Chapter 44

ONCE Matteo had headed off to the billiard room, Isabella Valeri King moved from the loggia to the library. She sat at her desk, her work diary in front of her, giving some semblance of purpose. She'd opened it to the one date she wanted to discuss with Matteo when he came to say goodbye to her, but work was not on her mind.

There was trouble between Matteo and Nicole—a sure sign they had connected on a personal level, but not a good result so far.

Nicole stiffened up every time his name was mentioned. Even more so since her visit to the park. And there had been no need for her to work today. Even her argument that Sundays were best for chatting to the old Italian families held no weight since the current members of the family she was writing about had all been gathered here—an easy opportunity to get their input on any facet of the history.

Nicole's choice—her very determined choice against the much- pressed invitation to stay and join them for the luncheon—spelled out a resolution to avoid Matteo at all costs. Quite clearly he had been just as resolved on forcing a meeting, staying on at the castle as long as he had and acting like a cat on hot bricks when Rosita had informed them of Nicole's return.

Such strong resolution had to have passion behind it, Isabella decided.

Indifference did not give rise to such behaviour. The trick was to channel the passion into a positive direction. She hoped whatever was going on in the billiard room right now was getting rid of the negatives.

Pride could play the very devil in trying to get two people together. Isabella suspected that pride was a big factor here. It was a pity she didn't know what had caused a conflict to erupt between them, but neither of them would welcome interference on her part, anyway. Though, of course, she could stage-manage opportunities for them to reach out to each other...if they wanted to.

Desire...

It had to be there.

Matteo had clearly been distracted today, not his usual cheerful self at all. Brooding over Nicole's absence, Isabella had concluded. Not even celebrating Hannah's pregnancy had kept his spirits lifted for long. The jokey chatting with his brothers had seemed forced, and his conversation with her after everyone else had gone, had been peppered with silences. But he'd come very briskly to life at Rosita's further announcement that Nicole had gone to the billiard room to work.

"I'll just check that Ms. Redman has everything she needs from me before I leave," he'd said.

Which could have been done by telephone anytime.

The desire for physical confrontation had been paramount. Desire...passion...surely it was the right mix.

Isabella was clinging to this hope when Matteo appeared in the doorway to the library. Her mind instantly dictated acute observation.

"I'm off, Nonna. Great luncheon. Happy news about the baby. You must be pleased."

Short staccato sentences, his mouth stretched into a smile but not a twinkle of it in his eyes, tension emanating from him as he quickly crossed the room to drop a goodbye kiss on her cheek.

"Yes, I am. Pleased for Antonio and Hannah, too. It's what they wanted," she replied, wishing Matteo would confide what he wanted.

He hadn't won whatever he'd gone to win from Nicole Redman. His kiss had no feeling in it, a quick performance of what was expected of him before he left. His mind was clearly preoccupied, and not with happy thoughts. Isabella spoke quickly to hold him with her long enough to ascertain his mood towards Nicole.

"I was just looking through my diary."

"Mmm..." No interest. Mental and physical withdrawal under way. "I trust you have marked Gina's premiere night on your calendar." He halted beside her desk, frowning at the reminder of his sister-in-

law's debut on the stage of the Galaxy Theatre in Brisbane. "When is it again?"

"Two weeks from this coming Thursday. I've booked six seats on a flight to Brisbane that afternoon."

"Six? Won't Alex and Gina be down there already?"

"Naturally. In fact, Alex will have the children there, too, during the last week of rehearsals. He doesn't want Gina worrying about them when she has to concentrate on her singing. Such a big role, playing Maria in West Side Story."

"She's got the voice for it," Matteo said dismissively. He gave her a hooded look. "So who are the six seats for? Tony, Hannah, you, me..."

"Rosita and Nicole."

A pause. Then in a voice stripped of any telltale expression he asked, "Nicole will be going?"

Not Ms. Redman this time, Isabella noted. "Yes. She's very keen to hear Gina sing. And see Peter Owen's production of the show. Such a charming man, Peter. He flew up last weekend to iron out some production details with Gina and dropped in to visit me. Gave Nicole a personal invitation to the post-premiere party he's throwing and she was very happy to accept."

Matteo's jaw tightened.

Peter Owen had a very colourful reputation as a latter-day Casanova. Alex had once been quite jealous of his professional association with Gina. It had spurred him to declare his love for her very publicly. Isabella reflected that a highly competitive streak ran through each of her grandsons' characters. Perhaps the threat of Peter Owen's winning charm would sort out Matteo's feelings towards Nicole.

"I've also booked hotel accommodation for all of us that night," she went on. "Does that suit you or do you want to make alternative plans?"

His brow was lowered broodingly. His silence went on so long, Isabella was drawn into a terse command. "You can't miss the premiere, Matteo. If only to support Gina, you must go."

His hand sliced the air. "No question, Nonna. Alex would kill me if I didn't turn up."

"Well, what is the problem? You seem...very distracted."

He grimaced. "Sorry. I'll go along with the arrangements you've made. I suppose it will be red carpet at the theatre. Limousines. Formal dress."

"You can count on it. Peter Owen wouldn't have it any other way." "The ultimate showman. Well, we'll see, won't we?" he muttered darkly and headed for the door, holding up a hand in a last salute. "Bye, Nonna. Fax a schedule to my company office and I'll toe the line like a good little boy."

He flashed a mocking smile and was gone. Definitely not a happy man, Isabella thought.

However, she had achieved the setting for the next scene between Matteo and Nicole, and put in a clever little needle by throwing Peter Owen into the ring. Control of the seating in the plane and in the theatre was hers. As long as neither of the antagonists found some rock-solid excuse for not following through on their given word, they'd have to bear each other's company for many hours.

Isabella smiled to herself.

There was nothing like enforced time together to wear down barriers.