Too Cold To Love by Doris O'Connor

found out. It would be when, not an if, of that
she was sure. Oh blooming heck, what am I going to do?
    "Now, my dear, what gloomy thoughts are
going through that pretty head of yours? You're marrying tomorrow; that should
make you smile."
    Stella watched her through hooded eyes that
reminded her of Marco. Really she could be his mother, not his aunt.
    "Sorry, guess I am nervous."
    "Brides are entitled to be nervous, but
there is no need. Marco will do right by you; you'll see."
    Elise couldn't help the almost snort, and
Stella's eyebrows rose as the full intensity of her blue eyed gaze settled on
her. Oh shoot, now she'd done it.
    "If you have such a low opinion of my
nephew, then why are you marrying him, Elise? Or should I say Jemima?"
    Elise almost dropped her cup of chocolate.
    "Wh…what did you just say?"
    "I'm no fool, Elise. I grant you the
resemblance is uncanny, but there are differences. The way you hold yourself,
the way you fidget with your hair, the easy way you've adopted the new clothes,
Marco has insisted on, and most importantly the way little Mimi is responding
to you, not to mention Marco."
    Elise's heart hammered in her chest, her tummy
churning. Could this get any worse?
    She made herself look at Mamma G and was stunned
to see the woman was smiling at her. Not sure whether that smile was that of a
cobra ready to strike she held her breath, whilst straightening her shoulders
ready to take whatever was coming.
    "How long have you known?"
    Stella's amused chuckle threw her further off
balance.
    "Well it was obvious,really. Marco had
absolutely no interest in you before. Then you show up, he announces you're
engaged, and he looks as though he can't wait to eat you alive. And then
there's Mimi. It's obvious you adore her and vice versa. Your sister made her
giggle, but she never looked as relaxed as she is with you."
    "Mimi is a very special little girl."
    "That she is, and she needs a good mother,
not the harlot who gave birth to her, and completely messed Marco up."
    "He really hates her, doesn't he?"
    Stella's short laugh was ice cold. "And
with good reason, but he can explain that to you."
    "Why are you not calling the police or
something?"
    Again Stella just laughed.
    "And that would achieve what exactly? I
will not have my family's dirty linen aired in public. You will learn soon
enough that we Giovanni stick together, and as you're marrying Marco tomorrow,
you'll be a Giovanni. I can assure you that Marco will not put us through
another divorce."
    Elise's rising temper made her voice shrill.
    "If you don't want another divorce in the
family, then maybe he shouldn't go through with blackmailing me into this.
Hardly the basis for a lasting marriage!"
    "Ah, I was wondering how he got you to
agree. And who's to say this marriage won't last? He married for love last
time, and that didn't turn out too well. And if he doesn't get laid soon, that
boy will self-combust. So marriage it is. And as I know you at least love Mimi,
well, that's a good start."
    Elise couldn't believe her ears.
    "This isn't the dark ages, Mamma G. He
hardly needs to get married to get laid. You cannot seriously be suggesting
that Marco hasn't had a string of mistresses since he split with his ex?"
    Elise had to sit back down again at the
expression in Stella's bemused eyes as she rolled her eyes.
    "I'm sure my nephew has found other ways to
relieve himself, but that is hardly the same as a willing woman. I'm afraid his
views on sex outside of marriage are rather old fashioned." She narrowed
her eyes looking Elise over. "So I reckon you'll be good for him. Put it
this way, you'd better be."
    Elise couldn't believe what she was hearing.
    "Or what?"
    "What do you think Marco will do when he
finds out that you're in fact Jemima?"
    Elise barely supressed a shudder. She could
imagine his reaction only too well. "I'm not Jemima. I'm Elise, always
have been, always will be. Jemima assumed my identity to get this job."
Stella gave a low whistle