Page 154 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

Eleanora flushed. That was not the way her father thought. Nor Tonia. Their privilege was only for themselves.

The Conte was speaking again. ‘If you stall in tracing sold artworks, perhaps you can consult Carla. She writes for an arts journal—’ he named it, and Eleanora knew it was a prestigious one ‘—and so has many contacts.’

Beside Sanzio, Eleanora heard the Contessa speak up.

‘Did I hear my name?’ She leant forward to see Eleanora. Her husband repeated what he’d just said, and Carla’s dark eyes lit up. ‘Oh, definitely,’ she said. ‘In fact, I could probably get an article out of it—your search—and that might bring in a helpful response.’

‘Would you?’ Eleanora said appreciatively. ‘What do you think, Sanzio?’

‘I think the two of you should put your heads together,’ he replied.

‘Done!’ exclaimed Carla.

The conversation moved on. Eleanora relaxed into the evening. Sanzio was at ease too, fitting in perfectly well, yet never showing any sign of trying to hide his origins.

But why should he? Anyone can inherit money—it takes a hell of a lot of skill and work and toughness to make it!

She admired Sanzio for it—admired Francesca’s husband too, starting from nothing as Sanzio had done.

But Tonia didn’t—she didn’t value it; she valued only the money Sanzio would have spent on her. She ditched him because his blood is red, not blue, the moment she found someone as rich as Sanzio but with a title he could bestow on her!

Well, Tonia was welcome to her marquis. To want him more than Sanzio.

While I—

No—no point in letting her thoughts go there.

It will never happen. He tried me out—and set me aside.

And all she could do—must do—was accept it.

* * *

‘Well, that went off very well, don’t you agree?’ Sanzio said with satisfaction. Eleanora had done just what he knew she could, fitted in perfectly. She seemed to have made a hit with the illustrious Conte di Mantegna—as Nic had sardonically referred to him in a private aside when they’d repaired to the salone for coffee and liqueurs—and the Contessa had taken to her too. Talking to the frankly spoken Contessa had been revealing—clearly, there was no love lost between her and Tonia. He said as much now as they headed back to his apartment. Eleanora heard him out.

‘The Conte approves of us restoring the Palazzo—his own stately pile is a massive medieval castello up in the Apennines,’ she replied. ‘And as for Carla, well, given that she’s a dramatic brunette like Tonia, maybe it’s not so surprising they don’t hit it off.’

Sanzio threw her a look. ‘Your friend Adrietta gave me to understand that Tonia once cast lures out to the Conte, even after he was married. She drew a total blank, but the Contessa hasn’t forgiven or forgotten.’

‘Tonia would only see that as a challenge,’ Eleanora said. There was a note of reserve in her voice.

‘Yes,’ Sanzio mused, ‘Tonia certainly likes a challenge. Providing she wins.’ He paused a moment. He could see Eleanora’s hands tightening over the clutch in her lap. ‘It’s how,’ he said pointedly, ‘I got her interested in me—how I reeled her in. I did it quite deliberately. And it worked, until—’

He broke off. Changed the subject abruptly.

‘What was all that about the two Titians you and the Conte were talking about?’

‘Oh, there are two accredited portraits by Titian from the fifteen-thirties, sold early last century—one of a da Verano cardinal, and the other of his sister. They’re both in public galleries now.’

He gave a short laugh. ‘Just as well. I couldn’t run to buying back even one Titian, let alone two!’ He cast her another look. ‘It really brings home,’ he said slowly, ‘just how very old your family is, Eleanora.’

‘All families are old, Sanzio,’ came the rejoinder. ‘The only difference with those like mine is that a single line of descent is traceable, that’s all. In fact, the Conte actually recommended that old families should bring in new blood—’

‘Well, I am certainly new blood,’ he agreed.

‘Yes, but—’ Eleanora hesitated. Sanzio looked at her curiously.

‘But?’ he prompted.