Therese sat up. A suit jacket that had been placed over her like a blanket fell off one shoulder. Claudio’s scent and warmth from his coat surrounded her, comforting her when it should do anything but in the current situation. He must have found her here earlier and covered her.
He turned to face her, even though she’d made no sound. His face was an impenetrable mask. “You did not go back to the palace.”
“I never said I would.”
“You said you would leave.”
“I did.” She looked away from his regard, no more capable of dealing with this new remote Claudio than she had been earlier. “The hospital room.”
“But not the hospital.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I wanted to be here in case something else happened.”
“You knew Papa and I assumed you would leave with Tomasso.”
She shrugged, dislodging the suit coat further. “I am not responsible for assumptions brought about by two men’s arrogant belief that the rest of the world will fall in with their plans simply because they say so.”
Flavia chuckled. “That is telling him, Therese. Do not let this bossy son of mine believe he rules you completely.”
“There is no chance of that, Mamacita.”
Therese was fairly certain she was the only one who heard the harsh undertone in Claudio’s voice, but to her ears it was as loud as if he’d shouted out how much he disliked her.
“I am glad to hear it. You are far too much like your papa, believing you control the world around you and everyone in it. Life does not work that way, as I am sure Vincente is realizing for perhaps the first time.”
“He is more than aware, I assure you,” Claudio said, his voice now subdued.
“And you, my son?”
“Content yourself with knowing that he and I are both aware how little our will carries the day.”
Flavia’s face softened with concern. “I am sorry, Claudio. Times like this are difficult, but Vincente will be fine. Believe it.”
“I hope you are right.”
“I am always right, it is just the males of this family are slow catching on sometimes.”
Danette laughed out loud while both Scorsolini brothers smiled wryly. Neither one would hurt the older woman by arguing with her, but both were too arrogant to believe anyone else ever knew better than they did. It was all Therese could do not to blurt out that Flavia had been wrong about one thing.
Like King Vincente, she had always believed that Therese and Claudio were the perfect match and had been vocal in saying so. Once his father’s health could withstand the blow, Claudio would make sure everyone knew just how wrong both his parents had been.
Flavia said, “I would like to see Vincente.”
“Yes, of course,” Claudio replied. “He is sleeping now, but may waken again. He will be glad to find you by his bedside.”
Marcello nodded. “I will stay as well.”
“In that case, I shall see our wives to the palace. It appears that is the only way I can be assured that Therese will return to rest.”
“When is the surgery scheduled for?” Therese asked, ignoring the barb and doing a fair job of avoiding his gaze while making it appear she was looking at him.
“Five hours from now.”
“I want to be here.”
“Then you will return with me now to the palace and get at least some semblance of rest beforehand.”
If there were shares in the bossy market, he had a stranglehold on them. “I don’t need you telling me what to do.”
“I’d prefer to stay here with Marcello and Flavia,” Danette said before Claudio could answer.
Marcello gently put his arm around her slightly thickened waist and pulled her close, kissing her temple. “You are pregnant, cara mia, you need to rest for both your sake and that of our unborn child. Please do me the favor of returning to the palace with my brother.”
Therese wondered if Claudio would ever have been as tender with her…even if she had been pregnant. A tiny voice inside her heart said it wouldn’t have mattered. She would have had her dreams with, or without he extra bit of tender care. Seeing her deepest wish living out fulfillment in another woman’s body brought a poignant pain that had nothing to do with envy.
She adored Danette and wanted only the best for her, but Therese could no more stifle the urgent longing inside herself for a child than she could pretend that Claudio loved her.
Danette turned in Tomasso’s arms and kissed him on the lips, right there in front of the rest of the family and he did not even sort of flinch. “If that’s what you really want, all right. But are you sure you don’t want me here as moral support?”