Lenore pulled her to the side with an angry look. “Paolo is considered a very eligible bachelor. You could try to smile a bit when he’s talking to you.”
“That’s the problem. He just kept talking TO me. Not once did he actually talk WITH me. He must be the most boring man alive!”
“Boring! Are you insane? He earns millions every year on his football, not to mention his modelling contracts and other sponsorship deals. Europe is full of girls who’d kill for a date with him.”
“They can have him! Now are we done here? I need a bit of fresh air before I go to bed.”
Eloise walked out onto the terrace and then down the path towards the pond. An excited flutter in her stomach made itself known as she saw the silhouette under the pergola.
“Vincenzo?” she asked before she could see his face.
“Bella Eloise!” he replied and stood up, ready to kiss her cheek as she came over to him.
“I wasn’t sure whether you’d already be here,” she said.
“I noticed that your party was breaking up so I escaped from reception.”
“Won’t you get into trouble for leaving your post like that?” she asked with concern.
“Trouble for leaving my post?” Vincenzo looked puzzled. “Oh! No… My shift finished earlier. I was just hanging around until you were free.
That made Eloise feel better. She was still concerned that he’d get into trouble for flirting with her, but she didn’t want to make a fool of herself by telling him that as she wasn’t sure that he was actually flirting. He could just be trying to be nice to her.
“How was the rehearsal dinner?”
Eloise let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t even go there! I’ve never been so bored in my life. I was stuck all night with this Paolo guy, right. All he could talk about was his money, his football and him, him, him! I swear he doesn’t even remember my name.”
Vincenzo laughed. “Paolo Bianchi? The footballer?”
“Yes, my future brother-in-law’s brother.”
“Well, the Bianchi brothers aren’t exactly known for their intellect. And why should they be? They’ve made a success of themselves based on their looks and skills with a football. I hear he’s very popular with the ladies.”
“Et tu, Brute…”
“Pardon?”
“My sister told me off for not swooning over him. Why is it that I should find him fascinating just because he’s got more money than sense? I would’ve been far more impressed if he’d told me that he was a penniless teacher working with disadvantaged children.”
“But money is important, right?”
“Money doesn’t buy you happiness. I’d much rather live the rest of my life in my dingy little flat in London, than have to spend it with someone as dull and self obsessed as that guy.”
“Not a lot of people would agree with you.”
“Well, I’m not most people.”
“You certainly aren’t. For one thing, you were the prettiest woman in that room tonight.”
“Vincenzo… You don’t have to keep saying that. We both know it’s not true.”
“I think it is. Being compared with your sister all these years has really damaged your self esteem, hasn’t it? I wish you could see yourself with my eyes.”
“It’s kind of hard not to believe that when you’ve heard people say ‘YOU’re Lenore Goddard’s sister?’ all your life.”
“Most people don’t take time to look beyond the obvious.”
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment…” Eloise laughed nervously.
“Oh, bella… That didn’t sound right, did it? What I meant to say was that if you’re into stick thin, empty headed bimbos, then maybe you’ll find Lenore more attractive. But if you’re interested in intelligent women with a sense of humour, women who look like real women, then you are a million times more attractive than her.”
“Thank you.”
“You still don’t believe me.”
“I don’t know. You’re very sweet for saying that. But I meant what I said last night. I’m not the kind of girl who does one-night stands.”
“And you think that’s all I’d be interested in when it comes to you?”
“I don’t know. I’m a PA back in London. You’re a hotel receptionist outside Bergamo. I don’t think either of us earns enough to get into a long distance relationship, and I’m only here for one more day.”
“I see your point.”
Vincenzo changed subjects and they spend another hour talking in the moonlight before he walked her back to her room. He kissed her cheeks softly and lingered for a while before saying goodnight. He thanked her for an enchanted evening.
When Eloise closed her door behind her she sighed. Why couldn’t she meet someone like Vincenzo back in London? Why hadn’t she met him when he lived in London? Probably because she was still in school then. Tonight she’d learnt that Vincenzo was 8 years older than her and he’d travelled the world before settling here in beautiful Bergamo. It surprised her that someone as well travelled and obviously as well educated as Vincenzo worked as a mere receptionist. But who was she to judge? He was happy here and she’d just told him that happiness was her main motivation in life so why shouldn’t it be his?
She’d opened up to him like no one else. She’d told him about the near rape during her first term at university and how various boyfriends had reacted to the lifestyle decision she made as a result. She’d told him about her desire for a big family and how, if she hadn’t already scared them off, her strong desire to get married and have children tended to scare off the rest of the men she met. Vincenzo had told her that he shared her dreams of a big family and that she should never lower her standards. It was sweet of him. She remembered his lips and touch from the previous night. Oh, how easy it would be to fall in love with him.
The next morning the family and wedding party had breakfast together in the dining room. Eloise was grateful that Paolo now had Lenore’s model friends to keep him busy. She picked a few things from the buffet and sat down next to an English speaking couple.
“You must be the infamous sister,” the woman said.
“Pardon?”
“Oh, excuse me. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Alyson Nicholls and this is my photographer Dave Rammell. We’re here from the magazine.”
“I see. Eloise Goddard, sister of the bride.”
“I figured as much, seeing how you’re the only non-Italian here under 5’10”. Although I would never have known you otherwise.”