‘Yes, it was an exhilarating time. The bakery was very old-fashioned and Isabel was keen to renovate it. She fell in love with the builder who came to do the work,’ Violet explained. ‘They were married within the year and soon afterwards, Isabel conceived. Belle wasn’t a planned baby. They had intended to wait for a few years but once she was on the way, they came round to the idea and got very excited…’
‘And then something went wrong,’ Matilde guessed as Violet’s voice trailed off into silence.
‘Two days after Belle was born, Isabel and Stefan’s car was hit by a drunk driver. They had gone out to pick up her pram and had left Belle with me,’ Violet explained tightly, her eyes stinging at the memory of receiving that tragic news. ‘Afterwards, I was most shocked that she had had the foresight to write a will and leave the business and her daughter to my care if anything happened to them.’
‘A huge responsibility for a young woman of your age to take on.’
‘It was. Initially, I was doing it for Isabel’s sake but looking after Belle, I began to love her as if she was my own child. I have no regrets.’
‘You’re quite mature for your age,’ Matilde remarked.
‘Tore’s been very good with her,’ Violet shared. ‘He wasn’t expecting me to arrive with a child as I’m sure you know, but he came round to the idea surprisingly quickly.’
‘My grandson is not as hard as he likes people to believe. He did have a tough upbringing and it taught him to distrust people, which is unfortunate. He spends too much time working, not enough time relaxing. I think you and Belle could be exactly what he needs,’ Matilde informed her.
‘Hopefully, we will be for the next three years,’ Violet replied, dropping in the timely reminder that she was well aware that there was an end date to their fake marriage.
‘That was the most amazing birthday cake last night,’ Tore’s grandmother responded, stepping neatly away from the previous controversial topic of conversation. ‘And your cinnamon rolls are to die for!’
‘Tore tried to stop me baking,’ Violet confided with a twinkle in her eyes. ‘It didn’t work. He thought it was beneath his wife to be working in the kitchen even though it was my choice to be there.’
Matilde laughed. ‘Obviously, you disabused him of that conviction.’
‘I did…we had a huge row.’
‘It will do Tore no harm to have someone willing to stand up to him now and again.’ The two women began to walk back along the shore. Belle was getting restless and Violet unclipped her harness, took off her socks and let her dip her toes in the water. Delighted baby chuckles rewarded them.
Over a light lunch, Aldo announced that he and Matilde planned to immediately move back into the castle to host the family guests, who would be arriving for the rest of the month.
Tore glanced at the older man in astonishment.
‘You’ve done very well or should I say… Violet has done very well?’ Aldo quipped with a rueful glance at his grandson. ‘But you deserve a break from these responsibilities. You’re newly married. You have our blessing to go somewhere else to enjoy your freedom without the burden of entertaining visitors.’
Tore gave the older man a sudden slashing grin. ‘Admit it, you missed playing family host.’
‘No. I’m simply letting you off the hook.’
‘If you’re sure that this is what you want to do,’ Violet murmured uncertainly.
‘We are,’ Matilde assured her. ‘And I would offer to look after Belle but I shan’t because she’d miss you too much. Perhaps we could do that for you when she knows us better.’
‘If the opportunity arises, that would be wonderful,’ Violet replied, grateful for the offer but not knowing if she would ever take it up. After all, just as she was a fake wife, Tore’s grandparents were only temporary grandparents-in-law because they knew that she would only feature in their lives for a short space of time.
‘I’ll organise our departure,’ Tore announced over coffee.
‘I’ll pack. Any hints about where we’re going?’ Violet asked.
‘We’re heading to my house in Tuscany. What Nonna calls my restoration project. But I assure you that very few areas in the house still require work. We will be perfectly comfortable there.’
‘Tuscany,’ she repeated. ‘That would be quite a long drive.’
‘It would be but we’re not driving there. We’re travelling by helicopter. More suitable for Belle. I’ll ask Stella if she would like to accompany us,’ he added.
‘Oh, I could manage—’ Violet began.
‘Do you like Stella?’ Tore asked and waited until she had nodded. ‘And do you approve of the way she looks after Belle?’
‘Yes, she’s marvellous with herbut—’
