The Italian Matchmaker(111)

‘Now, will you tell me where she is?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘You have no idea?’

‘She just ran off.’ He took his telephone out of his pocket. ‘Don’t bother. She doesn’t want to speak to you.’

‘I have to find her.’

‘Rosa?’ Eugenio felt sorry for Luca. He too knew what it was like to love too much.

‘All right, I have an idea where she might have gone.’

‘Where?’

‘Come with me. I’ll show you. Eugenio – you’re driving.’

Fitz returned to the palazzo with Rosemary, Freya, Romina, Ma, Nanni and Caradoc. All the way back in the car he stared out of the window, chewing on his regret that he wasn’t able to spend time alone with Alba. Rosemary wittered on about the scenery and how beautiful it was, anything rather than talk about Alba. Romina could read Fitz’s thoughts that were as transparent as if he were made of glass.

‘I’m going to have a rest before dinner,’ said the professor, shaking out his legs as he walked unsteadily into the hall.

‘I think I’ll do the same,’ said Ma. ‘What a tiring afternoon. Being on a perpetual holiday is quite exhausting.’

‘Fancy a game of cards?’ Nanni asked Fitz.

Fitz turned dutifully to his wife. ‘What would you like to do, darling?’

Romina was quick to intervene. ‘Darling Rosemary, I have just the thing for you and Freya. A precious little shop full of exquisite Italian crafts that you would adore. Most of the things you have admired of mine come from there. It’s called Casa Giovanna and it’s a secret little place off the beaten track. It will be closed tomorrow, but if I telephone Imelda she will keep it open now just for us. What do you say?’

‘Oh, I’d love to.’ Rosemary thought a little retail therapy was just what she needed after having had to sit with Fitz’s beautiful ex-girlfriend for a couple of hours.

‘I don’t suppose Luca’s back?’ Freya asked wistfully. ‘I hope he’s okay.’

‘He’ll be back in time for dinner,’ said Romina, opening the door. ‘Come, let’s not waste another minute!’ She caught Fitz’s eye and winked.

‘So, what do you say?’ Nanni persisted.

‘Later perhaps. For now, I’d like to take a walk down memory lane.’

‘A rain check then,’ said Nanni, bending down to pat Porci.

Fitz stood on the gravel, deliberating what to do, unable to get Alba out of his mind. He knew the way to her house. He remembered the old lookout point, the olive tree and Valentina’s grave. Some memories never fade. He’d go by way of the folly, down the path. He hoped she’d be there.

Alba was downhearted. She cursed his possessive wife for not leaving them alone together. Trust Fitz to wind up with a woman like that. He must have married her by default; she was too brisk and brittle to love. A woman who liked to be in control of everything. Knowing Fitz as she did, he would have gone along with it. Oh, he was happy enough, but there were many degrees of happiness and she’d wager good money that his happiness only reached half its capacity.

Once home she sat talking to Beata, who told her that Rosa and Eugenio had disappeared with Luca in great haste. She had heard Rosa shouting in the kitchen but she didn’t know what it had been about. Alba rolled her eyes. Her first thoughts were for Cosima. She felt a constant nagging in the pit of her stomach that her niece might do something stupid. She was so used to the girl’s fragility, she always expected the worst. But Beata didn’t know where Cosima was.

‘Perhaps she’s gone for a walk,’ said Alba, getting up. ‘I’m going to have a shower. It’s been a long day.’

‘You’ve been at the trattoria all day?’

‘You know who showed up? Fitz. Do you remember him?’

‘Of course I remember him. What a nice surprise. What’s he doing here?’

‘He’s staying up at the palazzo.’

‘Oh? Are you going up there?’

‘Absolutely not. Wild horses couldn’t drag me there.’

‘Is he married?’

‘Yes, to a real busybody!’ It was good to share her feelings with Beata. ‘The silly woman wouldn’t leave us alone. I really wanted to talk to him on my own. It’s been thirty years, I can’t imagine why his wife is so possessive.’

‘Because you’re a very beautiful woman, Alba.’

‘Not any more.’

‘Oh yes you are. The years have been kind, because they have been happy.’

‘I’m hardly going to steal him, am I? She could have been generous and offered to leave us. But no, that was too much to bear. She had to hang around and listen. She didn’t know what we were talking about.’