Page 214 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

‘That might explain it,’ Allegra said with a nod, then her face softened into a smile that was both content and devastated. ‘I was fortunate enough to meet the love of my life, though I had to wait a good while.’

‘Oh?’ Charlotte asked, He felt her exhale, as if sensing that the danger had passed.

‘I was thirty by the time Alberto and I met. But I knew. I just knew.’ Her smile was wistful. ‘Like with you and Dante.’

Dante glanced at Charlotte and he was sucked back in time to that charity gala, when he’d seen her across the room and justknown. Not that she was the love of his life—never again. But that she would be important, in some way. That he wanted her with the force of a thousand suns.

He was grateful Charlotte didn’t look at him, because he wasn’t sure what his features would reveal.

‘Alberto was very like him, you know,’ Allegra continued. ‘Sometimes, I look at Dante, and I see so much of my husband, his grandfather—,’

Dante’s heart turned over. His grandmother had never said that to him before.

‘It’s more than how they look, though. They are both so fiercely determined, so driven, so moralistic and strong, courageous too. Has he told you about the night he got lost in the woods?’

‘Nonna,’ his voice held a warning, but Allegra continued, unabashed.

‘He was only nine. He had just moved here and after...the accident,’ her voice faltered, ‘well, it was a difficult time. He left the house, without me knowing, after dinner.’

‘There was a cat,’ he said, remembering the night. ‘I followed it.’

‘You disappeared,’ she said. ‘And I didn’t realise, until the next morning. It was the middle of winter and he was out there in just his pyjamas. Can you imagine?’

‘You must have been terrified.’

‘I was terrified, he was not.’

‘It was an adventure,’ he said, with a lift of his shoulders.

‘I am sure you shaved ten years off my life.’

‘You seem to be doing just fine on that score,’ Dante said.

Charlotte did glance at him then and though she smiled, he saw the slight hint of mockery in her eyes. The teasing impishness that was the perfect antidote to the strange barrage of feelings his grandmother was washing over them.

‘He speaks very highly of you, Allegra.’

‘Well, I’m not surprised. I do feed him very, very well and he was always a greedy child.’

Charlotte laughed and Dante felt warmth light every single part of him. He glanced away, towards the rolling hills, seeking comfort in their familiarity. Hoping that, with that one glance, he could see and feel just like he always did when he came home. Only, he’d never been home with Charlotte before.

‘Now, darling, Dante knows the schedule I keep, but for your benefit, we have anaperitivohere each day around seven. Dinner is served at eight. Once upon a time, I would have insisted on a walk around the estate, following dinner, but I’m not quite up to that, these days. You, naturally, should enjoy the property, though. Dante knows the best paths. I do not eat a big breakfast, but there is always coffee and fruit, and Rosaria will make you anything you’d like. For lunch, we—,’

‘Nonna,’ Dante interrupted with an affectionate smile that was just about thelastaffectionate anything Charlotte could take from Dante. She’d gone from knowing they needed to give a stellar performance to feeling like she was drowning in a sea of confusion. Because he wasso goodat playing this part and she wasso goodat bouncing right back off of him, that it all felt so incredibly natural and dangerously, terrifyingly real.

She needed some space and she needed it immediately.

‘You’ll work it out,’ Allegra confided.

‘I had thought you would enjoy staying in the east wing, but a newly-engaged couple likes, more than anything, some space, so I have asked Rosaria to set up the pool house for you. It should be done, by now.’

‘Nonna,’ Dante’s voice was lined with warmth. ‘Please stop making Rosaria run around like this. Charlotte and I can take care of ourselves.’

‘Oh, nonsense. You know she loves to fuss.’

‘I know she loves you and would do anything you asked of her.’

Allegra’s smile was one of genuine pleasure. ‘Yes, dear. But lucky for her, I feel quite the same. Now, off you go, I’m going to take a little nap before the evening.’