Free The Wedding Charade by Melanie Milburne

memory and then worry incessantly in case they forgot a date or a time or an address. Visiting new places was an absolute nightmare for her. She had got lost so many times and felt so foolish when asking for directions, only to find she was just a street or a block away.
    Rome was a place she was familiar with, so was Milan, but Bellagio was going to be a challenge; she hoped if she stayed close to the Sabbatini villa she wouldn’t go far wrong. However, if Nic was really serious about taking her with him on all his trips abroad she would have to think of some way of coping. She couldn’t wander around like a normal tourist, reading maps and street names. She would have to stay in the hotel and fill in the time rather than risk exposing her defect. She would rather die than have Nic know she was severely dyslexic. No one knew. It was her shameful little secret.
    The housekeeper at Nic’s villa was austere and unwelcoming right from the moment Jade stepped through the imposing front door. Guilia Rossetti gave Jade anup and down look that would have stripped a century of wallpaper from a wall. ‘So this is Nicolò’s future bride,’ she said, making a guttural sound of disgust in her throat. ‘He could have done much better. I read all about you. You’re not worthy of the Sabbatini name. You will bring nothing but harm and shame to him and to the family, I am sure of it.’
    Jade straightened her spine and stared down the dark-eyed Italian. ‘If you want to keep working for my future husband, then I would advise you to keep your opinions to yourself.’
    Jade pointed to the bags the driver had placed at the foot of the stairs. ‘You can unpack for me and then I would like a gin and tonic brought up to my room, ready and waiting for me after my shower,’ she said in a haughty tone.
    The housekeeper’s eyes were like black diamonds, beady and full of loathing. ‘S
ì
,
signorina,
‘ she said through gritted teeth and bent to snatch up the bags.
    Jade tossed her hair over her shoulder and wandered through the villa. It was a glorious place, beautifully decorated with gold and marble, signalling the wealth Nic and his brothers had grown up with and most probably taken for granted, just as she had done until her supply of money had been stopped. She pushed the irritating thought aside and looked at the artwork on the walls, some of which she recognised from some of her favourite masters.
    The villa was three storeys high and overlooked wonderful gardens, complete with a lap pool and jacuzzi and a tennis court. Jade walked out through a set of doors into the bright April sunshine. The water of the pool sparkled and a light breeze crinkled the surface.The lawn was a verdant expanse of green, lush and with that delicious fresh fragrance of having just been mown. A white wisteria was hanging in a scented arras from a stone wall, the hum of bees as they collected the sweet pollen filling the air. Roses were everywhere and in every shade imaginable: pinks and whites and whites blushed with pink, deep blood-red ones, mauve and yellow and apricot. The fragrance collectively was heady and intoxicating and she breathed deeply to take it in.
    She walked a little farther and sat on a stone bench overlooking a fountain that had a marble Cupid figure pouring water from a pitcher which then overflowed to the base of the fountain. It was a peaceful, tranquil sound: the gentle splashing of water over centuries-old marble. The urge to paint the scene was overwhelming but she had to restrain herself as her things were still in boxes waiting to be unpacked.
    When she went back inside the housekeeper was coming down the stairs. She gave Jade a caustic look. ‘I have put your things in the yellow room,’ she said. ‘After the honeymoon I will move them into Signor Sabbatini’s suite, but not before.’
    Jade suddenly decided she would sleep in Nic’s bed just to annoy the housekeeper. It wouldn’t matter because Nic had already told