The Italian Matchmaker(88)

‘A spirit?’ they cried in unison, turning to each other in a flurry of excitement.

‘So, believe me now?’ said Luca.

‘I have to,’ she conceded.

He gazed steadily into her eyes. ‘I wouldn’t lie to you, Cosi. I promise I’ll never lie to you.’ They continued down to the quay in silence. As they neared the trattoria, he felt her stiffen at the sight of Rosa on the terrace. She was leaning over a table of young men in her red dress, her cleavage in full view.

They reached the terrace and Luca didn’t let go of her hand. Rosa looked up and registered their hands held tightly and the closeness of their bodies as they walked. But she forced a smile and tried to make light of her feelings. ‘Look at you two!’ she exclaimed. ‘If I wasn’t married I’d be jealous.’

‘Why don’t you join us for lunch?’

She pulled a face. ‘As if! Can’t you see I’m working? No, you have lunch together. After all, you have to get to know each other!’ She pointed to a table in the corner. ‘It’s quiet there. No one can eavesdrop.’

‘Thank you, Rosa,’ said Cosima sincerely.

‘Look, I’m taking all the credit for getting you two together. If it wasn’t for me you would still be moping around like an old lady.’ She pointed a red nail at Luca. ‘And you would still be mulling over your divorce. I’m happy for you and for me, because this good deed of mine might have erased some of the bad I’ve done in my past and gain me access to Heaven. Now sit down and eat. Alfonso has made the most exquisite lobster.’

She went into the kitchen and sat down at the little wooden table. ‘Romano, bring me a glass of wine, will you?’

‘Are you all right, Rosa?’ Alfonso asked. She had suddenly gone pale.

‘I’m fine.’ Romano brought her a glass and poured the wine. She swallowed a big gulp. ‘That’s better.’ She shook her head in despair. ‘Some people have all the luck!’

After dinner Fiyona took a taxi into town, reminding Romina of her appointment with Fiero.

‘Now I know why she speaks such good Italian,’ said Romina to Ma. ‘She sleeps with all the waiters.’

‘Your brother will be disappointed,’ said Ma. ‘She’s thrown him into a lather of excitement.’

‘Something needed to wake him up. Shame it’s a tart.’

‘She’s an animal.’ Ma gave a disapproving snort. ‘She’ll take anything that moves.’

‘Particularly if it doesn’t move very fast, like Nanni!’

‘Sacrifice him ruthlessly if it guarantees a good article.’

Romina glanced at her brother, alone on the terrace with a glass of whisky. ‘I hope he hasn’t let us down.’

‘Oh, I don’t think she’s very discerning.’

‘I can’t see that there’s anything sexy about Nanni.’

Ma squinted thoughtfully. ‘Oh, I don’t know. There’s someone for everyone.’

‘Even you, Ma?’

Ma grinned ironically. ‘I’m far too spiritual to indulge in earthly pleasures.’

‘Earthly pleasure is all there is, Ma. Make hay while the sun shines.’





25



It was dark. A salty wind swept in off the sea and raked cool fingers through Rosa’s hair. She walked up the pebble beach, her eyes stinging with tears. She could hear the distant rumble of a party, the sudden uproar of laughter, the sound of merriment that only served to emphasise most cruelly her own discontent. She sat down, pulled her cardigan around her and gazed out to sea. Stars twinkled like fireflies, the moon shone brightly, lighting up the sea below, dragging her gaze out to the horizon. ‘I was meant for better things than this,’ she thought. ‘I was not meant for a small town, to live and die in obscurity. Now Cosima’s stealing the life I should be leading. She’ll go off to London and travel the world. Wear expensive clothes and diamonds.’ In frustration, she picked up a pebble and threw it into the water. It landed with a satisfactory plop.

She became aware of a shadowy figure at the other end of the beach. She stopped throwing stones and strained her eyes to get a better look. A man, she thought. He looked agitated, though she couldn’t make out his features. For a moment she wondered whether he was going to wade out into the sea like Cosima. She wasn’t about to go in after him and shrank back so he couldn’t see her. He paced a small area, back and forth, his feet in the water. Finally, he walked off towards the little path that wound its way up the cliffs to the palazzo by way of the folly.

Rosa scrambled to her feet and hurried off in curious pursuit. She knew that path like the back of her hand, every twist and turn, every rise and fall. Taking care not to be seen or heard, she ran stealthily over the stones with the grace of a cat. It seemed that he, too, knew the path well. He didn’t hesitate or stumble, but moved smoothly through the darkness.