Part 19 (1/2)

She suspected the marchesa was right-that Matteo would not be pleased that she was pregnant again. Even though having Beniamino had been comparatively easy, he still insisted that once was enough. But accidents happened, even in the best of circles, and Grace was sure her husband was unaware of what he'd done. Which meant she would have to tell him that his methods weren't always foolproof, after all.

Matteo appeared at that moment, carrying their baby son, giving a defensive smile when Grace pulled a face at him. 'He was awake,' he insisted. 'And it is his birthday, when all's said and done. Why shouldn't he enjoy his party?' He listened to the sound of the children for a moment. 'Every one else seemed to be doing so.'

Grace held out her arms and Matteo handed the baby to her as the marchesa got to her feet. 'I think I'l take a rest, after all,' she said, giving Grace a speaking look. 'Let me know when the others get back.'

'We will,' said Matteo, subsiding into the chair she'd vacated.

He tipped his head in Grace's direction as she fussed with Beniamino, who was clutching the gold neck lace she was wearing. 'I get the feeling Nonna's departure was pre-arranged.'

Grace caught her breath. 'Why should you think that?' she exclaimed, her hand sliding over the baby's silky head. 'No, you're not getting down,' she told the little boy, who was wriggling impatiently. 'You have to keep clean today. It's your birthday.'

'Let him get down,' Matteo advised her lazily. Antonia can change him if he gets into a mess.' Antonia was Beniamino's nanny, and Grace conceded that the girl would be only too happy to take charge of him. It was her happy choice that she spent so much time looking after him her self.

'All right.'

She set Beniamino on his feet, and he toddled away across the tiled floor. Antonia appeared at once, ever vigi lant, from her position at the end of the loggia, and Grace relaxed as the nanny took the baby's hand.

'Now.' Matteo leant towards her with warm indulgence. 'Are you going to tell me why my grandmother decided we needed to be alone?' His eyes searched her face. 'It couldn't have anything to do with that box I found in the waste bin in our bathroom, could it?'

Grace's face flamed. 'Since when do you go looking in waste bins?'

'Since I dropped a blade from my razor and it fell into the bin,'

replied her husband, without hesitation. 'It was a pregnancy testing kit, I believe. Which is why you've been avoiding being alone with me, isn't it?'

Grace gasped. 'I haven't been avoiding being alone with you,'

she protested. 'We sleep together-alone-every night.'

Matteo's brows arched. 'But you have been significantly non-communicative. You've pretended to be asleep every night when I've come to bed.'

'Only because you've been staying up late with Giles and David'

'Late?' Matteo pulled a wry face 'Mall past ten is not late, cara, and you know it. And I'd rather be with you. as you're aware.'