Dante's Dilemma (a Dante Legacy Novella) (11 page)

“You’re not. I’m making the offer.” He tossed her a tender smile. “Roses flourish in Florence, even ones in boxes. They just need a bit more care.”

“I can’t.”

His eyes narrowed, flaring with hot, gold sparks. “And if I offered to remain in Santa Lucia? To work your father’s vineyards in exchange for your hand in marriage?”

Her mouth trembled for an instant before she regained control. “It’s a generous offer, Rom. But I’d have to refuse.”

“So, you’re ending things between us.”

“Yes.”

“Very well. If there’s nothing I can say to change your mind, I must accept your decision.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t change my mind.”

He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. She fought to keep from shaking. She only needed to remain strong a few more minutes, and it would be over. Rom would express his regret and leave. And she would return to the cottage and continue the preparations for her wedding to Tito. She closed her eyes. How would she bear it?

“One quick question before I leave,
amore mia.”
How could he sound so casual when it felt as though her heart was breaking?

She cleared her throat. “What is it?”

“A few minutes ago, you said you have to go through with the marriage. Why do you
have
to?” Her gaze flashed to his in open alarm, and he smiled. “Ah. I believe that tells me everything I need to know.”

She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

“Why do you have to marry Tito?” he asked again.

“I… I never said that.”

“Yes, Julietta, you did. It was the first thing you said when I joined you. ‘I have to go through with the wedding.’ Why?”

She came as close to the truth as she dared. “Until you met me, honor was everything to you. Believe it or not, it’s important to me, too.” She forced herself to continue meeting his gaze, striving to appear resolved. “My family will suffer if I don’t marry Tito. How can I be content with you, if they pay the price for my happiness?”

He slipped a hand around her neck and drew her in for a lingering kiss. She returned it with a helpless passion. How would she survive without him? Worse, how could she allow Tito to touch her the way Rom had? She thrust the thought away, unwilling to have anyone else intrude on this final kiss. She closed her eyes, losing herself in his embrace. Their tongues tangled, his breath becoming hers. The heat of The Inferno burned between them, pulsating through her blood and quickening her heartbeat.

“I love you,” she moaned against his mouth. “I’ll always love you.”

“As I will always love you.”

She forced herself to pull away and stand. “I beg you, don’t attend the wedding. I couldn’t bear it.”

He bit off a curse and stood, as well. “You couldn’t bear it? I know there’s something else going on here. Something you’re not telling me.” His gaze narrowed, grew hard and resolute. “Know this, Julietta. I’ll let you go for now. I can’t promise to let you go forever.”

“Once I’m married to Tito, you’ll have to.”

“You’re not married to him, yet,” he retorted. “And if I have anything to say about it, you never will be.”

She didn’t dare respond. Without another word, she turned and walked away.

Rom continued to sit beside the rose bush for a long time after Julietta left, turning various options over in his mind. Nothing brilliant came to him and, at long last, he stood and brushed the grass from his trousers.

“I always thought Julietta was the weak one,” a woman said from somewhere nearby. “But I’ve underestimated her.”

Rom froze, searching the shadows cast by a widespread umbrella pine. After a moment, he found the womanly shape outlined against the tree trunk, her dark brown hair and clothing offering the perfect camouflage. “You, again.”

Serena smiled, amusement giving an attractive sparkle to her dark eyes. “Me, again.” She stepped into the sunlight. “And, yes, I’ve been following Julietta—at my mother’s request, I might add.”

“Do you intend to tell your mother about us?”

Serena tilted her head to one side. “I haven’t quite decided.”

Rom folded his arms across his chest. “Maybe you should. Maybe we should all sit down and discuss this ridiculous marriage. Get everything into the open.”

She gave a short, impatient laugh. “That wouldn’t end well for you, I’m afraid.”

“I’m willing to take my chances.”

She studied him closely, and a curious expression bloomed across her face. “You really love her, don’t you?”

Was she kidding? “Of course I love her. What the hell did you think?”

“That you were trying to seduce your best friend’s bride.”

“That would be dishonorable,” Rom said stiffly. Then, realizing the absurdity of his words, he blew out a sigh. “I wish to marry your sister, not seduce her. And though some might find that a somewhat dubious distinction, I consider it an important one.”

“Does Julietta feel the same way?” Serena demanded. “She wishes to marry you, too? This isn’t some sort of game the two of you are playing?”

“This isn’t a game. Your sister also wants to marry me. Or she did, until today. At least, I thought she did.” He frowned, his gaze sharpening. “Do you know what happened to change her mind?”

Serena hesitated, and he could tell she was weighing her options. “Mamma told her if she doesn’t marry Tito, we’ll be destitute,” she admitted candidly. “Even when they marry, what he pays for the vineyard will only relieve my parents of their debt. He’ll still end up supporting my entire family.”

“Is Tito aware of this?”

He caught a spark of anger in her stance. “No.”

Rom shook his head in disgust. “Poor Tito. Of all of us, he’s the true victim.”

He’d surprised her. “Do you truly believe that?”

He nodded. “I realize you don’t hold a high opinion of me. And I understand why. I don’t like deception, and yet, that’s exactly what I’ve done. Deceived the people who mean the most to me and Julietta. I would prefer to court your sister openly, to prove my worth and the sincerity of my love for your sister.”

“Very noble,” she said, a hint of mockery belying her words. “Why don’t you do that? I’m sure everyone will be delighted with the match. Tito will gladly relinquish his bride. My parents will be thrilled to welcome you as the perfect son-in-law. And you and Julietta will live happily ever after.”

Anger ripped through him. “Then what do you suggest? Do you believe your sister should marry a man whose touch repels her? Sacrifice herself for the benefit of her family? Destroy everyone’s lives? Because that’s what will happen if she marries Tito.”

He caught the flinch Serena couldn’t quite suppress at the mention of Tito’s name, and intuition created an unexpected connection. “You don’t want Tito to marry Julietta, do you?”

“No,” she confessed.

He’d found the lever he needed, and he used it ruthlessly. “You realize Tito is the one who will suffer the most,” he hammered at her. “All he wants is a damn vineyard. Instead, he’s saddled with a responsibility he knows nothing about—and won’t know about until it’s too late to make an informed choice. And then he’ll find himself in a loveless marriage with a wife he’ll come to despise and a family he’ll need to support. How is that fair?”

“It’s not,” she agreed. “There… there might be a way out, if you’re willing.”

“Tell me.”

“It isn’t the most honorable solution,” she equivocated.

“I’m still listening.”

“I suggest you steal Julietta away right before the wedding ceremony.”

For a moment Rom said nothing, then he laughed. Unbelievable. “Just out of curiosity, have you been talking to my grandfather?”

Serena blinked in surprise. “Signore Dante suggested this, as well?”

“Perhaps the three of us should get together.”

A smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Maybe we should.”

Julietta sat beside her youngest sisters, putting the final stitches in the dresses they’d wear to her wedding. The three of them, ranging from six to ten, were curled up together in bed, sleeping the sleep of the innocent, the soft glow from the bedside light not enough to disturb their slumber.

The past few days had been the most difficult of Julietta’s life, the pull of The Inferno a constant ache. Would she always feel the burn, even when Rom lived half a world away? She paused to rub at the itch in her palm. She suspected she would. Maybe, in time, it would bring her comfort, knowing that, once upon a time, she’d known true love, even if only for a moment.

She paused in her sewing to study her sisters. At least by marrying Tito she’d ensure their future. Someday they’d fall in love, too, and her decision would allow them to marry their Romeos instead of more practical suitors. It was worth the sacrifice, she struggled to convince herself. It would have to be, since she’d have precious little else to give her comfort over the coming years.

“Julietta?” Serena stood in the doorway.

Setting aside her sewing, she tiptoed from the room. “What’s wrong?”

A flash of compassion slipped across her sister’s expression, surprising Julietta. “Nothing’s wrong,” she said gently. “Mamma would like you to try on your gown so we can make any final adjustments.”

“It’s fine. I don’t need to try it on again.”

“Julietta—”

“Please…” Her voice broke, and she struggled to control it, to attain the sort of serenity her mother and sister seemed able to adopt with such ease. No doubt she’d have years of practice after her marriage. “Don’t ask me to try it on again.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Julietta gathered her composure. “Nothing,
grazie
.” She forced a smile and managed to smooth the rough edges tearing at her words. “Tell Mamma the gown fits beautifully. There will be time before we leave for the church for any final alterations.”

“You don’t have to go through with this.” Serena spoke with uncharacteristic urgency.

“Wouldn’t you, if you were in my position?”

“Yes, but—”

“Because you couldn’t bear to see your family destitute any more than I can.”

Serena started to speak, then closed her mouth. “Julietta… when the time comes, I hope you’ll choose the right path.”

Julietta closed her eyes, seeing again the dream, the diverging road with the left-hand path leading to Rom. The “right” path, her sister had said. Sadly, that was the one that led to Tito. “I think the right path already chose me.”

“Is everything set?” Rom asked.

Nonno
inclined his head. “I have spoken to the priest and he has agreed to marry you, even without the banns being read.”

Serena frowned. “Does
il sacerdote
realize they’ll be eloping?”

“Of course, though he pretends otherwise.”

“And he doesn’t have a problem with that?”

Nonno
shrugged. “He is an old friend. He will look the other way.” He patted his various pockets until he found the cigar he’d been searching for and took a moment to light it. A ring of smoke encircled his snowy head, and he stabbed the cigar in Rom’s direction. “We won’t mention my little lapse to your mamma, no?”

“She’ll smell it on you.”

He gave a fatalistic shrug. “A bridge to cross when I find it beneath my feet.” His brow furrowed in thought, and he clamped the cigar between his teeth, speaking around it. “Now. The
motociclo
is in my gardening shed covered with a tarp. It may be old, but it is trustworthy. If there weren’t an ocean or two in the way, you could ride it straight to America.”