The Italian Matchmaker (38 page)

Luca held Freya against him. ‘I knew you’d understand.’

She pulled away and gave him back the box. Her eyes sparkled like the sea. ‘It’s beautiful. She’ll love it. What woman wouldn’t?’

‘I’ve been longing to share it with you. I just didn’t know whether it was right to tell you, considering the trouble you’re having with Miles.’

‘It’s great news, Luca. I’m happy for you. It’s given me something else to think about other than myself.’

‘That’s very generous of you.’

‘Not at all. We’re friends, right? I was there when you needed me. Now you’re here when I need you. You see, I was right. You loved what I represented. Told you we’d laugh about that conversation one day.’

‘I’m not laughing,’ he replied bashfully. ‘I’m too ashamed.’

‘Don’t be. I find it hilarious. Mind you, you became instantly more attractive to me the minute Miles played around. Bad timing, I guess. We’re just not destined to be.’ She linked her arm through his as they set off up the beach. ‘At least I’m lucky enough to have you as my friend, even though I know we’ll never finish what we started.’

‘My loss,’ he said diplomatically

‘Mine too! Now, why don’t you introduce me to the lucky girl!’

Cosima was so incensed she went home early, leaving Alba on the terrace talking to Fitz and his stringy wife. At home she found Rosa waiting for her in the kitchen, her face apprehensive. The children were outside on the terrace with Beata who was listening to Alessandro reading from his school book.

‘I need to talk to you,’ said Rosa.

‘Well, I’m not in the mood,’ Cosima replied, stalking over to the fridge to grab some lemon juice.

‘It’s about Luca.’

‘I don’t want to talk about him.’

Rosa looked puzzled. ‘You know?’

‘About what?’ She poured the juice into a glass and leaned back against the sideboard.

‘His girlfriend.’

‘
I’m
his girlfriend,’ Cosima stated, giving her cousin a withering look. ‘If you’re talking about the girl who’s staying up at the
palazzo
, I already know. I heard them talking about her at the
trattoria
.’

‘You mean he didn’t tell you himself?’

Cosima stared into her glass. ‘No, but I’m sure he meant to.’ She averted her eyes, not wanting to reveal the depth of his betrayal.

Rosa took a laboured breath and plunged in. ‘Well, I saw them on the beach together.’

‘When?’

‘Just now. They were very close. He pulled out a little box and gave it to her. She opened it and fell into his arms.’ The blood drained from Cosima’s face. ‘I wish I hadn’t seen them,’ Rosa continued. ‘I wish I wasn’t the one to have to tell you.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I’m not lying.
He’s
the liar!’

‘I don’t believe you! Give me one reason why I should?’

Cosima’s reaction to the betrayal had surprised Rosa. Aside from all their daily bickering, when all was condensed down to the very last drop of blood, Cosima was family. She loved her. ‘You’re not just my cousin, Cosi, you’re my sister.’

Cosima dissolved into tears. ‘Oh God, Rosa. Do you think he’s lied about everything?’

‘I wouldn’t trust a word he says.’

She thought of Francesco and felt her hope drain away like water down a plughole, leaving everything as black as it had been before. She shook her head, unable to voice her despair. When Luca and Freya reached the
trattoria
, Romina was still there with Alba, Rosemary and Fitz, Nanni, Ma and Caradoc.

‘Come and join us, darling,’ said Rosemary.

Alba looked her over, wondering whether Freya was Fitz’s daughter. ‘Freya’s my stepdaughter,’ said Fitz, reading her mind. ‘My daughter in everything but blood.’

‘She’s beautiful,’ said Alba.

‘I’m very proud.’

‘Where’s Cosima?’ Luca asked.

Alba had been so distracted by Fitz, she hadn’t noticed her niece. ‘She must have gone home.’

‘Damn! I want to introduce her to Freya.’

‘Maybe you should go and find her,’ Caradoc suggested, communicating that all was not well.

‘Is she all right?’ Luca asked, bending over the professor.

‘You hadn’t told her about Freya, had you?’

Luca rolled his eyes at his stupidity. He had let his ego get in the way of common sense. ‘Is she furious?’

‘As only a truly passionate Latin woman can be.’

Luca left Freya with the group and ran up to the square to get a taxi. He dialled Cosima’s number but it went straight through to voicemail. He felt his anxiety like an invisible weight on his chest. If she had switched off her telephone, she must be furious with him. He scanned beneath the trees lining the road around the
piazza
, but there were no taxis. He thrust his hands in his pockets, wondering what to do, when he spotted Eugenio smoking on the steps of the police station, talking to another
carabiniere
. When Eugenio saw him, he raised his eyebrows in recognition. ‘
Buon giorno
.’

‘Hey, you wouldn’t help me out, would you?’

‘What can I do?’

‘I need a lift up to your house. I have to see Cosima urgently.’

Eugenio tossed his cigarette butt on to the ground and squashed it beneath his boot. ‘Come, I’ll give you a lift. If it is a matter of urgency.’ Luca followed him to the police car parked on the kerb.

‘Have you found the intruder yet?’ Eugenio asked as they climbed in.

‘Not yet,’ Luca replied. He didn’t want to mention he suspected Eugenio’s wife.

Eugenio was secretly pleased. ‘I thought you were going to guard the door?’

‘I have had better things to do with my time.’

‘Is Cosima okay?’

‘I hope so. Just a misunderstanding.’

‘She’s very fragile,’ Eugenio said, his tone laden with foreboding.

‘Which is why I need to clear this up as quickly as possible.’

 

When Luca arrived at Cosima’s house, he leapt out of the car and ran down the hill. Beata was outside on the terrace with Rosa and the children, who were eating large bowls of pasta. When Rosa saw him, her face frosted over. He knew something was very wrong. ‘
Buona sera
,’ he said politely to Beata, who smiled at him in ignorance. Rosa stood up and walked into the kitchen. Luca followed her.

‘Rosa, what’s happened?’

She swung around, hands on hips and began to shout at him. ‘How dare you betray my cousin? We all fell under your spell. Well, aren’t we a bunch of provincial fools?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘You might as well turn around and leave because you’re not welcome here any more. If Falco were alive he’d have
you
murdered in your
palazzo
!’

‘I don’t understand! I haven’t betrayed anyone.’

Rosa laughed, though it was more of a wild cackle than a laugh. ‘Don’t lie to me! I saw you.’

‘Saw me. Where?’ Then it hit him. ‘You saw me on the beach with Freya.’

‘Is that her name? Nice!’

‘It wasn’t what it seemed.’

‘It never is. You’re all so bloody predictable. Why can’t men come up with something original instead of the old clichés.’

Eugenio came in as they both fell silent. ‘Am I interrupting anything?’

‘Don’t worry, Luca’s just leaving.’

‘You can’t walk off without hearing my explanation.’

‘If Rosa asks you to leave, you leave,’ said Eugenio coldly.

‘It’s okay, Eugenio.’ She sighed dramatically and turned around. ‘It had better be good.’ Luca pulled the little box out of his pocket. Rosa looked at it suspiciously. ‘That’s the box you gave Freya.’

‘Yes, it is. If I had wanted her to have it I wouldn’t be holding it in my hand now.’

Rosa opened the box. ‘
Madonna!
’ She whistled, showing it to her husband.

‘It’s for Cosima. I’m going to ask her to marry me.’

‘Then why did you give it to Freya?’

‘I didn’t. I was showing it to her.’

‘Funny to show another woman an engagement ring!’

‘Freya’s an old friend,’ he explained patiently. ‘She’s left her husband because he’s having an affair. She had nowhere else to run to. I couldn’t tell her about Cosima straight away. I didn’t think it fair to tell her my good news when she was so unhappy. So I waited until I felt it was the right time. She was happy for me. We embraced as friends, Rosa.’

‘Why didn’t you tell Cosima she was coming?’

‘Because I was afraid she wouldn’t like it.’

Rosa pulled a face. ‘Well, that’s honest, at least – and you’re right, she doesn’t like it.’

‘Look! I wouldn’t betray Cosima. I
love
her.’

Rosa handed the ring back. ‘You’d better love her with all your heart and all your soul because believe me, if you make her unhappy, you’ll regret it. My family has a history of seeking revenge in the most violent way.’

‘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.’

‘Poor old Fitz. He always had the potential to marry a strong woman.’