Moth to the Flame (26 page)

her choice was finally made, she found her ear was keyed over the

top of the music for the sound of a car approaching along the coast

road.

She could hardly believe it when she glanced at her watch and

found that it was past midnight, and for the first time it occurred to

her that they might not return that night. She flinched inwardly as

the thought and all its implications manifested itself. She wandered

round the room, going to the window every few minutes and staring

out into the velvety blackness, hoping to see it slashed by powerful

headlights. She tried to remember other trips Santino had taken, and

how long he had been away, but her mind refused to work properly.

She sat down in a corner of the sofa and tried to make herself relax,

but all the time she was on edge, listening for the sound of the car.

She had no idea at what hour her weariness and unhappiness

translated itself into sleep, but the next thing she knew it was

daylight and Amiunziata, her face furrowed with worry, was

bending over her, shaking her shoulder insistently.

'Ecco l'auto, signorina,' she announced.

Juliet sat up, wincing from cramped muscles. Her first thought was

flight. It would be dreadful for Santino and Jan to walk in and find

her sitting there waiting for them. Besides, she felt untidy and

dishevelled after her uncomfortable night, and did not want anyone

to see her looking like this. She was halfway up the stairs with

Annunziata busily undoing the bolts on the great door when

something prompted her to turn and look down on the scene below.

The same kind of motive that prompts one to bite on an aching

tooth, she told herself bitterly.

But it was not Santino's tall figure who entered as the door swung

open. It was the Signora. Nor was she alone. Her husband was just

behind her, and a young dark-haired girl whom Juliet had never

seen before. She turned to make her escape but it was too late.

'So you are there,
mia figlia.
Come here to me,' the Signora

ordered, and Juliet very reluctantly obeyed.

She was subjected to a critical glance from head to foot. 'What is

this?' the Signora demanded. 'Your eyes are red, and you are
molto

pallida.
Also your clothes are creased. What meaning is this?'

Well aware that Annunziata was standing nearby bursting to give

any information that she failed to provide, Juliet said, 'I—I fell

asleep on the sofa last night.'

'Are there no beds in this place?' the Signora enquired. 'And where

is my son who permits such a thing?'

Before Juliet could answer, Annunziata stepped forward and took

the initiative. As she proceeded, Juliet saw a dark frown appear on

the Signora's brow, and eventually she silenced Annunziata with a

slight gesture.

'So is in Rome,' she said, turning to Juliet. 'Why not you also?'

Juliet moved her shoulders wearily. She found this interrogation

embarrassing, particularly in front of this young stranger, although

judging by the puzzled expression on her charming oval face, she

did not understand much of it.

'Because he didn't ask me to,' she answered bluntly, then forcing a

smile turned to Signor Peretto and asked whether they had had

breakfast.

The Signora belatedly recalled her social obligations. 'Francesca,

come here,' she ordered. 'I wish to present you to Giulietta who is to

marry Santino.'

'No.' Juliet shook her head. Under the circumstances she couldn't go

on with this charade any longer, she decided. 'We—we have

decided that we should only make each other miserable,
signora,

and I—have decided to return to England.'

'This I do not understand,' the Signora said roundly. 'Later you shall

explain. But now go and take off that crumpled dress.'

Juliet was more than happy to obey. As she went back up •the

stairs, she could feel the puzzled gaze of the girl Francesca boring

into her back, and could understand her bewilderment. Presumably

she had been brought here to meet her future sister-in-law, only to

learn that it had been a wasted journey. In a way, Juliet felt almost

regretful. Francesca had a sweet face and gentle eyes, and on a

different occasion, under other circumstances, she would have

enjoyed making her acquaintance.

. She had a quick bath, and changed into a flared cream skirt and a

long-sleeved navy silk shirt before making her way downstairs

again. Annunziata was serving coffee and hot rolls, and the Signora

gestured to Juliet to join them. Juliet was half afraid that another

inquisition was about to start, but instead the Signora chatted

amiably about the forthcoming wedding, about guest lists and china,

and the bishop who had agreed to perform the ceremony. Stealing a

glance at Francesca under her lashes while this recital was going

on, Juliet thought she had never seen a girl look quite so glowingly

radiant at the prospect of her wedding, and she was thankful in her

heart that all her scheming had crane to nothing, and that she had

not managed to prevent Mario from marrying a girl who was clearly

besotted about him. She hoped very much that Francesca would

never hear about his lapse, and was glad that Jan was miles away in

Rome at this moment.

When breakfast was over the Signora ordered her husband to take

Francesca round the
castello,
and Juliet knew that the interrogation

could not be deferred any longer.

'Show her everything,' was the Signora's last instruction as the pair

prepared to depart. 'I have things to say to Giulietta.' She watched

them leave the room, then turned to the clearly apprehensive girl in

front of her.

'Now you explain,' she ordered. 'Until now, I think you marry my

Santino. Now you say you not marry. Why? Do you no longer love

him?'

Juliet felt a gasp rise in her throat and suppressed it hastily. So her

well-kept secret had in fact been an open book to everyone, she

thought unhappily, and there was no point in making any denials

under the Signora's shrewd gaze. They would not be believed.

'It isn't that.' She bent her head. 'But you see Santino doesn't really

want to marry me.'

'You speak of that tale he tells me—that he proposed only because

he has dishonoured you.' The Signora made a small contemptuous

noise. 'I do not believe that. Santino is a man of today. As I tell

myself later, he does not care for such things. Besides,' she added,

'you are the sister of that other one. What does my family owe you?

Nothing!'

She saw Juliet flush miserably and patted her hand. 'I should not

have said that. My son tells me you are different and I believe him.

So why will you not marry him?'

'You don't understand.' Juliet realised that complete frankness was

the only answer. 'We never were—really engaged. It was just a

story we made up.' Wearily she explained why Santino had insisted

on the pseudo-engagement.

The Signora heard her out, open-mouthed. 'Then why did he not tell

me this?' she demanded.

'I don't know.' Juliet shook her head. 'He—he said that I was to tell

no one that it—it was a hoax. And I haven't —until now. Only I'm

going away— tomorrow, I hope, and it probably doesn't matter any

more.'

The Signora sat frowning darkly. 'And my Santino is in Rome with

that other one, your sister?' She cast the heavens a malevolent

glance. 'And to think that I blessed myself that I had one son not a

fool!'

'Don't blame Santino,' Juliet said with some difficulty. 'He—he

didn't intend that it should work out like this.'

'Who knows what he intended?' the Signora said acidly. 'I doubt if

he know himself.' She studied Juliet for a moment and her

expression softened. 'So you love my son,' she said gently. 'Well, is

simple. Stay here and marry him. Tell that other one, your sister, to

go run a jump.'

Juliet felt more like crying, but she found herself smiling

unwillingly.

'I—I can't do that,
signora.
And Santino doesn't want me. He would

have—taken me when he thought I was Jan, but it all changed when

he discovered the truth. I—I really must get away. It will be easier

all round if I do.'

'But will it be easy for you?' The Signora gave Juliet a long

questioning look, and shook her head at what she saw. 'Do not do

this thing,
piccina,'
she urged gently. 'Stay and fight.'

Juliet sighed. 'I have nothing to light for,
signora,
' she said simply.

'It's better if I just—go, believe me.'

All day they waited for Santino to return, and at last, as evening

approached, the Signora yielded to her husband's persuasions and

agreed to return to the villa outside Messina where they were

staying with Francesca's aunt and her family. She would, she said,

return, however, and the promise was uttered in a tone that boded

ill for Santino.

Juliet had finished dinner and was sitting alone in the
salotto
telling

herself that another night on the sofa was out of the question, when

she heard the sound of the car. For a moment she felt like flight,

then she clenched her hands into fists and sat down again, hiding

them in the folds of her skirts.

Jan came in first. She was laughing as she entered, and it seemed to

Juliet's over-stretched nerves that there was a note of triumph in that

laugh. She checked when she saw her sister's quiet figure.

'Darling,' she said, 'how sweet! Sitting around like faithful

Penelope!' She sauntered across to the sofa and sat down at the

other end of it, raising her arms languorously above her head.

'It has been,' she murmured, a tantalising smile playing about the

corners of her mouth 'Quite some trip.'

Juliet forced her stiff mouth to work. 'I didn't know you were going.'

Jan's smile widened. She had all the appearance of the cat who has

had the cream and intends to make the saucer hers as well. 'Santino

was most insistent, sweetie,' she said gaily. 'To be frank—and I

know you won't mind my mentioning it—I think he finds this

engagement of yours a teeny bit of a bore. I expect it seemed like a

good idea at the time. Well, he may get engaged on the spur of the

moment, but he certainly won't get married in the same way.' She

paused, but Juliet said nothing, so after a minute she continued

gently, 'Just one more thing, darling. I really wouldn't wear my heart

on my sleeve quite so openly. That little scene on the

beach-—dragging him off with you like that when you could see he

didn't want to go—not awfully dignified, my love. Learn to be a

good loser.'

Juliet rose to her feet. 'I don't think I want to learn anything, thank

you,' she said quite courteously. 'I shall be leaving here in the

morning anyway. But before I go, there's one thing I must say, Jan,

although I never thought I would for Mim's sake. You are without

doubt the biggest bitch I've ever met, and I very much hope that I

never have to set eyes on you again, sister or not.' It was her turn to

smile then at the look of utter astonishment on Jan's lovely face.

'And please ask Santino not to disturb me tonight,' she went on. 'If

he would just leave my money and passport here in the
salotto,
I'll

collect it on my way out.'

'Don't be a fool,' Jan said icily. 'How do you propose getting out of

this dead-and-alive hole unless he takes you?'

'I'll find a way,' Juliet said. 'I'd rather walk back to Rome in my bare

feet in any case than ask either of you for the slightest favour.'

She heard a slight movement behind her and turned to see Santino

standing in the doorway. Judging by the grim look on his face, there

was little doubt he had clearly heard her last remark.

Juliet turned and made for the stairs, not faltering when his voice

rang after her. 'Giulietta!'

She took no notice. She was just setting foot on the bottom stair

when he caught her.

Furiously she shook his detaining hand from her arm. 'Please let go

of me!'

'I have some things to say to you.' He needed a shave, she noticed,

and his face betrayed a lack of sleep. She bit her lip as her reason

told her the obvious explanation.

'I don't want to hear them,' she said in a low voice. 'I have some

good advice to pass on to you, Santino. Learn to be a good loser.'

She went on up the stairs, leaving him standing there, and there was

nothing in the world that would have made her look back.