“Before you heard that Alberto had been killed, what was your situation at the time? I’m not talking about your business affairs. I imagine you might have been involved with a woman you possibly loved. If that was the case, the shock of having to leave her and fly home to your family to deal with your pain had to have devastated you.”
Lines carved his features. “Tell me something first. I know gossip abounds, but what makes you think there’s been a particular one?”
“It’s a natural assumption.” Before he could say anything else, she asked him another question. “Before the wedding, did you have time to see her one more time? If there was a woman, there would have been so much to discuss about the huge change in your life that meant taking on your royal duty by marrying me.”
“I don’t like that word,” he bit out.
Heat filled her cheeks. “Neither do I, but that’s what it was,” she fired back. “We both knew what was ahead of us, and now it’s done. But the real test of living has only begun. I’m asking about your love life because I’m concerned. Four days after the funeral my father told me you’d asked for my hand in marriage.
“If there was a woman you were close to, then you weren’t able to see her in person before our fathers set the seal on our marriage. Were you able to fly over and spend time with her during the year?
“If so, I can’t imagine how she would have handled it. Is it possible she’ll try to hurt you in some way and cause damage to our marriage that will be all over the media? If you and I hope to endure a lifetime together, then I would like to be aware of what we could be up against.”
“You’re afraid of public scandal?”
“I don’t want to be.”
He poured both of them more wine and swallowed part of his. “I’m prepared to give you all the honesty in me. I’ve known my share of beautiful, exciting women, but never lived with one. To answer your question, if I’d found the woman you’re talking about—the one I couldn’t live without—I’d be married by now. Believe me, there’s no one out there who’s going to make trouble.”
“Thank you for that reassurance.” She swallowed the rest of her wine. “My case is different because there was no other man from the moment I was betrothed.”
“Not even a special man before?”
“No.”
“Then can we talk about my brother for a minute? How did you feel about losing Alberto?”
Lanza had wondered how much he’d thought about it. His probing question, demanding an honest answer, had taken them to the heart of the matter.
“The shock of his death was one thing. But not having been in love, I didn’t grieve over him. Of course I liked and
admired him. The only way I can explain is that I felt guilt because I hadn’t experienced acute grief. My parents were very upset I didn’t fall to pieces over the news.”
Stefano shook his head. “No one on the outside would expect you to feel grief since you and my brother didn’t have a relationship like a man and wife.”
“I’m glad you understand that, but we’re talking about you. Your case is totally different because you’ve enjoyed a nonroyal life and have probably been intimate with a woman, which would only be natural.
“Now that I know the truth about you, will you humor me with a little more honesty and tell me how you felt about Alberto having to marry me?”
He took another drink of wine. “I didn’t consider it until I fell for a local girl before going into the military. That was the first time I’d given his betrothal any serious thought and it gutted me to the point that I never stopped feeling sorry for him.”
His frankness made her smile. “Did you tell him as much?”
“Yes. Every chance I got. But when I could see that my needling didn’t make a dent in his good nature, I eventually stopped and tried not to think about it anymore.”
“Alberto wasn’t the flappable type.”
“He was my total opposite. Now it’s my turn. How did your sisters feel about your having to be the sacrificial lamb?”
She chuckled to hide her pain. “Donetta was overjoyed not to be in my shoes. Fausta pitied me because I was the baby. She teased me for always minding our parents.”
“Why did you?”
Her delicate brows lifted. “Mind them, you mean?”
He nodded.
Stefano didn’t know her father was ill. If she told him that was why she’d agreed to this marriage, it could change things. He’d hoped to have a lot of freedom to travel for his work. She wanted that same freedom, too, which was why she had no intention of telling him the truth.