Dante's Unexpected Legacy(74)

                ‘None of your clothes look very ordinary, Dante.’

                ‘Mummy!’ repeated Bea imperiously. ‘Can I wear my dress?’

                ‘Yes,’ said Rose in sudden decision. ‘I’ll wear a dress, too. But we’ll take some jeans and a T-shirt for you, just in case. What time are we due at Fortino, Dante?’

                ‘Noon.’

                ‘In that case I’d better make a start on my hair. You can take a look at the clothes I’ve brought, Dante, and choose for me.’

                ‘I always do that, Mummy,’ said Bea, pouting.

                ‘We shall choose together,’ said her father hastily, and snatched her up to give her a piggyback up the stairs.

                * * *

                On the approach to Dante’s childhood home through the vast vineyards of Fortino, the house which came into view looked familiar to Rose.

                ‘It’s the label on your Fortinari Classico,’ she said, impressed. ‘I’d assumed it was a reproduction of some Renaissance villa.’ She bit her lip. ‘It’s very grand, Dante.’

                ‘But in bad condition when my parents inherited it,’ he informed her. ‘Much work was necessary to make it look as it does today. Part of it is used as offices, so Mamma wants a smaller, more private place to enjoy my father’s retirement. She would like Leo and Harriet to take over Fortino.’

                ‘Will they do that?’

                ‘Harriet says Leo spends most of his time here anyway, so she is willing to make the change. But Leo is attached to his present house because it is the home he brought Harriet to as a bride.’

                ‘Look, balloons, Daddy!’ piped up a voice from the back. ‘And lots of people.’

                Bea was right. As Dante parked the car, people came streaming out of the house onto a loggia far bigger and grander than the one at the Villa Castiglione, with brightly coloured balloons tied to its venerable pillars.

                ‘Do I look all right?’ demanded Rose urgently, and Dante picked up her hand and squeezed it.

                ‘You are perfect,’ he said, and got out to help his little family from the car.

                Maria Fortinari came hurrying down the steps to greet them and kissed Rose in warm welcome, then planted kisses on her granddaughter’s cheeks. ‘You both look so beautiful,’ she exclaimed, and turned to the distinguished silver-haired man following behind. ‘Our newest granddaughter, caro.’ She drew Rose forward. ‘And this is Rose, her mamma.’

                Lorenzo Fortinari took Rose by the shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘Benvenuti, Rose.’ He smiled down at the child clinging to Dante’s hand. ‘Welcome to you, also, piccola. May I have a kiss?’

                ‘This is my daddy, Bea,’ Dante informed his daughter. ‘But to you he is Nonno.’

                Much to Rose’s relief, Bea held up her face for her grandfather’s kiss, then her eyes lit up and she broke away to dart up the steps to the people clustered there watching. ‘Auntie Charlotte, Auntie Charlotte!’

                ‘Honey Bea!’ Charlotte Vilari hugged her tightly. ‘How’s my lovely girl?’

                Bea smiled up at her joyfully. ‘I got a big secret, Auntie.’