Chapter Text
Getting Bella to concede to moving away from Portofino is the hardest battle Lucian has ever fought. Of course, when he says that, Nish hits his arm and scolds him, but he’s right. Bella poured so much into this hotel, only to have to leave it behind. But fascism is on the rise, and Nish is not about to let the second closest thing he’s had to a family succumb to it.
There are sacrifices they all have to make. Bella sells the hotel and brings in a pretty penny, and Nish spends an entire night begging Gianluca to come with him. He pleads and grovels, but Gian is set in his ways and determination to change Italy.
Nish bids him goodbye with a kiss and a promise that England will always be open to him if he wants to join Nish. Gian tells him one day, and asks him to wait for him. Maybe it’s silly, but Nish agrees in a heartbeat.
They’ll leave in a few days, and the hotel is completely empty. They eat in a group now, with all the tables pushed together. Class is disregarded in favor of the fact they’re the only people who truly understand the Hotel Portofino drama.
“Paola is coming with us,” Betty informs everyone. Paola smiles gently. She talks more in Italian, which means that her main conversational partner is Connie. However, Betty seems to have taken to her like she’s family with her and Billy.
“Good.” Bella smiles at Paola. “I’m glad.”
Lucian is a little less glad, because it seems that Paola and Connie have bonded over no longer wanting much to do with him. It’s only a matter of time before Rose joins their group, he worries. After he and Connie’s dalliance and Alice having to pull Rose away from the edge, Connie had apologized to Rose, and they’d come out of the private conversation closer than ever. And even though Rose sits next to Lucian, her entire body is turned towards Connie.
Although Lucian is completely turned towards Nish. So perhaps he can’t have an opinion.
“I just don’t know where I’ll go to live,” Bella worries aloud. “I can’t go back to Cecil.” She glances apologetically at Alice and Lucian. “Sorry.”
“Don’t you dare, honey.” Claudine points her fork at Bella. “He’s no good.”
Bella tears apart her food without eating it. “I just can’t live in the same home as him while he’s having an affair. Especially not with my son’s mother-in-law.”
“None of us even want to think about it,” Rose says, rolling her eyes like it’s annoying. “I’d offer you a room in Lucian and my house, but it’s only the top two floors and we don’t have the room.”
“I’m going to miss this,” Lucian says, his name making him jump into the conversation, “I like feeling like an odd little family. Living together has been so enjoyable.” He thinks for a second and blinks. Nish takes a sip of his limoncello. He waits to share his thoughts. “Do we even all have houses to go to?”
“I have a place with Thomas–” Connie starts, but Lucian plows right over her with:
“Nish, do you have a place in England?”
Rose and Connie share a look. Lucian completely misses it.
“Actually, that was what I wanted to mention,” Nish says. “I have a house in the countryside, and I wouldn’t be opposed to letting those of you who need somewhere to stay live there. It’s about as big as the hotel.”
“How do you have a house?” Claudine asks.
“After the war, I befriended an old widower. He didn’t have children and he took to me, so he gave me his land in his will. He passed a little before we left for Italy. I figured I would end up taking the home when I got married, if that day ever comes.”
Nish glances over his drink at Claudine. She gives him a knowing smile. He gives her a sad one back. No one catches the exchange, which is probably for the better.
Bella grins. “Are you really offering?”
“Lucian is right. It’ll be a shame to lose this familiarity. After time, people may find their own homes, but there is space in my house. We could all have our own rooms.”
“Oh, thank you!” Bella laughs thankfully, freed from anxieties. “I shall absolutely be joining you, thank you, Nish!”
Claudine smiles too. “Does the offer extend to me?”
“Of course.”
“Then, I’m coming, honey! Leave a room for me!” She moves dramatically, making everyone laugh. “How about everyone else?”
“It would actually help Thomas and I a lot,” Connie says. “I could have help taking care of him while I looked after my mother. Only, though, if Betty and Paola would come?”
“Of course, duck,” Betty says. “A big house needs a cook, huh?”
“I was thinking, Nish, I could say I was hoping to turn it into a hotel like this, yes?” Bella offers. “To quell the scandal.”
“Scandal is fun,” Claudine protests.
“Not as an Ainsworth.”
“I’ll allow that,” Nish says, “perhaps it will even make a satisfactory hotel.”
“Luce, sweetheart, how about you and Rose?” Lucian startles. “I know you have your own house, but it would be such a help to have you there.”
“And my mother wouldn’t be spying on our every move,” Rose adds.
“Sold!” Lucian proclaims, as if he wasn’t sold before they even tried to sell it to him. “Hey, I can say we’re helping you with the hotel, yeah?”
Alice asks, “Where is it?” carefully poking at her food. Nish shares the location, set a little in the country but close enough to London. Alice smiles. “Close enough to Lottie’s school, and I don’t want to leave Mother just yet.”
The smile on Bella’s face deepens. Alice catches her eye and smiles too. She’s been happier lately, more confident in herself. It makes Bella happy.
The breakfast ends with everyone moving off. The hotel is busy; everyone packing and getting ready to go off to England. Claudine catches Bella’s arm outside the dining room when everyone’s left. She glances side to side, like she’s worried about them being seen together.
“I’m glad you’re going to stay with us,” Bella says, “I must admit, I was worried you’d run back to Paris.”
“Paris,” Claudine scoffs. “What is there for me in Paris? Fame? I love fame, but I’d take you over it any night.”
Bella chuckles. “You’re too sweet.”
Claudine’s hand comes to rest on Bella’s cheek. “Maybe I just like you, hon. We’ll be together, don’t worry. I’m here for you.”
“Me and you?”
“Me and you, sweetheart.”
Bella cups Claudine’s face in her hand. She gives one furtive glance around, just to make sure the corridor around them is clear of people. Then she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to Claudine’s lips. Claudine smiles into the kiss, pulling Bella in closer. Neither has to worry about the other leaving. Now they know they’ll be together.