Rome in Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

Forest.” Sophie’s lips wavered. “She died when I was eleven.”
    “What happened?” Amelia asked.
    “A riding accident.” Sophie’s eyes darkened. “My father never married again, he didn’t want me to turn into Cinderella. I had the most wonderful childhood with my own skating rink and stables. Now it’s my turn to do something for him. I’m going to be the best ruler Lentz has seen in centuries.”
    “I don’t know what to say.” Amelia finished her wine. “I thought it was difficult being an actress. Audrey Hepburn was one of the most-loved actresses in film and the paparazzi are waiting for me to fail. They write articles about whether my waist is too wide or if I have her smile.”
    “You’re gorgeous,” Sophie replied. “My father doesn’t let photographers near the palace, we take one royal photo at Christmas. People might know my name, but they don’t recognize me.”
    “My boyfriend isn’t very happy that I’m an actress.” Amelia frowned. “He hates that we live in different cities and only see each other on weekends. And he hates the paparazzi that started following us since I got the lead in Roman Holiday . He wishes I went to medical school and was doing my residency in San Francisco.”
    “Marriage is much more sensible as a business arrangement.” Sophie nodded, folding her napkin into precise squares and placing it on her plate.
    “I couldn’t live without love.” Amelia gazed at a young couple sharing a bowl of hazelnut gelato. They fed each other small spoonfuls, laughing and chattering in Italian. Amelia remembered strolling along Union Street with Whit and eating Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt. She pictured Whit taking off his jacket and draping it around her shoulders to protect her from the evening fog.
    “I should go.” Amelia pushed back her chair. “I’m still on California time and I’m exhausted.”
    “I’ll walk with you. My head is beginning to feel like it’s been split open with a hammer.”
    They left a wad of euros on the table and walked into the street. It was late afternoon and tourists strolled along the sidewalk, licking cones of spumoni. Amelia saw children playing next to the Trevi Fountain and a boy strumming a guitar on the Spanish Steps.
    *   *   *
    “Here’s my room number.” Sophie stopped in the lobby and scribbled on a piece of paper. “I owe you dinner for helping me to the clinic, that was very kind of you.”
    “I’ll be working fourteen hours a day, but if I get a moment I’d love to.” Amelia slipped the paper into her purse.
    Amelia took the elevator to the seventh floor and opened the door to her suite. She put her purse on the pink marble end table and sat on the beige silk sofa. She gazed at the vase of purple irises, the minibar stocked with French champagne, the sketch by Tintoretto hanging over the fireplace.
    She pictured Audrey Hepburn sitting in the same spot, and wondered if she ever felt lonely. On the screen she was always perfectly composed but she must have had difficult love affairs, disapproving parents, brushes with the press.
    Amelia pictured Whit’s curly dark hair and blue eyes. She saw him fastening the diamond teardrop earrings in her ears and suddenly felt cold and tired. She drew a cashmere blanket over her shoulders, curled up on the sofa, and fell asleep.

 
    chapter three
    Philip opened his laptop and scrolled through his e-mails. He ran his hands through his hair and poured another cup of black coffee. If he didn’t get another freelance job soon he’d have to tell Signora Griselda he was late with the rent. He gazed at the wooden bedside table, wondering if she would accept his leather watch or a few American sport coats.
    When he moved to Rome, Adam promised him the title of news editor and his own corner office. They had been friends at Columbia Journalism School and Adam started a newspaper in Rome for American expats.
    “It won’t have the usual baseball scores and Hollywood gossip