Venetian Masquerade by Suzanne Stokes Read Free Book Online

years earlier. I packed my things and left Rome without telling a soul. Three weeks later, I realized I was pregnant, and you can imagine what a shock that was. By then, I had decided although I desperately wanted his child, I had to cut Alessandro completely out of my life. There was no way I was going to tell him about the baby. I stayed with Mama until a few months after James was born and never saw Alessandro again until the day before I came to Venice, when I backed into his car outside my office.”
    Gabriel walked up and down the threadbare carpet for a few minutes. “Did he marry the heiress?”
    “Yes. About a year later, I saw the pictures in a society magazine.” She remembered the tearfully sleepless night she had spent after seeing those photographs. But for James’s sake, she had thrown the magazine away and resolved never to think about the wretched man again. It hadn’t worked, of course, and even though she’d gone on a few dates, she couldn’t bear the thought of a sexual relationship with anyone else and had ended each liaison before it got too serious.
    “Well, he has no business to pursue you now,” said Gabriel, “and of course, if you need me to pose as your partner, I shall do so with relish,” he added fiercely.
    “You’re such a flirt, Gabriel.” Amy managed a weak smile. “But you do cheer me up. Now, let’s go to bed…no, I mean, I’m going to bed because I am on my knees with weariness, and tomorrow…well, tomorrow will be the beginning of a new adventure.”
    Amy woke early and went downstairs to finish cleaning up after the funeral. She washed the remaining plates and put the kettle on the range to make coffee. Carmela emerged a short while later, rubbing her eyes and calling for Antonio to go to the bakery for bread and rolls. Then James arrived back with Sonya and Donna, having enjoyed his sleepover. Gabriel, who had stayed overnight, also wandered yawning into the kitchen. Suddenly, the room was full of kind, caring people, and Amy began to cry.
    James ran to her. “Mama, what’s the matter? You’re not ill like Maria, are you?”
    “No, darling, I’m not ill. I’m sad because Maria has gone, but I’m happy, too, to be here in Venice with all these lovely people. Thank you, all of you, for being so supportive.”
    They gathered around her, murmuring and patting her, and soon, the whole company had assembled around the table for breakfast. Coffee was poured and hot rolls spread with butter and jam.
    “Mama, are we going home to London soon?” James asked her as she wiped raspberry jam off his chin.
    ‘Do you want to go back, James?”
    “No. I miss Grandmamma, but I like it here and I am going to marry Donna.”
    Amy almost choked, and managing not to laugh aloud, she hugged him. “Then, we’ll stay.” She turned to the assembled company of friends and told them, “As you all know, the villa is mine now, and Maria had the idea of turning it into a hotel, so that’s what I plan to do.”
    “I’m so glad.” Gabriel put an arm round her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “I know an excellent architect; he’s a friend and he is honest. Shall I ask him to come to see you?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    “I can help you get James settled,” chimed in Sonya. “He’s almost the same age as Donna, so they will be in the same class at school. And I am a cordon bleu cook, so maybe, when the hotel is up and running…”
    “You’ve got the job,” said Amy, giving her new friend a hug.
    “We can still do a bit of cleaning and gardening till you get on your feet,” offered Carmela, and Amy was deeply touched that the sweet old couple wanted to be involved.
    “It’s a deal.”
    “What are you going to call the hotel?” asked Donna. “It has to have a name like all the others down the road.”
    “Hotel Maria,” she replied without hesitation. “It will be Hotel Maria.”

Chapter Four
    A my called Jake during the morning and explained to him how her