Trapped by Vialli's Vows by Chantelle Shaw

Author:Chantelle Shaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘WHAT MADE YOU interested in restoring old theatres?’ Marnie asked Leandro one afternoon, a week or so after they had arrived in Florence. They were sitting in Piazzale Michelangelo, a famous square which offered panoramic views over the city. From the cafeteria where they were drinking latte they could see the iconic terracotta tiled roof of the Duomo.

Earlier in the day they had visited the Teatro Musicale, a beautiful eighteenth-century theatre that had become derelict until Leandro had bought it with the intention of restoring it to its former glory.

‘Money,’ he said bluntly. He grinned at her surprised expression. ‘Forget any notion you might have that I save ancient buildings out of a romantic love of history. I’m a businessman, and I only restore theatres that I’m certain I can turn into profitable venues.’

She looked at him thoughtfully. ‘I’m not sure that’s entirely true. I watched you walk around that theatre that you are paying to be restored and it was obvious that you have a genuine love of old buildings.’

‘I certainly admire great architectural design.’ Leandro paused and then said ruefully, ‘I’ll admit that the Teatro Musicale has special meaning for me because it’s where my mother started out as an opera singer before she went on to become a world-famous star of musical theatre.’

‘What was your mother like? She was such a big star. I’ve seen the film versions of a couple of musicals she starred in and her voice was amazing.’

‘Giulietta was incredibly talented. She had a presence both on stage and off it, and she drew people to her. She had the ability to make people fall in love with her just by smiling at them—including me.’

He laughed, but Marnie heard pain in his voice when he spoke again.

‘I was fascinated by her, and when I was a boy I longed to be with her so that she would smile at me and make me feel like she loved me. But I’m not sure that my mother actually loved anyone other than herself.’

‘Children need to feel loved,’ Marnie said fiercely. ‘My mother suffered from a severe depression, which meant that she was unable to care for me and my brothers. Sometimes I used to think it was my fault that she was so unhappy. I was a very well-behaved child because I thought if I was good my mum might stop crying and my dad might come back to live with us again.’

She had spent her life trying to please other people, Marnie realised, and the result was that she lacked self-confidence.

‘I want our child to grow up feeling secure and knowing that we will love him or her unconditionally,’ she told Leandro.

‘That’s what I want too, cara.’

He gave her one of his heart-stopping smiles and the fleeting doubts that she sometimes felt about their relationship melted away.

As they strolled across the piazza Marnie was aware that Leandro attracted the attention of every female he passed. It wasn’t surprising when he looked like a film star, dressed in black jeans, a polo shirt and designer shades, she conceded.

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