to draw some peace from the words written on its pages, anything rather than look at him. She struggled with her pride, which longed for him to see her happy and settled and regret letting her go, and her heart, which suffered the weight of her memories and yearned for him still. Ramon sat back and glanced at the unfamiliar faces around him. Then he settled his gaze on his daughter whose tear-stained face glowed with love and pride. He was happy he had come.
Chapter 18
Once the service was over the church turned into a parochial cocktail party as the village wished each other a very happy Christmas. Ramon shook hands with Jake and kissed Polly on her stiff cheek as if he had seen them the week before. He lifted a reluctant, wriggling Hal into his arms and kissed his face before handing him back to Helena.
‘Does it surprise you that he doesn’t recognize you?’ she hissed.
Ramon lowered his eyes and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave it this long,’ he replied, ashamed.
‘You never do,’ she retorted bitterly.
Federica took him by the hand and led him through the throng of strange people to meet the Applebys.
‘This is my father,’ she said proudly to Ingrid who extended her hand graciously.
‘It’s a great pleasure to meet you. Fede has told us so much about you,’ she said and smiled broadly.
‘You must be Hester’s mother,’ he said.
Ingrid’s face expressed her surprise. ‘Why, yes I am,’ she replied, wondering how he had worked that one out.
‘Fede’s lucky to have a best friend in Hester,’ he said. Federica squeezed his hand because he knew nothing about Hester except what she had told him outside.
Ingrid placed her monocle in her eye to study him in more detail. He was devastatingly handsome with the remote, mysterious eyes of a wolf. She also found his accent most charming; his was genuine, Nuno’s was not.
‘Come with me, I’d like to introduce you to the rest of my family,’ she said, gesticulating to her father and husband who stood talking to each other because they found the after-church chitchat with the village superficial and tiresome. Both longed to be back at the manor with their books. ‘Pa, Inigo, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Ramon Campione,’ she said and smiled broadly. ‘Isn’t he quite the most handsome thing Polperro has ever seen?’
Ramon chuckled to hide his discomfort but Federica’s grin increased until it was in danger of swallowing up her entire face.
‘Really, darling, you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. I apologize for my wife,’ said Inigo, shaking Ramon firmly by the hand.
‘“It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances,”’ said Nuno, bowing to Ramon.
‘Ah, you’re an admirer of Oscar Wilde,’ he replied, bowing back.
Nuno’s eyes flickered their approval. ‘So are you. Now I hold you in great esteem. When can you come to lunch? I would like to show you my library,’ said Nuno, turning to his daughter and raising an eyebrow. ‘I could tell young Federica comes from a learned family.’
‘Ramon is a famous writer,’ said Ingrid, who knew all about him from Helena. ‘He’s highly regarded in Chile.’
‘I understand you have taken my daughter under your wing,’ said Ramon. ‘I’m very grateful to you.’
Ingrid patted Federica on her head as though she were a rather well behaved dog. ‘It’s a pleasure. My daughters adore her. My father is right, Ramon, you must come for lunch. How long are you staying?’ she asked, hoping he was going to stay for a long time. She liked nothing more than colourful people.
‘I don’t know yet.’
‘Divine! I love a man who takes every day as it comes. Much the best way to go through life. It lasts longer that way,’ she said and laughed. Then she leaned
in closer to him and whispered, ‘We have invited the vicar to lunch today, so I think we had best be heading back to Pickthistle Manor. You will come to lunch, won’t you?’ she added. ‘Tomorrow?’
‘Of course. It would be a pleasure,’ he replied with a courteous inclination of his head.
‘Good. Tomorrow it is then. Bring Helena and the children. It’s always a delight to see your wife.’
Helena was furious. ‘You want to go around presenting as a family?’ she raged. ‘How dare you show up here and take everything over.’
‘I’m not taking anything over. I came to see my children. Isn’t that what you wanted?’
‘You sweep in without a single apology for not writing, not calling, not being there when your children need you.’