The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley Read Free Book Online Page A

for too?’ Giulio sat down heavily on the sofa. ‘ Mamma mia , Carlotta! I knew you were selfish, but I had no idea you were completely heartless. Who else knows of this?’
    ‘No one.’
    ‘Give me the truth, Carlotta, please. You owe me that at the very least.’
    ‘Luca knew,’ she admitted.
    ‘You plotted together, did you?’ he spat at her.
    ‘No, Giulio. It wasn’t like that. I was desperate. And I thought that, as I was going to marry you anyway—’
    Giulio reached out and gripped her arm. ‘Were you, Carlotta? I thought you said earlier that you didn’t love me, didn’t even like me, in fact?’
    ‘Ouch! Please, Giulio, you’re hurting me. I told you, I didn’t mean those things, I—’
    ‘But you did mean them, Carlotta.’ He let go of her arm suddenly and sighed wearily. ‘I’m not a bad man. I’ve only ever wanted the best for you and Ella. All these years I’ve worked so hard to try and make you love me the way I loved you. And now I discover my marriage was a sham before it even began!’
    ‘Please, Giulio, please!’ she begged him. ‘Give me another chance. I will make it up to you, I promise. Now I’ve told you, we can start again without any lies. A clean slate . . .’
    ‘No,’ Giulio laughed bitterly, ‘there’s no way back from here, Carlotta. While I was out I walked and did some thinking, and I’ve made a decision. Now that you’ve finally been honest with me, I want you to pack your things and leave. You can tell everyone you’ve left your husband because he was cheating on you. No one need ever know the truth. I’m prepared to take the blame for Ella’s sake. Even if she’s not my flesh and blood, I’ve loved her as if she was. And I don’t wish to bring disgrace on her.’
    ‘No, Giulio, please! Where will I go? What will I do?’ Carlotta moaned in despair.
    ‘That’s no concern of mine anymore. My company has offices in Rome and I will ask for a transfer there as soon as I can.’
    ‘But what of Ella? She thinks of you as her father. She loves you, Giulio.’
    ‘You should have thought of that before you deceived us both.’ He turned from her, still shaking with anger and emotion. ‘I’m going to bed now. I’m tired. You will sleep in here and when I leave for the office tomorrow morning, you will pack your things and be gone by the time I arrive home.’
    Antonia hugged her daughter to her considerable bosom. ‘Of course you can both stay with us for a while. You know you need not even ask. Oh Carlotta, my poor child, what is it? What has happened?’ She surveyed her daughter with concern. ‘You look like a ghost. Do you want to lie down? You can sleep in your old room with Ella, and Rosanna can sleep on the sofa in the sitting room.’
    A pale Carlotta nodded wearily. ‘Oh Mamma, oh Mamma, I . . .’
    Antonia caught sight of four-year-old Ella looking in distress at her mother. She called out for Luca, who appeared at the door. ‘Take Ella down to the kitchen and find her something to eat while I talk to your sister,’ she murmured. ‘God only knows what has happened.’
    Luca looked at Carlotta. Her distraught face told him only one story.
    Antonia took out her handkerchief and wiped her brow as she bustled her daughter into the bedroom. ‘Dear me, it’s too hot to have such problems today.’
    ‘I’m sorry. I won’t stay for long.’ Carlotta sank onto the bed and Antonia sat down heavily next to her. ‘Are you all right, Mamma? You look sick.’
    ‘Yes, I’m fine. It’s only the heat. Please, Carlotta, tell me what’s happened. You and Giulio have had a bad argument, yes?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘You mustn’t worry.’ Antonia embraced her daughter. ‘All husbands and wives argue. Your papa and I used to do it all the time. Now we don’t have the energy.’ She gave a tight laugh. ‘When you’ve slept a little, you’ll feel calmer. Then you can go back to Giulio and make it up.’
    ‘No, Mamma. I can never go back. Giulio and me,