“Wait till you see the inside Mina” she had chuckled, taking her arm and leading her inside. Surprised at this intimate act, she had looked back at Yanis, who was smiling, his eyes full of merriment as he had mouthed ‘she likes you’, Mina giving him a return grin.
Inside Mina had found herself being given the grand tour. Each room was more charming than the last, decorated simply yet elegantly with the understated stamp of wealth that so many homes failed to achieve. Each room led onto the large hallway, the marble tiles causing her small heels to make such a musical sound as she walked. Moving up the grand stairs, the railings made to mimic the outside marble balustrade, she had been only able to gasp at the large chandelier which hung down from the ceiling, natural light pouring in from the glass window which showed the blue of the sky above.
From the upper landing which circulated around all of the rooms, Theresa had moved to one corner room, pushing the door open with a flourish.
“I hope that you will find this to your liking Madam” she had said with pride, laughing as Mina had given her a mock hurt look “Mina ….” she had corrected, Theresa smiling, her eyes full of humour.
“I hope you like this room Mina…If not then for you I will change it”.
Mina had moved into the large bedroom, her hands flying to her mouth as she had gasped.
“Wow…this is so beautiful” her eyes drinking in the expensive furnishings, before she had moved to the large ornate French windows which lay open, the breeze catching the soft curtains and billowing them out. Mina had thought how the whole room looked like something she had seen in a movie, her lips giving a dazzling smile, before she had moved out onto the balcony, seeing as her room overlooked the sea.
“Oh Theresa…I have never seen anything so lovely” she had finally managed, the housekeeper nodding with approval.
“Good…then I will leave you to settle in…your bag is here for you if you wish me to unpack”.
Giving a surprised look, she had shaken her head.
“No…please, I can do that myself. Please don’t run after me”.
Theresa had given her a surprised look, nodding and moving back to the door.
“You are a nice girl Mina. Welcome to the Villa Dupris, I think that you will be happy here”.#p#分页标题#e#
Throwing the housekeeper a final smile, her gaze had once more returned to the view. Sighing with complete contentment her eyes had closed, allowing the sound of the birds and the smell of the salt water which lazily washed against the rocks below to fill her, the sea-breeze a welcome relief from the searing heat of the mid-day sun.
Hearing the door tentatively open, she had turned expecting the housekeeper to have forgotten something, only to see a small girl before her.
“Hello” she had smiled warmly, seeing as the little girl had warily looked back at her, Mina holding back the laugh as the child had battled her desire to run away against her need to know more of the stranger. Finally her curiosity getting the better of her as she had given a shy smile back, “Hello” she had responded as Mina had moved closer.
“My name is Mina, and who are you?” she had asked gently, as the small girl, no more than five or six had looked thoughtfully at her, in the way that children did, her face serious, her head angled slightly.
“Dina” had been her eventual response as she had continued to regard Mina.
“You’re pretty” she had finally stated, Mina holding back the laugh that sprang to her lips.
“Well thank you very much Dina” she had chuckled “And you are very pretty too, exactly like a Disney princess”.
This had pleased the small girl, her long black hair falling around her shoulders, with large brown twinkling eyes, her heart-shaped lips smiling widely.
“Which one?” she had cried out, her initial nervousness disappearing as she had moved forward to Mina, who had looked thoughtfully back at her.
“Well Snow White of course” she had grinned as the small girl had squealed with pleasure “She is my favourite” she had cried excitedly, moving to grab Mina’s hand as she had pulled open the book she was reading, pointing to a picture of Snow White. Trying to look surprised she had nodded “Isn’t that amazing” the child laughing back.
A small knock on the door had seen Yanis peer around, his eyes resting on Dina.
“Dina!” you know you are not to disturb guests. The small girl glancing over at Yanis, her face filled with annoyance and impatience.
“I was just saying hello” she had cried out with irritation on her young voice.
Once more Mina had held back the smile seeing the look Yanis had thrown her way as she had turned to Dina.