Read Online Loving Venus (Sally-Ann Jones Sexy Romance) by Sally-Ann Jones - Free Book Online

peril. Annabella, too, was unhurt, although she’d been so close to the black horse that she felt his hot breath on her neck. Meanwhile, two horses took the place of Alessandro’s but her second cousin wouldn’t give up and bravely rode on although he knew there was no longer any chance of his winning.    
          She stood, panting in relief, on the edge of the square, as the little boy slipped his hand into his father’s.
         “What happened?” She turned to see Umberto beside her, ashen-faced. “Are you all right?”
         “I wanted to help that child,” she said feebly.
         “What child?”
         She pointed but there were thousands of children and she knew he had n’t seen what had happened, although undoubtedly he believed her. By now, the Palio was over until the next one in the middle of August and the crowd was milling around all the horses and riders, but especially the winner. Umberto took her hand again and led her to where Alessandro was sitting on the horse’s bare back, obviously disappointed at having so narrowly lost. The Ferris and Claudia were gathered around him and they all turned to watch Annabella approach with the doctor.
         “What did you do that for?” Alessandro asked her, bewildered more than angry.
         “I thought a little boy was going to be hurt,” she explained lamely, aware from their vacant stares that she had been the only one to have noticed the toddler.
         At that moment, Signora Ferri swallowed her disappointment and took Annabella’s hand in hers. “I thought we ’d see you again one day,” she said kindly. “Welcome to Tuscany.”
         “ Grazie ,” Annabella replied, her eyes brilliant with tears, “Thankyou.”
         The rest of the Ferri family followed Signora’s example of good manners but Alessandro remained aloof while Claudia was downright rude. “It would have been the first time in decades that a Ferri horse won,” Alessandro’s mistress said. “What a tragedy!”
         “It would have been a far greater tragedy if a child had been crushed,” Annabella retorted, not bothering to hide the tears that now ran freely down her face.
         “Of course, of course,” Signora Ferri soothed, patting her arm. “Umberto, why don’t you bring the little heiress to our palazzo so we can give her some supper and some wine? She seems to be fading away.”
         “No!” Annabella cried out then, realizing she had been impolite, added more softly, “No, thank you, Signora. Umberto and I have planned an evening together.”
         “Ah!” smiled Signora. “Of course. So much more romantic, my dear. But please, do call on us when you’re next in Siena. Your great-grandfather was so, so fond of you and he was such a great friend of ours. The Ferris and the de Roccos have been allies for centuries, you know.”
         “I am sorry I spoiled the Palio for you,” Annabella said, looking first at Signora Ferri, then her husband, their sons and finally Alessandro through tear-filled eyes.
         “Nonsense! We ’ll be victorious next time,” Signor Ferri said graciously. “We have a great rider in your second cousin and a wonderful horse.”
         But Alessandro, sitting grimly on the drenched back of Fulmine and looking down at her with eyes the colour of hard bronze, didn ’t say anything to make her feel better. In fact, she knew that if it weren’t for Umberto’s steadying arm around her back, she’d be trembling from head to foot under that severe gaze.
         “Let’s go and find somewhere pleasant to eat,” Umberto suggested quietly. So they politely said their goodbyes, leaving the Ferris, Alessandro and Claudia to say venomous things behind her back, Annabella was sure.
     
          Alessandro didn ’t return to the estate for several days and Annabella wondered if he’d ever forgive her. She gave up what she now saw was a ridiculous idea to look like