nodded and pointed to her hair. More Italian poured out of him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.