LoveMakers by Gould Judith

Author:Gould, Judith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: wealth, international, power, new york, ambition, high society, luxury hotels
Publisher: Renaissance Literary & Talent

The moment Charlotte-Anne left the music room, a secret wall panel concealed by the striped, blue-and-gold wall fabric swung soundlessly open. His Eminence Giovanni, Cardinal Corsini, the same man Charlotte-Anne had met at her first dinner aboard the Ile, stepped gracefully into the room, his ankle-length soutane rustling as it swirled around his legs. His thin face with its high, angular cheekbones held an impassive expression. He pushed the panel shut with the palm of his hand.

The Principessa Marcella di Fontanesi turned wearily to him. 'You heard everything?' she asked in Italian.

He nodded and slipped into a chair. 'She has spirit,' he said expressionlessly.

'Spirit!' The Principessa snorted. 'She is asking to be shot. And she will end up getting us all shot. These modern American girls - they think they are entitled to everything. It is true what is said about them. They are only interested in one thing - to marry titles.'

His Eminence steepled his bony fingers and held them against his brittle lips. 'This one cannot be bought off,' he murmured. 'I see now that I have misjudged her. I was wrong.'

'Yes, you were wrong.' The Principessa took a seat opposite him, but the light seemed to go out of her. 'However, I am still grateful that you hurried here and warned us about the marriage before they arrived. To show our gratitude, the church will, of course, receive a sizeable donation, as always.'

'Whatever charity you find it in your heart to give, Principessa,' the cardinal said softly, 'the church is grateful for.' He stared at her with an expression of hurt. 'I did not come because of the donation.'

The Principessa smiled tightly. 'Of course not.' She glanced down at her hands as she wrung them nervously in her lap. 'It seems we have all underestimated the girl,' she mused aloud. She looked back up at him. 'How do you suggest we proceed?'

He half-smiled. 'With utmost delicacy.'

'Of course.' She tightened her lips. 'Much as I hate to admit it, she has threatened our sole vulnerability. And perhaps she really does love Luigi. Only time will tell.'

'Then you wish the marriage to be recognized?'

'Do I have any choice?'

The cardinal shrugged. 'Not much. It depends on how serious she is about carrying out her threat.'

'The results of which, your Eminence,' the Principessa reminded him drily, 'we cannot afford to even consider.'

He nodded gravely. 'These are difficult times,' he sighed.

'But it is true that their marriage, as it stands now, is not recognized?'

'It depends, Principessa. In the courts of America, England, and Germany, it is official. According to Rome, however, it is not. Prince Luigi and his wife are living in sin. Any child they conceive would be conceived in sin. She is not even Catholic. I discovered that on the ship.'

The Principessa nodded and pursed her lips. 'In that case, I suppose we have no choice. We must make certain this marriage gets recognized with all due haste. Of course,' she added delicately, 'we will only be too happy to show just how grateful we are for any red tape you are able to cut.

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.