Ahead, she could just make out Eleanor’s broad frame, arms folded across her chest. She was standing beneath a lemon tree, the limb-like shadows from its branches cross-hatching her face. She was talking to Ana, who had her back to Bella. Her hands cut sharply through the space between them. Their voices were low, hushed.
She caught Lexi’s name being whispered.
Bella pressed her naked back flat to the wall, listening.
47
Eleanor
Eleanor stood beneath the lemon tree, the scent of its fruit leaving a citrus kiss on the night air. She suddenly felt very sober.
The floodlight cast strange shadows across Ana’s face. Her voice was low, strained, as she finally answered. ‘Yes. Ed is Luca’s father.’
Eleanor felt the shifting of something deep in her body as the confirmation settled. Her folded arms tightened, fingers gripping the fabric of her top. She studied Ana’s face, searching for something she could understand in her expression.
Ana was rooted firmly. ‘How did you find out?’
‘Ed video-called at the taverna. He saw you.’
Ana ran her tongue over her top teeth, nodding once.
‘You’ve been careful, haven’t you? You weren’t at their engagement drinks. Or Lexi’s birthday.’ Now she thought about earlier in the day when Bella had taken a photo on the yacht, and Ana had quickly turned away. ‘You’ve managed to duck out of all the photos this weekend, haven’t you? You couldn’t risk Ed seeing them.’
Ana said nothing.
She could feel her anger building. ‘I’m guessing there’ll be an excuse about why you can’t make the wedding, too?’
Still, she remained silent.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Eleanor burst out. ‘You’re at Lexi’s hen party! We’re here to celebrate her marrying Ed! I assume you know that Lexi has no idea he already has a child?’
‘I guessed, yes.’
‘What are you trying to do? Sabotage their wedding? Is that it?’
‘No.’
‘Then, why? Why are you here?’
Ana remained very still, as if her body had been sculpted into the stone. ‘Are you going to tell Lexi who I am?’
‘Ed is.’
Ana shook her head. ‘I need to speak to her. Explain.’
‘Explain what exactly?’ Eleanor demanded. In the glare of the floodlights, she could see Ana’s expression was steely. ‘Are you obsessed with my brother? Is that what this is about?’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘You use words. Put them in order.’
Ana took a breath, her chest rising, chin lifting. ‘I’ve always tried to be honest with Luca. He knows I wasn’t in a relationship with his father. He knows the pregnancy was a surprise. He knows his father made it clear that he didn’t want children. Luca had always accepted that. But then, last year, he started asking more questions. Told me he wanted to meet his father.’
‘And you didn’t want him to meet Ed because of the contract? Because the money suited you?’
Ana startled back as if she’d been slapped. ‘It was never about the money. Is that what you think? Your family …’ She shook her head.
The way she said those words, Your family, caused a shiver to travel down Eleanor’s spine.
Ana’s gaze moved across her face. ‘I didn’t know if I wanted Luca to meet Ed.’
‘Why?’
There was a long pause. ‘Luca is everything to me. I wouldn’t do anything that risked him getting hurt.’
Somewhere behind them, Eleanor heard a strange sound, like a scuff. She glanced around, peering into the darkness. She waited, listening.
There was nothing further, only the rustle of wind carrying the calls of cicadas. Still, she’d better check. She passed Ana, moving along the stone pathway towards the edge of the villa.
‘Is there someone there?’ Ana asked, voice low.
Eleanor peered around the corner.
The floodlit path was empty.
‘No one.’
Then she looked down. There on the shadowy stone was the faintest trail of wet footprints.
48
Bella
Bella tiptoed naked along the flagstone path, an arm clamped over her breasts to stop them bouncing. She ducked through a doorway into the darkened villa, then hurried up the stairway, slipping quickly into her and Fen’s bedroom.
She closed the door softly, then stood with her back against it, mind racing beneath the slow whirl of the fan.
Ed is the father of Ana’s child.
Lexi has no idea.