Venetian Masquerade by Suzanne Stokes Read Free Book Online Page A

circumstances had changed. She told him she would be returning briefly to England the next week to pack her belongings and have them shipped to Venice and that she would call into the office to clear her desk. He was grumpy but understanding and wished her well. Janice was poised to step into her job, so everyone would be happy.
    Nervously, she asked if there had been any repercussions from her small traffic accident, and he said no, Alessandro di Benedetto was set to spend a great deal of money with the company and all was forgiven.
    “It seems you know the man?”
    “From years ago. Can I speak to Sandra?”
    A few minutes later, her friend came to the phone agog to hear all the news. Amy filled her in quickly, then asked anxiously how much Alessandro had divined about her from conversations at the office.
    “He never mentioned you, Amy, until Jake said how sorry he was about the car. Then Alessandro casually mentioned he had known you some years ago and asked where you were living now. I jumped in and said you were about to move and we didn’t yet know the new address. He looked very hard at me and nodded, obviously realizing I had been primed to keep my mouth shut.”
    “No one mentioned James?”
    “No. I was holding my breath, but I guess, being a man, it never occurred to Jake to say anything.”
    “Sandra, I think I have to ask you to take Jake into your confidence and under pain of death, ask him never to mention James to Alessandro. Tell him why, and I’m sure he will understand. I’m coming over to pack my things in a few days—we’ll catch up then.”
    “Okay. I can’t wait to see you.”
    “Me, too. Bye, and thanks.”

    The next few days passed in a fever of activity. Amy hardly went out of the house and was almost continually covered in dust and cobwebs from clearing out the worst of the junk.
    Gabriel’s architect came to the villa several times and was able to tell Amy that the house could be converted easily to make a ten-bed hotel with a two-bedroom apartment for her and James. He agreed to draw up the plans to be submitted to the planning department for approval and to get quotes from builders. If all went well, he told her, building could commence in a couple of months or less.
    Amy then went to see the head mistress of the local school, where James would be going with Donna, and was impressed with the friendly atmosphere. It was agreed he would start the next week when term began. It meant Amy couldn’t take him to England with her, but Sonya was happy to look after him for a few days, and James was completely unfazed at the prospect. He adored Donna and was used to his mother being out of his sight. So, Amy booked her flight and then began to go through all Maria’s things, a heartbreaking job after any death. She disposed of bags of old clothes, gave some treasured mementos to Carmela and Antonio, and went through her papers with Gabriel.
    By the time she left for England, the worst was done and she was glad to get away to catch her breath. She still found it difficult to comprehend how drastically her life had changed, but she couldn’t deny a frisson of excitement at what now lay ahead.
    James came with Gabriel to the airport in the boat and waved her off quite happily. She smiled as she watched them together, wishing she could feel for Gabriel the way she had for Alessandro. How simple life would be.
    She arrived at her flat late and slept badly. Alessandro kept intruding into her dreams, and he was there like a ghost in the background when she finally gave up on sleep and went downstairs. She was still in her dressing gown, trying to make sense of a pile of post that had been on the doormat, when her mother, who lived very close by, arrived with milk, bread, and eggs.
    “I thought you would like a hand sorting out the things you’re taking to Venice,” she said, putting the kettle on to boil. “Are you going to sell the flat or let it?”
    “I hadn’t thought about it...