“I see.” She patted Francesca’s arm. “No matter what, you two have my vote.” He could always count on her.

  “Let’s go in and we’ll get the dog settled.”

  Bella opened the doors and the three of them entered the drawing room. No one was there yet. He put the crate by the love seat and reached inside. Francesca took the dog from him and put Artur on her lap. Bella knelt down in front of her to play with him. He wiggled and licked her.

  As they were laughing at his antics, their mother came in with a large brown envelope in her hand. Vincenzo got up from the love seat and walked over to give her a hug.

  “I see you’ve brought her and her dog.”

  Her unhappy mood hadn’t changed. “He looks so much like Karl, we thought you’d like to meet him.”

  “I don’t appreciate it, not when we have very serious things to talk about.” She walked over to her favorite chair near the love seat and sat down. Then his grandparents came in the room. He got up to help his grandmother before pushing his grandfather’s wheelchair over by the couch.

  Vincenzo smiled at Francesca. “I’m glad we’re all here because I have important news that is going to change all our lives. The other day I flew to Milano and met with Valentina. I learned from her own lips that she’s pregnant with another man’s child.”

  “That’s not true!” his mother cried out.

  “I’m afraid it is, Mamma.”

  “But that’s impossible. Stefano—”

  “Stefano refuses to face the truth,” Vincenzo broke in. “What he needs to do is help Valentina deal with her life. Surely my own family knows me well enough that if the baby were mine, I would have insisted on marrying Valentina immediately.”

  “We know that!” Bella jumped up to hug him. “You’re the most honest, decent person I’ve ever known in my life and I couldn’t be happier for you and Francesca.”

  Her words meant the world to Vincenzo who gave her a big hug.

  “Then what’s this?” his mother blurted. “It was delivered to me a short time ago.” She opened the envelope and took out the front page of Milano’s Corriere della Sera. Stefano had done the deed, all right.

  Francesca exchanged glances with him as his mother read the headlines. “Bells from the Duomo di Milano will ring out on September eighteenth for the wedding of Princess Valentina Visconti to Prince Vincenzo Baldasseri...”

  Bella looked concerned and sat down next to Francesca and the dog. She had a heart of gold.

  “Stefano had that printed to put pressure on me and Valentina, but it won’t work. He’s been like a runaway train that couldn’t be stopped.”

  His mother looked stricken. “Valentina wouldn’t have lied to me, Vincenzo. She’s a decent, wonderful girl.”

  “I agree—however, she didn’t have any choice. Stefano has a stranglehold on her. He came to my office this afternoon to intimidate me with this fake headline announcement. He threatened me with a lawsuit for breach of contract to marry.”

  “Lawsuit?”

  “Yes, Mamma. I told him it was the other way around. She broke our engagement. That’s when he said it was because I’d neglected her. I told him that was an untrue statement because my visits to the palace were recorded by my pilot and I never missed one. I could submit them and photos in evidence to the court.”

  His mother put a hand to her throat. “I—I don’t believe what I’m hearing.”

  “That’s because you’re a good woman, Mamma. But he has a history of having done bad things, especially to Francesca’s father. He’s hoping the Visconti family can finally lay claim to our timber business by my marrying Valentina. He’s out of control. It’s tragic that he can’t love his daughter and help her during her pregnancy.”

  “I just can’t comprehend this.” She’d gone a little pale. “Your wedding has been planned. Every detail. Valentina loves our family and wants to be a part of us. We love her. She’s the perfect princess. This simply couldn’t be happening. I’ve wanted her to be my daughter-in-law. Marcello and I talked about it a year ago.”

  “I know, but those were your dreams, not mine or Valentina’s. She’s having another man’s child which means she’s in love with someone else. Not me.”

  Tears continued to pour down his mother’s cheeks.

  “I’m sorry you’re so distressed. Why don’t I walk you to your room so you can lie down?”

  “No. No—”

  “Bella? Mother probably needs a doctor. Would you find Elsa?” His grandfather’s caregiver could take her vital signs.

  “I’m on my way. She’ll know what to do.”

  Suddenly Francesca got to her feet holding the dog, and approached his mother. “Princess Baldasseri? I’m so sorry you’re in this much pain and I’m going to leave. You’ve received a terrible shock and both of you need to talk things out.” She looked at Vincenzo. “Maybe one of your security men could drive me home? Please?” The pleading in those compassionate brown eyes left him with no alternative.

  This had to be Francesca’s finest moment. He thought he’d loved her before tonight. But this sacrifice on her part sealed her to him forever.

  Just then Elsa came hurrying in the drawing room with a stethoscope around her neck. Bella ran over to Vincenzo while Elsa checked out their mother. She checked her vital signs and gave a nod that she was all right.

  Relieved by that news, he put a hand on his sister’s arm. “Francesca wants to go home,” he whispered.

  “Can’t say I blame her.”

  No. Tonight had turned into a disaster. “Would you walk her outside the palace and ask one of the security men to drive her back to Zernez?”

  “Of course. I’d take her, but I’d better not leave Mother.”

  “Agreed.”

  Vincenzo kissed her cheek, then walked over to Francesca. “Bella will see you out. I’ll phone you in a little while. I love you so much.” He kissed the side of her neck before picking up the dog and opening the crate door. “In you go, Artur.”

  “Thank you.” Francesca avoided his eyes as she carried it out of the room with Bella at her side. Vincenzo followed them.

  When he’d said he would endure anything to be with Francesca, he’d meant it. But they were already paying a high price for their happiness at the expense of his mother’s health. He pulled her to him one more time.

  “I know you’re blaming yourself,” she whispered against his neck. “But we made our decision together and we’ll get through this.”

  “With you holding on to me, we already are.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. As the women went down the staircase, he returned to the drawing room.

  His mother was wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry, Vincenzo.”

  “So am I,” his voice grated. The love of his life had put his mother’s needs ahead of everything else. What an angelic woman.

  “I hadn’t intended to cause all this trouble, mi figlio.”

  “I know you didn’t. It’s going to take time for you to get over your disappointment about Valentina. Do you think you’re ready for bed? We can talk in your room.”

  “I do think I need to lie down. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He helped her up. “Good night,” she murmured to his grandparents who’d sat there the whole time without a word.

  “Don’t go away,” he said to them in an aside. It was time he got to the bottom of their strange behavior. What was going on in their minds?

  The housekeeper was there to help their mother get ready for bed. He kissed her good-night and went back to the drawing room only to discover that his grandmother had left the room.

  “Nonno? Why didn’t Nonna stay?”

  “She wasn’t feeling well. I rang for Elsa to take her to our room and examine her. From there she was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.”

  “What?”

  “Thank heaven you came back so I could tell you,” the older man called out. “It’s her heart.”

  “What do you mean her heart?”

  “She’s had a heart condition for about a year.” His grandfather had been weeping. It brought tears to Vincenzo’s eyes.

  “Why didn’t you tell me a long time ago? I don’t understand.”

  “Because you had enough on your plate with your father’s death and the arranged engagement to Valentina. With the added burden of taking on Rini’s duties, she felt you’d suffered enough and didn’t need to know her health problems. She swore everyone to secrecy, especially the doctor and Elsa.”

  “Poor Nonna. I wish I had realized so I could have done more for her.”

  “No, no.”

  “Please don’t keep anything more from me, Nonno. I need the whole truth. How is she really?”

  “The doctor will let us know if this episode is serious. So far she has recovered from various incidences and most likely she’ll recover from this one without problem. Thanks to Elsa—she got her to the hospital fast. My son—” He pulled on Vincenzo’s arm. “We have another secret, but she insists on being the one to tell you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’ve kept it for a long time, but now it’s necessary that you know all about it. As soon as the doctor says you can visit, she’ll be waiting to unburden herself to you. I urged her to tell you much sooner, but she was hoping for a different outcome.”

  Another outcome? Vincenzo couldn’t imagine. “About what?”

  “About you and Valentina.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I didn’t know about this secret until after I discovered what your nonna had been doing. She swore me to secrecy. I love her and told her I wouldn’t say anything, but after tonight, I know she’s ready to tell all.”

  Vincenzo couldn’t imagine. “I’m leaving for the hospital now and will stay all night if I have to. Bella will stay with Mamma. Will you be all right?”

  “Of course. I have Elsa.”

  “Francesca and I will be back.”

  “You really love that girl, don’t you?”

  “With all my heart and soul.”

  “I know how that feels.” He patted Vincenzo’s arm.

  “Take care, Nonno. See you later.”

  Vincenzo rushed out of the palace and drove to the hospital. He knew the way to the area reserved for their family on the top floor. A cluster of staff nodded to him. The attending physician walked over. “Your grandmother had a little upset, but is responding well to treatment and will be able to go home tomorrow.”

  “That’s wonderful. Can I go in and talk to her?”

  “Of course. She’ll love seeing you.”

  Relieved to hear the good news, Vincenzo entered her private room and walked over to the hospital bed. “Nonna?”

  “Vincenzo—I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Thank heaven you’re going to be all right.”

  “I am now that you’ve come. It pains me that after you brought Francesca to the palace so we could get to know her, chaos ensued because of Stefano. Now you’ve had to drive here because of my emergency, but I’m fine.”

  “The doctor said as much. Nonno told me about your bad heart. You never breathed a word of it.”

  “Because I’ve never wanted to be a fuss to anyone.”

  “You’re a saint.”

  “Hardly.” She chuckled. “Think about it. Your mother has suffered so much from losing your father, I didn’t want to add to her anxiety. She’s missed him so terribly, I believe that’s why she has counted on you and Valentina to fill part of that void. Hopefully tonight’s revelations have opened her eyes a little, but it will take time.”

  “No one knows that more than I do. But now I want to know about the secret you’re hiding with Nonno. What’s going on?” He pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down.

  “You’re going to be shocked.”

  Vincenzo took a deep breath. “I’m listening.”

  “What I’m about to tell you could end up in a tragedy.”

  “For whom?”

  “Valentina and you.”

  “What?”

  “Just hear me out. That girl is in the most serious trouble of her life and has been confiding in me ever since your engagement.”

  He was incredulous. “You’ve been her friend all this time?”

  “Yes. She couldn’t go to her mother who’s terrified of Stefano. So is Valentina. Absolutely terrified. The bottom line is this—she’s been in love with one of the security guards at the palace for a year and a half, named Alessandro Piero. When Stefano caught them together in the garden kissing one day, he was dismissed on the spot and served a six months’ jail sentence.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “He’s made it impossible for Alessandro to get a decent job and has treated her abominably.”

  Vincenzo shook his head. “I know from Francesca’s father that Stefano was always difficult, but to imprison a young man and ruin his life...”

  “It’s irrational. The next day Stefano phoned your parents to arrange the engagement and plan your first meeting. He chose the right moment to get in touch with them. Since your father and mother felt it was time for you to choose a bride, they were amenable to the idea. After I met Valentina, I could see how lovely and charming she was. I encouraged her to come for visits.

  “Most of the time you weren’t here. Before long I realized neither of you were in love, but both of you were prepared to do your duty. In time she lowered her guard and told me the truth about her wretched life. When Alessandro was released, Valentina sneaked out of the palace to see him. He was staying with a friend. Of course, he knew she was engaged to you, but he knew why. They managed to meet in secret and then she became pregnant.”

  “So that’s why the engagement was broken.” It was all making so much sense.

  “Yes. Valentina couldn’t marry you when she was in love with Alessandro and carrying his baby. She went to Stefano with the excuse that you had lost interest in her and that’s the reason why she didn’t want to be engaged. Secretly she and Alessandro planned to run away and get married. Stefano became enraged and insisted that she do whatever was necessary to win you around.”

  He got to his feet. “By then I was totally involved with Francesca whom I adore.”

  “Anyone can see that.” She smiled. “So Stefano went to the media to create a scandal. According to Valentina he wanted to force both of you into court. When she found that out, she ran away before her father could find her and called your grandfather who told me what happened.

  “I—” her voice faltered, “I told Elsa to hide and protect her until you were told the truth. One of the maids is Elsa’s relative and she’s been bringing her food. I’m afraid your mother is going to be shocked when she learns what we’ve done.”

  He smiled. “You and Nonno, plotting together.”

  “Yes, he’s used to my ways. We’ve done it for years.”

  “Well, don’t worry. Mother won’t know a thing because I’ll get Valentina out of the palace to a safe place. Stefano would never dream you’ve been helping his daughter and he’ll never think to look for her here. Please get better and come home soon.”

  “I knew we could count on you.”

  “As I have counted on you all these years. We’re in this together.”

  “We knew you’d fix this when you heard the truth. That’s because you’re honorable like your grandfather and I know you care for Valentina.”

  “I do, and I want to help. Nonna? There’s no one in the entire universe kinder than you. But you’ve done enough and need to rest so your heart can heal. I’ll take care of everything once I get back to the palace.”

  “But what about Francesca? That poor dear girl. She saw your mother’s suffering. The look on her face when she told you she wanted to leave the palace—I’ll never forget the love I saw in her eyes for you. How sad for this to happen when you’ve fallen in love... She must be beside herself.”

  “She and I are solid like you and Nonno. When she hears this story, she’ll do anything to help. Valentina is her blood cousin. Remember that Francesca’s own father was in the same situation with Stefano before he and her mother left Milano. Francesca is a saint as you’re going to find out. One day soon I’ll tell you all the wonderful things about her.”

  “Tonight I found out how unselfish she is. I can’t wait to get to know her! Unfortunately it might take a little more time for your mother to remove the blinders and be convinced.”

  “It’s going to happen, Nonna. I love you, and I’ll see you at the palace tomorrow.”

  He kissed her cheek and dashed out of the hospital. With his head spinning, he rushed to the car. Forget phoning Francesca. He needed to see her, even if it meant she had to call in sick at work tomorrow. He sent her a text to say that he’d be at her apartment in twenty minutes.

  * * *

  Francesca had gone to bed in tears. After she read Vincenzo’s text, she could breathe again and put on a robe over her nightgown. When she opened the door, their gazes met for a heart-stopping moment before he crushed her in his arms. “I can’t believe our evening ended the way it did, Francesca.”

  “I know.” She moaned. “I love you so much I’ve been in agony. But seeing your mother’s unhappiness made me realize it’s not going to work.”

  “Oh, yes, it is,” Vincenzo murmured before kissing her nonstop. “I couldn’t get to your apartment fast enough to tell you what I’ve learned since you left. Come and sit with me.” He reached for her hand and pulled her down on the couch with him. “Where’s Artur?”

  “In my bedroom asleep in his crate.”

  “For once that’s good. After you left, I took my mother to her room. She needed to go to bed. When I returned to the drawing room I found my grandfather alone. When I asked about my grandmother, he said she hadn’t been feeling well. Elsa sent for an ambulance to take her to the hospital.”