“From my earliest memories of her, she has always wanted to rule. But not with a husband! That’s probably the real reason she didn’t get picked to be Alberto’s intended in the first place. As for Fausta, she has always refused the idea of marrying a prince. She intends to find a man of the people in the city. That left moi.”
Stefano started to say something, then seemed to think the better of it.
“If my father would have that absurd ancient rule changed proclaiming only a man can rule, Donetta would make the perfect head of Domodossola. She’s brilliant and innovative. That would be really lucky for you since you’d be free to spend even more time away doing your thing.”
Lanza had only told him she would like to go to her aunt’s while he did what he wanted, because she was afraid to spend any more time with him. Now she was growing increasingly drawn to her husband, which was dangerous. She’d be a fool to enjoy any more of his company when she feared he could never fall madly in love with her. That was what she wanted.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MY THING?
Here Stefano had been feeling comfortable with Lanza for the first time since their wedding and she suddenly interjected a discordant note. Did she mean his mining business or something else? If it was the latter, then she had every right to question his future associations with women. He’d insinuated the same thing about her relationships with other men during her betrothal to Alberto.
“It’s a good thing you stocked milk. Are you a big milk drinker, Stefano?”
“Yes. I like it with my muesli. Sometimes it’s all I eat when I’m busy. Since I didn’t know if you wanted some, I made sure we had it on hand.”
“That was lucky for Fausto.”
He angled his head at her. “Fausto?”
“Yes. I’ve named him that because it means lucky. Our little fox was lucky Enzo didn’t come for us and we were able to find him.” Lanza stood up. “I’m going to heat more milk.” She left his side and walked into the kitchen with the empty pan and rag.
Stefano stared into the flames. Something unprecedented was happening to him since his wedding day. He realized he was becoming enamored of his wife and wanted her in all the ways a man wanted a woman.
When he’d committed to marrying her, he’d promised himself to make it work, but his desire for her had already happened. She had a charm that took him by complete surprise.
Thank heaven something had prevented Enzo from making it up here. It gave him and Lanza more time together in his favorite place on earth. He could tell she loved it here, too, and he wanted their honeymoon to begin in earnest. Since it would be another day before Enzo arrived, Stefano was excited at the thought of spending more time alone with Lanza.
She returned and they again started the process of squeezing milk into the mouth he eased open. “Look—Fausto’s tongue is curling around the drops. He likes it!” she cried in real pleasure. The fox was coming back to life. “At this rate I think he’ll want some solid food before long.”
Her caring and tenderness reached a place in his soul he didn’t know was there.
She lifted jewel-blue eyes to him. “It’s almost time for dinner. I’ll fix some ham sandwiches and feed him part of mine. Do you think he should have ham?”
He grinned. “If not, we’ll find out.”
Again, she carried the pan and cloth to the kitchen. While she was gone, the fox stirred enough that Stefano removed the parka so it could have more breathing room. It lay on its side, but he could see it trying to right itself. More food would make a difference.
Before long she returned to kneel by him. “Your sandwiches are on the counter.”
“Thank you, but first I want to help you by opening its mouth so you can put some ham on its tongue.”
She teased the fox by dangling a small piece of meat in front of its nose. That brought out its tongue. Lanza pushed the ham inside and they kept up the process until all the ham in her sandwich was gone.
Stefano chuckled. “It’s working. He likes it.”
“Now I’m the one starving to death.”
“I’ll get up and make you another sandwich. Then we’ll eat here together to keep him company.”
Before long he was back with their food and a small, shallow bowl of water. Stefano put it in a corner of the box near its head. He sprinkled some on its snout and it produced a reaction. The fox moved its head and pretty soon they watched it start to lick the water.
“Oh—you’re thirsty, aren’t
you?” She looked at Stefano. “Do you think he would like some of your muesli?”
“Probably. I’ll put a little in another bowl and we’ll see what happens.”