Indiscretions - Elizabeth Adler [127]
“I think that anyone who looks the way Paris does must understand fashion,” said Renata kindly. “I’m sure your collection was excellent, and it was just bad luck to show it on Mitsoko’s day. I remember he changed it at the last moment, didn’t he?”
Marisa glared at Renata in surprise and Renata smiled back calmly. She was tired of Marisa always getting at people.
The Contessa watched the little scene in silence. There were so many undercurrents in this room; it promised to be an entertaining weekend. Yes, very entertaining, she thought with a smile.
India couldn’t wait to get Paris alone.
“God, what a shock!” she said, closing the door of her room behind her. “I didn’t expect to see Fabrizio and Marisa. And cousin Renata! Well, what do you think?” She sat on the bed and gazed expectantly at Paris. “Of Fabrizio, I mean?”
“He’s very attractive, of course, but I haven’t had time yet to know what he’s really like.”
India sighed. “It’s over, you know, truly over. My heart didn’t give even one little bump when he kissed my cheek.”
“That’s probably just as well,” said Paris, unlocking Alice from her cage. “I thought Marisa was looking very suspicious when he kissed you.”
“Do you really think so? I wondered …” India frowned. “Well, there’s nothing more to be suspicious about. If she’s here to check on me and Fabrizio she’ll find me entirely innocent. Oh, Paris, I know you’ve always thought me crazy, but do you think it’s possible to fall out of love with one man and directly into love with another? It’s Aldo. I mean, I tried to keep it all on a business basis because he has to marry cousin Renata—the family needs the money, you see, they must keep up this old estate … for his grandchildren.”
Paris stared at her sister in astonishment. “Did Aldo tell you that?”
“Well, no, not in so many words. I guess it was Marisa who told me first, and then Aldo said that about his grandchildren. …”
“India, I’ve met a thousand women just like Marisa. They tell you what they want you to hear—not the truth. Don’t you know that?”
India sighed. It would be nice to believe Paris, and truly, the way Aldo had been behaving this past week he couldn’t be in love with Renata. He had gone out of his way to be with her as much as possible. They’d jogged together along the beach in the early morning, they’d lunched every day at the Cafe-Bar Ricardi, he’d been attentive and amusing at dinner each night, and then later, when the Contessa had retired to her rooms, they had walked through the scented gardens and he’d kissed her, and maybe a bit more than just kisses … maybe quite a lot more. But she didn’t want to be another little “episode” before Aldo Montefiore settled down in marriage with Renata. She couldn’t stand that.
“Paris, I don’t know what to do, really I don’t. Perhaps I should just hand this job over to someone else and go away from here.”
“Certainly not. You must never jeopardize your career for any man! Your work is important, India, and you are doing well at it. Don’t underestimate that.”
Oh, God, thought India, here I am, moaning on about my own problems, and it’s poor Paris who really needs help.
“I should be worrying about you,” she cried, “not myself.” She remembered Marisa’s unkind remark. “Paris, don’t let Marisa upset you about the show. You know she’s just being bitchy. Your designs were wonderful and you know it … and there will be a second chance, believe me. We’ll find a way.”
Paris was watching the cat, who was sniffing around, inspecting her new surroundings.
“It’s all right,” she said. “I’m over that. It’s just that, working at Mitsoko, it was impossible to get away from the constant fashion-business hype. It’s good to be out of the city and here with you. Alice thinks so too—look.” Alice was sprawled across the bed, enjoying the warm rays of sun coming in through the open window.
India laughed. “I know just how she feels. Okay, Paris, you and I’ll take on Marisa together.”
“And what about Fabrizio? I mean, does he