Romina didn’t bother to introduce him to her guests. As they walked down the steps to the garden, the professor raised his eyes over his cards. ‘I see young Luca is now out of a job.’
‘The police will do nothing,’ said Nanni.
‘They should take fingerprints at least,’ added Ma.
‘Nothing has been stolen, has it?’ said Dennis. ‘No one hurt or threatened. For all they know, it could be one of us.’
‘More likely one of them.’ Ma nodded towards Ventura who was bustling about with a couple of young maids. ‘In novels it’s always disgruntled staff.’
‘Or the hostess herself,’ said Dennis with a laugh.
‘My sister might be melodramatic,’ said Nanni. ‘But she’s far too busy looking after all of us to bother creating a mystery for her own amusement.’
Down at the folly Romina unlocked the door and showed Eugenio inside. There was no evidence to suggest anyone had been lying on the bed. ‘She doesn’t come every night,’ Romina explained.
Eugenio gave a low whistle. ‘So this was the Marchese’s love-nest.’
‘How do you know it was his love-nest?’
‘It’s legendary. Valentina used to meet him here. It was their special place.’
‘I haven’t changed a thing. I kept it exactly as it was.’
‘The Marchese was a notorious pervert,’ he said with a chuckle. He leaned over to read the spines of the books neatly lined up in the bookcase. ‘Erotica. That doesn’t surprise me.’
‘If he were alive I’d point the finger at him,’ said Romina, folding her arms.
‘He’s dead and I still point the finger at him.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! Dead people don’t come back. When you’re dead you’re dead. That’s it. Full stop.’
‘Well, there’s no sign of a break-in. Nothing stolen. No damage. Nothing.’ He shrugged. ‘As I said, there’s nothing I can do until she turns up again. In that case, call me.’
‘Maybe she won’t come back. Maybe, she’ll grow bored and go somewhere else,’ said Romina hopefully.
‘I’d take a good look at your staff, signora. And keep that key close to you at all times. I think you’ll find it’s nothing.’
After dinner, Luca and Cosima strolled along a small stony beach. It was twilight. The first stars were just visible, twinkling through an indigo sky, the waxing moon as shiny as a polished silver coin. He told her about his marriage, his divorce, his work and how it had all begun to suffocate him. He explained how coming to Incantellaria and meeting her had changed him.
‘I feel alive, aware of all my senses. Aware of everything around me from the smallest flowers to the breeze on my face. I came here for some peace, so that I could work out where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do. I never expected to metamorphose into someone different.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘I never expected to fall in love.’ They walked on in silence until he pressed her for an answer. ‘And you? Are you falling in love with me too?’
She took a deep breath. ‘Yes, Luca. I’m falling in love with you. But I’m afraid.’
‘Of what? Rosa?’
‘No, not my cousin. I’m afraid of allowing myself happiness. Whenever I feel happy something squeezes my heart to remind me of Francesco.’
‘You don’t feel you deserve happiness after what happened to your son?’
‘Yes.’
He stopped and drew her into his arms. ‘Francesco wants you to be happy. He doesn’t blame you. If it wasn’t for him you’d have drowned.’
‘I want to believe.’
‘Look, I saw him earlier today on the quay. When you left, he ran after you. He had a spring in his step. Then he grinned at me and waved.’
The longing glittered in her eyes. ‘I want to believe with all my heart.’
‘Trust me, Cosima. I wouldn’t lie to you. This is all very new to me. I’m bewildered by it too.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I didn’t want to make you sad.’
‘Don’t you see? That is the one thing that will make me happy.’
They continued to walk, their arms wrapped around each other. Instead of Francesco’s name hanging over them like an oppressive shadow, they talked about him openly. Cosima’s anguish was lifted and she talked about her son with pleasure, recounting his antics and the funny things he had said. Luca was intrigued by the child who was only visible to him, but he longed for undeniable proof of his spiritual existence to give to Cosima. He had no idea how to talk to a spirit.
They sat on the pebbles and Cosima pushed her doubts to the very back of her mind. She let her desire take over and became aware only of the rough sensation of Luca’s bristles against her skin, the warmth of his lips on hers, the strength of his body as he enveloped her. With Luca she felt safe. She felt herself again. The last three years she had been nothing more than a mother without a child to love. Now she felt like a woman again, loved by a man.