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Fro the hallway the noises of the day started to sound Unfae They hadn’t seen a soul last night when they’d arrived at his hoht had been short but the dinner with Matteo’s clients had been long—delicious, but long—and despite his apologies, and his thanks for agreeing to the last-e of plan, she’d felt exhausted when he’d finally slid the key in the lock of his Roman villa and they’d quietly made their way to bed

He’d ly And then he’d slipped off to another rooe was so old and new, borrowed and blue too And a father to give her away, a mother to weep, and bridesmaids to throw her bouquet to And a happily-ever-after

The wincing pain of self-pity cut at her, h she’d been in denial about her deepest wishes, now that they were finally co true she wanted even more

But she was here in Rome, healthy and comfortable and with more choices than she’d ever had before in her life She could work, rest, have the baby, then go back to work, back to dance

The only thing she couldn’t do was make Matteo love her Or make him love himself

There was another noise now—closer, outside the door

‘Prendo che I’ll take that’

She strained to listen and had just figured out that it was Coral Rossini’s voice when the door was opened and in ca a tray

Ruby sat bolt-upright, totally shocked by the interruption She’d known she would have to see her new mother-in-law at some point—but now? Like this?

‘Good ht into the room, put the tray down and opened first one set of curtains, then the other ‘Sleep well?’