Lessons Learned

used to charm the child on his lap vanished. So did every coherent thought in his mind. “Juliet.”
    “Here, let me take this.” Angelina slipped Juliet’s bag from her hand while she gave Carlo a speculative look. She’d never seen him dazed by a woman before. “Rosa, come say good morning to Signorina Trent. Rosa is my daughter.”
    Rosa slipped off Carlo’s lap and, staring all the way, came to Juliet. “Good morning, Signorina Trent.” Pleased with her English, she turned to her mother with a spate of Italian.
    With a laugh, Angelina picked her up. “She says you have green eyes like the princess Carlo told her of. Carlo, aren’t you going to ask Miss Trent to sit down?” With a sigh, Angelina indicated a chair. “Please, be comfortable. You must forgive my brother, Miss Trent. Sometimes he loses himself in the stories he tells Rosa.”
    Brother? Juliet looked at Angelina and saw Carlo’s warm,dark eyes. Over the quick elation, she wondered how many different ways you could feel like a fool.
    “We must be on our way.” Angelina walked over to kiss her still silent brother’s cheek. As she did, she was already planning to drop by her mother’s shop and relate the story of the American who’d made Carlo lose his voice. “I hope we meet again while you’re in Rome, Miss Trent.”
    “Thank you.” Juliet took her hand and met the smile, and all its implications, with an acknowledging nod. “I’m sure we will.”
    “We’ll let ourselves out, Carlo. Ciao. ”
    He was still silent as Juliet began to wander around the room, stopping here to admire this, there to study that. Art of every culture was represented at its most opulent. It should’ve been overwhelming, museumlike. Instead it was friendly and lighthearted, just a bit vain and utterly suited to him.
    “You told me I’d like your home,” she said at length. “I do.”
    He managed to rise but not to go to her. He’d left part of himself back in New York, but he still had his pride. “You said you wouldn’t come.”
    She moved one shoulder and decided it was best not to throw herself at his feet as she’d intended. “You know women, Franconi. They change their minds. You know me.” She turned then and managed to face him. “I like to keep business in order.”
    “Business?”
    Grateful she’d had the foresight, Juliet reached in her purse and drew out the Dallas clipping. “This is something you’ll want to look over.”
    When she came no farther, he was forced to go over and take it from her. Her scent was there, as always. It reminded him oftoo much, too quickly. His voice was flat and brisk as he looked at her. “You came to Rome to bring me a piece of paper?”
    “Perhaps you’d better look at it before we discuss anything else.”
    He kept his eyes on hers for a long, silent minute before he lowered them to the paper. “So, more clippings,” he began, then stopped. “What’s this?”
    She felt her lips curve at the change of tone. “What I thought you’d want to see.”
    She thought she understood the names he called the unfortunate Ms. Tribly though they were all in fast, furious Italian. He said something about a knife in the back, balled the clipping up and heaved it in a scrubbed hearth across the room. Juliet noted, as a matter of interest, that his aim was perfect.
    “What does she try to do?” he demanded.
    “Her job. A bit too enthusiastically.”
    “Job? Is it her job to quote all my recipes? And wrong!” Incensed, he whirled around the room. “She has too much oregano in my veal.”
    “I’m afraid I didn’t notice,” Juliet murmured. “In any case, you’re entitled to retribution.”
    “Retribution.” He relished the word and made a circle of his hands. “I’ll fly to Dallas and squeeze my retribution from her skinny throat.”
    “There’s that, of course.” Juliet pressed her lips together to keep the laughter in. How had she ever thought she’d convince herself she could do without him? “Or a legal suit. I’ve given it a lot of thought, however, and feel the best way might be a very firm letter of disapproval.”
    “Disapproval?” He spun back to her. “Do you simply disapprove of murder in your country? She overspiced my veal.”
    After clearing her throat, Juliet managed to soothe. “I understand, Carlo, but I believe it was an honest mistake all around. If you remember the interview, she was nervous and insecure. It appears to be you just overwhelmed