“Are you as happy as I am, mio tesoro?” Niccolò’s rich, melodic voice was a soothing balm to her soul.
“Blissful.” Ruby brushed her lips against his with a feathery touch that sent thrills of joy through her. While Ariana and Alessandro had a romantic suite reserved at Vera’s lovely hotel tonight, Ruby and Niccolò would sleep at Villa Fiori. Ruby wanted to wake with Niccolò in her arms in their new home.
Niccolò returned her kiss, lingering on her lips. “Ready for our second honeymoon?”
As Niccolò’s face glowed with anticipation, Ruby smiled. She had suggested that they tour the lake region. “Though I’ve treasured our first honeymoon, it’s time to make new memories.” She smoothed her hand over his crisp white dress shirt, feeling the warmth of his heart beating strong beneath it. “Yet, when I’m with you, those young lovers of long ago are still with us.”
Niccolò covered her hand with his. “Inside, I’m a young man forever besotted with you. In my eyes, you will always be that enchanting young woman—who is even more beautiful today.”
Ruby had asked Niccolò to show her the areas of Lago di Como that he loved. They planned to take his yacht around the lake in a leisurely fashion for a couple of weeks. Along the way, they would visit the quaint comunes from the southern branches of Como and Lecco to the lake’s northern tip. They would call in to see friends and family, dine at his favorite restaurants, and explore historic villas.
“When we return, I’ll move more of my belongings to Villa Fiori,” Niccolò said. “And you may put as much as you want at the farmhouse.”
“I’d like that,” Ruby said. They’d decided to divide their time between their residences. Niccolò needed to be close enough to tend the vines, but they both loved the restaurants and social life in Bellagio. The coldest months they would spend in the sunshine of Palm Springs. It would be a perfect life for them, one they’d worked hard to achieve.
Humming softly, Niccolò swayed with the music. “I’ve been thinking about the farmhouse and theatre. It seems a shame for it to go to waste when we’re not there. What do you think about using it for an artist-in-residence program for writers, actors, and directors to develop and stage new projects? Everyone would be excited to meet you, mio tesoro.”
Ruby smiled up at him. “Oh, darling, what a marvelous idea. We have so much experience to share.” She imagined the fun they would have throwing their energy into new productions.
Upbeat music swept across the party, and Ruby glanced behind them as their family and friends filled the dance area, laughing and twirling to a popular tune. Seeing happiness on their faces was a gift beyond measure.
“Look at this miracle,” she said, as deep joy bloomed within her. “It still amazes me that my path led back to you—and a second chance at life. If only I had come here sooner.”
“Let’s not think of what might have been, but what can be.” Niccolò’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “I’ve also been thinking about a new play. There’s a part that’s perfect for you—if you’d like to consider it.”
“Always for you, amore mio,” Ruby said happily. “Always and forever.”
The End
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Hepburn’s Necklace, and I hope you enjoyed the story of Ruby and Niccolò. You might also enjoy more of my 1950s historical sagas, such as The Chocolatier, which is set on the sunny coast of Amalfi, Italy. Or The Winemakers, which follows a winemaking family and will whisk you from Napa Valley vineyards to rolling Tuscan hillsides. And for a riveting WWII saga, look for The Perfumer: Scent of Triumph, a heartrending story of a French perfumer who seeks to reunite her family.
If you enjoy contemporary women’s fiction, I invite you to the coast of Southern California to meet art teacher Ivy Bay and her sister Shelly as they renovate a historic beach house in Seabreeze Inn, the first in my Summer Beach series.
Keep up with my new releases at JanMoran.com. Please join my Reader’s Club there to receive news about special deals and other books. And as always, I wish you happy reading.
Afterword
In Hepburn’s Necklace, I sought to bring to life the summer of 1952 and the filming of Roman Holiday in Rome. Research on people involved in the filmmaking unearthed numerous written accounts and televised interviews, which provided many details incorporated into the story. It has been my privilege to imagine Ruby and Niccolò meeting and working on Roman Holiday.
As to scenes that included the film’s stars—Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and Eddie Arnold, along with director William Wyler and costume designer Edith Head—the actions and conversations in these passages are fictional. The story is meant to celebrate collective efforts on a film loved by fans around the world.
On a personal note, I have long admired Audrey Hepburn for her grace, kindness, and strength of character. It is my pleasure to offer a heartfelt homage to a lovely woman who shall be long remembered by her devoted family, friends, and admirers.
To my readers, thank you for joining me on this fictional journey, and I hope you enjoyed it as I did.
Discussion Questions
1. Hepburn’s Necklace examines the theme of family secrets. Are you aware of any secrets in your family? If revealed, how did the new information affect family dynamics and relationships?
2. Although Ruby could afford far more expensive jewelry, she cherished the vintage necklace. Do you have any pieces of jewelry or other mementos that have significance to you?
3. Before the invention of email and mobile phones, the lack of instant communication often impeded relationships. In Hepburn’s Necklace, Ruby treasured written communication and carefully composed a critical letter to her daughter Mari. Have you kept any old letters or cards? Do you write letters or send cards to friends and family? Why or why not?
4. While the deception of the birth certificate was to Ruby’s initial benefit, do you think Ruby’s sister Patricia was justified in concealing this information from Mari and Ariana in later years? Why or why not?
5. If Mari had been interested in researching her ancestors, a DNA test might have revealed that Patricia was indirectly related. Have you ever taken a DNA test to determine ancestral lineage, or would you have trepidation? What would you do if results were not as expected?
6. Throughout history, pregnancy was often a cause for employment termination, but in Hollywood, it could potentially decimate a career, as Ruby experienced. Yet decades later, Ariana still encountered disparaging attitudes in the workplace regarding pregnancy. Despite protective employment laws in many countries, have you ever experienced or witnessed similar situations? What did you or would you do?
7. Ruby employed her acting skills and strong work ethic as defense mechanisms to overcome painful episodes and forge on with life. Yet she clung to cherished memories, reliving them as comfort. Ultimately, do you think her approach was beneficial or detrimental? In what way?