Page 175 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

‘Well, yes,’ Eleanora was saying. ‘Once the restoration is complete. Whenever that is.’

His eyes did not leave hers. For a moment that seemed endless, he did not speak. Then, as if picking each word, he said, ‘That’s what you still expect? Still want? To get divorced?’

She looked confused. ‘It’s…it’s what we agreed,’ she answered. ‘When you suggested we marry. For the reasons we did.’ Her voice sounded staccato. Regret was flooding through her that she’d started this conversation. She’d obviously mistimed it. He didn’t want to discuss it now.

But she had started on it, forced herself to do so, and she forced herself on now too.

‘It was always the plan, Sanzio. Right from the start. We marry—for the reasons we did—and then…then un-marry. Nothing’s changed about that,’ she got out, though each word was a stumbling block. She made herself keep looking at him, made herself appear as if this was a totally ordinary subject to be discussing, that there was nothing awkward, or difficult, or—

Or agonising.

Pain knifed through her. To be sitting here, with Sanzio, talking about divorce, when all she longed to do was throw herself into his arms and hold him so tight, so fast, so absolutely close to her.

But that isn’t why we married.

She swallowed. He was looking at her, and his face had turned to stone.

‘Nothing’s changed.’ He echoed her words expressionlessly, and each one dropped between them like a block of concrete.

She shook her head. She had to do this, she had to.

‘Well, no. I mean—’

‘Yes, what do you mean?’ There was still nothing in his voice, his face, his eyes.

‘Well, what I said,’ she floundered. ‘The reason for divorcing is still there. That…that the Palazzo will very soon be finished so then, well, then we can get divorced. Like we planned.’

Emotion was throttling her. This conversation had turned into a nightmare. But what else could she do but force it on? Get to an end, somehow. She grabbed her coffee cup, took a hectic mouthful, lowered the cup again. His eyes were still on her, and his whole body had tensed.

Why? Why is he being like this? What am I doing wrong?

She didn’t know, knew only that she had to extricate herself somehow…anyhow.

‘Anyway—’ she tried to lighten her voice ‘—we don’t need to discuss this now. I only mentioned it because of my idea about you having your own kitchen installed. If it’s adjacent to mine, then the plumbing would be simpler I should think. Maybe the project manager could have a think, discuss possibilities with you when he next visits.’ She was rabbiting on, stumbling over her words. Hastily, she took another gulp of coffee, setting the cup down with a rattle.

His expressionless eyes were still resting on her, his face frozen. She fell silent, awkwardness filling her. And so, so much more…

Then, dimly, intruding into her anguished consciousness, she became aware of something else. A noise. A totally unexpected one. The sound of a vehicle making its way down the drive towards the Palazzo.

* * *

Who the hell?

Sanzio jerked his head around. Was he glad of the interruption, or wishing it to perdition? After what Eleanora had just said—

But there was no time to pursue that, whatever his reaction to it. He hauled himself to his feet. No one was expected, so he’d better go and see who it was. He strode around the pool, round to the front of the Palazzo. He heard Eleanora hurrying after him. As he gained the front of the Palazzo he stopped short. A sleek saloon car had pulled up on the carriage sweep, and out of it were emerging two people.

Tonia and her Marquis.

He heard a gasp of shock from Eleanora behind him.

* * *

Seeing Tonia emerge from the car pulled up in front of the Palazzo turned Eleanora to stone. In that instant everything she had just braved herself to say to Sanzio vanished. Wiped out by the dismay filling her. What on earth was Tonia here for?

For no good reason.

Instantly, into her head came all the vile things Tonia had said to her in Rome, and revulsion filled her. If it had just been her and Tonia here, she’d have slung her out on the spot. But Edouard was here—and Sanzio. She had to remain civil.