“What makes you say that?”
“He told me.”
Abby watched the frown deepen on Carla’s beautiful face. “No, I don’t believe it. Then why did he marry you in such a rush?”
“Children, Carla. He wanted children.” Abby looked at the Italian woman. “Perhaps you can tell me why having children was so important that he’d marry a woman he’d only just met and whom he didn’t love.”
Carla chewed her bottom lip and played with the teaspoon on her saucer.
“He’s having tests. Every few months I’m told. You wouldn’t know what he is being tested for?” Abby added.
She watched Carla’s face drain of color.
“Who told you this?”
“One of the nurses tried to comfort my grandmother with the knowledge that the hospital was first class. She let slip that even Conte Dante Lombardi trusted them with his tests.”
Carla said nothing for several moments. “It is probably nothing. Dante has regular tests of his prostate because of his father.”
Abby shook her head. “There is more to it. I can feel it.”She raised teary eyes to Carla. “Why else am I here? Why does he want a young, unsophisticated English girl for a wife?”
“I don’t understand. What are you trying to say?”
She couldn’t look at the woman across from her so she looked once more at the children, although to see them cut her to her core. “Dante is so desperate for a child he blackmailed me back into his bed. A child in exchange for helping my grandmother.”
Carla gasped. “No. He wouldn’t. Why?”
“Perhaps he felt he was running out of time. What if his test results were bad?”
Carla sat looking out on the piazza, twirling the string of pearls that lay at her throat. Finally she turned to Abby. “You have to ask him. Get him to admit the truth.”
“There has never been much truth spoken between us.” She lowered her voice. “Besides, now I’m too scared to know the truth.”
Carla looked at her shrewdly. “If you don’t know there is anything wrong with Dante, why are you so upset? Is there something else? Has your grandmother had a relapse?”
Abby ignored her question. “You could ask him. He’d be more likely to tell a friend. If I know Dante, he’ll not want his family to know anything is wrong.” She looked at Carla pleadingly. “But he might unburden to a friend, especially if he thinks we don’t know each other. Will you? Will you ask Dante and let me know?”
Carla looked uneasy. “You want me to spy for you?”
“Sort of. Please. Don’t tell him we’ve met or that you’re going to report the full conversation back to me.”
“Will knowing help you with whatever has you so upset?”
“I’m not sure, but someone has to make Dante realize he doesn’t have to carry his problems locked up inside. Stress is not good for the body, and if he is ill, less stress would be preferable. He could do with having someoneto confide in. I want to help him.” Her throat constricted. “I love him, Carla. Even if he does not love me.”
“If you love him, can I ask why you left?”
Abby put more sugar in her coffee and stirred. “I should never have married him when I was so young. I didn’t know what I was doing. I got scared and bolted.”
She looked at Abby with pity. “If it is bad news, how do I know you won’t ‘bolt’ again? He will need you. Can I trust that you will stay and support him?”
Abby’s eyes flooded with tears once more. “I’d never willingly leave Dante ever again. I love him.” She didn’t add that Dante might well tell her to leave once he learned of her condition.
Carla reached across the table and patted her hand. “Then I will speak with Dante.” She held her hand up to stop Abby’s thank-you. “That doesn’t mean he’ll actually tell me. I can ask, but Dante is a proud man. He hates showing weakness. He tries to be like his father, contained. Dante’s father never told his family he was sick until he collapsed and was taken to the hospital.” Carla looked sad. “He died very quickly after that. It’s not common knowledge, but he took an overdose of morphine. Dante was furious. He thought his father gave up on them.”
Abby remembered his savage comment as they went to see her grandmother in hospital. “Dante once told me he’d never give up. He’d fight tooth and nail for his life. Now I know why.”
Carla stood and moved to Abby’s side and kissed her on both cheeks. “Dante’s a fighter, Abby. If he is ill, I’d bet on him beating it. Anyway, don’t worry yourself sick until I’ve found out if there is any reason to worry. Promise?”
