Dante's Dilemma (a Dante Legacy Novella) by Day Leclaire Page A

paid, we’ll have nothing left. No land. No home. Nothing with which to support eight daughters.”
    The full ramifications hit Julietta. “If Tito knew we were about to lose the vineyard, he wouldn’t need to marry me, would he?”
    “No. He could simply wait until we lost the vineyard and buy it for a fraction of its worth.”
    “Wait.” Julietta struggled to absorb the information. “You expect Tito to buy the vineyard and then support us?
All
of us?”
    “He can well afford it,” Maria retorted, stung. She gripped Julietta’s arm, her words low and hurried. “It’s important you be a good wife to him, Julietta. Your sister was right when she said you must satisfy him in bed. A man will do almost anything for a woman if he’s… pleased.
A tutti i costi
. No matter what it costs.
Capisci?”
    “It’s you who doesn’t understand, Mamma,” Julietta whispered. “Tito… He repulses me.”
    “You must not let him know.” Urgency underscored her mother’s words.
    “It’s too late. He kissed me at our engagement party and—” She broke off, unwilling to go into details. “He knows I didn’t enjoy it.”
    Maria closed her eyes. “We won’t force you to marry him. But if you don’t, we will be destitute. We’ll have to split the family apart, send the little ones to relatives. Are you very sure you can’t go through with the marriage? Perhaps in time you won’t mind when he—”
    Julietta pulled free of her mother’s hold and stood. “I’ll think about it. It’s the best I can do.” Unable to help herself, she bolted from the house.

    Julietta fled to the meadow and collapsed beside the rose bush she and Rom had replanted. To her amazement, it already showed signs of flourishing. Unlike her. She’d never have the opportunity to discover whether she could become a rose and put down roots on a hillside overlooking the sea. Instead, she’d spend the rest of her life root-bound. Tears filled her eyes, and she allowed them to come. Just this once. Just this one time, she’d mourn what would never be. Regret the path she’d turned from.
    Because no matter how deeply she loved Rom, she refused to sacrifice her family for her own happiness.
    She felt Rom’s approach long before he reached her and dried her tears, praying he wouldn’t notice she’d been crying. A vain hope, no doubt. He took a seat beside her and gathered her hand in his. Showing amazing perception, he didn’t say a word but waited patiently for her to speak.
    “I have to go through with the wedding,” she finally said, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
    “What happened?” No anger. No resentment. No demands. Just a single, calm question.
    She couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth, not when she didn’t have the wherewithal to defend her decision should he challenge it. “I realized I’m not a rose.”
    “Ah.”
    Why wasn’t he fighting her? Why wasn’t he arguing? She stumbled into an explanation. “I can’t uproot myself and move halfway around the world with a man I’ve only known for a few days.”
    “But you can marry a man whose touch repulses you?”
    She bowed her head, stung by his gentle inquiry. “Yes.”
    “Julietta, if you don’t wish to marry me, I can accept that. True, I’ll do everything within my power to change your mind. But it’s your decision. All I ask is for you to wait. Postpone your marriage until you’re sure of what you truly want.” A quick glance warned he’d set his jaw into a line of endless determination. “I would even be willing to remain in Florence and work for the Dantes, if it meant having you in my life.”
    She shook her head. “I wouldn’t ask that of you.”
    “You’re not. I’m making the offer.” He tossed her a tender smile. “Roses flourish in Florence, even ones in boxes. They just need a bit more care.”
    “I can’t.”
    His eyes narrowed, flaring with hot, gold sparks. “And if I offered to remain in Santa Lucia? To work your