by T A Williams
She saw him take another sip of champagne. ‘It was only after publication that I finally began to realise the enormity of what I’d done. Little old ladies were posting online and saying things about me that would make your hair curl. The social media accounts I set up for M. T. Landseer were soon submerged beneath a tsunami of hatred. The book was plastered all over the tabloids and, although miraculously nobody ever managed to find out my real name, I was genuinely in fear for my life for a while. That’s why I freaked out last night – I thought they’d finally got onto me. As the vitriol in the British tabloids increased, I decided to cut and run. I swore off social media, stopped watching TV, came over here, bought myself a fortress and a Labrador, and became a farmer. I escaped to Tuscany.’
‘So you’re saying you don’t share your hero, Justin’s, attitude towards women?’
He shook his head vigorously. ‘Not at all. It was a con, a hoax, a way of hopefully getting rich quick without a thought for the deeper ramifications and consequences of what I’d created. I was unbelievably naïve. Looking back on it now, I can’t understand how I couldn’t have thought it through. I suppose I didn’t really believe for a moment it would actually catch on and, even in my wildest dreams, I certainly didn’t imagine it selling millions all round the world.’ He had been staring down, as if addressing his comments to the Labrador, but now he raised his eyes and looked up, directly at her. ‘Please believe me, Alice. You, of all people, need to believe me.’
‘Why me in particular?’
‘That’s easy.’ Although he needed another sip of wine before he said it. ‘I think I’ve fallen in love with you.’
‘You’ve what?’ She also sought refuge in alcohol before continuing. ‘You know you’re crazy, don’t you? We only met a couple of weeks ago. You hardly know anything about me.’ Her head was spinning with thoughts at odds with her words. Crazy he might be, but there was no disguising the fact that she had also been entertaining similarly crazy strong feelings about this man she had only just met. Shaking her head to clear it, she let her conscience prick her. ‘In fact, if it makes you feel better, I haven’t told you the whole truth either.’
‘You haven’t…?’
He looked so bamboozled that she found herself beginning to feel sorry for him. She told him about Pals Across the Pond and her alter ego, Polly. She told him why she had been staying at the villa and how close she had come to signing up for the new series. As she revealed her true identity, she read amazement in his eyes – coupled with realisation.
‘I knew I’d seen you before. How could I be so stupid?’ He caught her eye. ‘Mind you, from what I’ve just told you, I’m sure you can understand that I really am that stupid. All this time I’ve been thinking of you and picturing you in my head, but without making the connection.’ He picked up the bottle. ‘More champagne?’
‘Absolutely.’ As the wine hissed and fizzed into her glass, she decided to take the bull by the horns and ask the next big question. ‘So how come you know Felicity Winter?’ He swung round in surprise and she explained. ‘I just spotted a photo of the two of you together in the paper at the bar. It looked as though you were having fun.’
He gave a snort of annoyance. ‘I saw the same photo. Bloody paparazzi! At least they were far more interested in her and they didn’t manage to identify me. But anyway, she’s part of the reason I’m celebrating.’
For a second, Alice’s heart sank. Surely he wasn’t about to announce his engagement to Fliss or anything so drastic. Seeing the confusion on her face, he was quick to clarify.
‘I’ve just heard from my agent that they’ve finally signed the contract to turn the book into a movie. I signed on the dotted line over a month ago and I’ve been on tenterhooks ever since, but now it’s set in stone. And, even better, this week when I was in Rome, I met the big stars who are going to be in it. In fact, I went out for dinner with Felicity and the director. She’s a very nice lady.’
It took Alice a few moments to digest the fact that there was, after all, a logical and innocent explanation for his appearance alongside Fliss, and she felt a wave of relief. ‘She is indeed. Did she tell you that she and I were drinking coffee together only a few mornings ago? She was staying at the villa very recently. That’s who the paparazzi have been hoping to catch a glimpse of.’
‘You know her too?’ The expression on his face was a picture – probably not dissimilar to the expression on her face when he had revealed he was the author of the book.
‘Yup, and I might even be acting alongside her in a movie next year.’
* * *
The dinner he prepared was perfect. He apologised for it being cold, but on such a hot, sticky night, she was more than happy to eat wonderful freshly carved ham, aromatic orange-fleshed melon, little mushroom vol-au-vents, bruschetta and a fine mixed salad. As they ate, they chatted and he told her more about his meteoric rise from middle-of-the-road journalist to multi-millionaire. For her part, she told him all about her years in Hollywood and the recent negotiations at the villa that had resulted in her decision to withdraw from the new project, only to say yes to a few guest appearances as a result of the events involving Zoë. It was good to talk freely – now that they had both revealed their respective secrets – and the more they talked, the more her conviction started to strengthen again that he was a good guy and not out of the same mould as his unscrupulous protagonist, Justin.
At the end of the meal, they went up onto the open roof where the hint of a breeze made the temperature more bearable. They leant against the hefty stone wall that ringed the top of the tower and looked out into the shadows of the Tuscan night. He pointed out little clusters of light here and there in the distance that were houses, villas and villages. It wasn’t completely silent. Down below them, the shouts of children from the floodlit pool showed that Conrad’s granddaughters were being allowed to stay up late. Alice could see a couple of adults there, too, but at this distance it was impossible to recognise who they were. This reminded her about the job that Antonia had just offered her and she told him all about that as well. He sounded enthusiastic and she quizzed him about his own future projects.
‘By the way, last time I was here you were telling me you were struggling to get started on your next book. Is that true?’
‘Like I said, everything I’ve told you has been true and, unfortunately for me, I really have the worst case of writer’s block since Snoopy sat down and wrote, “It was a dark and stormy night.”’
‘What sort of thing are you planning on writing? You mentioned humour, I think, didn’t you?’
‘To be honest, that’s at the root of the problem. My agent and publishers are pushing me to go for the same sort of thing again – you know, outrageous, offensive and controversial. Me, personally, I’ve learnt my lesson. I don’t need the money now and I’d like to write something far less contentious. Living here in Tuscany, I’ve even been thinking about a historical novel. You’re the historian, maybe you can come up with some suggestions. I’d be eternally grateful.’
An idea did come to mind. ‘How about Amerigo Vespucci? After all, your home appears to be intimately connected with him. You could draw on the handful of hard facts that are known about him and about Columbus, and produce a dramatised version with the two of them competing for the big prize – although I’m not sure if they even ever met in real life. Certainly, it would be a good way of popularising a story that’s shrouded in mystery and I’d be happy to give you a hand with researching the historical facts.’
His reaction was instantaneous. He turned towards her, caught her face between his palms and kissed her with real feeling. Finally, he drew back and she saw the moonlight reflecting in his eyes. ‘Alice, that’s brilliant, really brilliant! That should go down a bomb with the American market and my agent will love it. You’ve made me a happy man.’
Alice could think of a few more ways she could make him – and herself – even happier but, for now, she said nothing. Instead, s
he kissed him back and then buried her head against his chest, just savouring the fact that there were no secrets left between them. Hopefully.
‘I’m glad you approve. I’ll see what else I can dig up but maybe you could even write a romantic scene with Amerigo and the love of his life standing up here, in this exact same place. People like a bit of romance.’
‘Don’t we all?’ His voice was soft and gentle.
She reached up again so she could kiss him long and lovingly on the lips. She felt him respond and his arms tighten around her, only for him then to straighten up and take a step back.
‘And do you think you can forgive me for writing that damn book?’
‘Only if you can forgive me for not telling you about my dodgy past on the TV.’
‘That’s good, it’s a deal.’ But then, instead of taking her in his arms, he glanced down at the dog by his side. ‘I think it’s time I took Guinness for his evening walk.’
A feeling of disappointment returned to Alice, but for a very different reason this time. She could tell he was hesitating before taking things further and she couldn’t understand why. They had both now aired the truth about their past and she had come to terms with what he had referred to as his ‘dirty little secret’. Surely, he could see that she wanted things to progress, but short of dragging him off to the nearest bedroom, she didn’t know what else to do. Still, she followed him back down the stairs behind the dog, who had run on ahead, tail wagging in anticipation. She felt a pang of regret as they passed the bedroom doors on their way down, but she put on a brave face. When they got outside, Matt caught hold of her hand and turned towards her.
‘If you’d like to walk a bit, the moonlight should be bright enough for us to see the way. We could go across to my vineyard, if you like, and you can see how I’ve been spending my time.’
There was no doubt whatsoever in Alice’s mind that she could think of a far better way for them to spend their time, but evidently he didn’t feel the same way. She wondered if he didn’t want to, or maybe he didn’t feel strongly enough about her, or even if something or somebody else was holding him back. Whatever it was, it was disappointing and highly frustrating. Still, she walked with him along the white gravel track, the outline of the bushes and trees around them becoming ever clearer as her night vision improved, until they reached the unmistakable sight of an unexpectedly large field of vines stretching off down the hillside.
‘This is it, the place where I’ve spent the last couple of years on and off. In the light of day the view’s spectacular, all the way along the valley.’ She could hear that he was searching for words and she decided to help him – and herself – out.
‘Matt, now that I’ve shown you mine and you’ve shown me yours, can I ask you something?’
‘Anything.’
‘Is everything all right?’
‘Everything’s great now.’ He sounded surprised. ‘Why do you ask?’
She decided that honesty was the best policy. ‘Well, I’ve just been wondering why it’s taken you so long.’
‘So long to do what?’
‘To decide whether you like me or not. I haven’t been in any doubt for weeks now.’
He stretched out one arm and hugged her to him. When he started speaking, his voice was full of emotion. ‘For the record, I’ve known the way I feel about you since that first time I saw you by the broken fence. The delay’s been tough, but I needed you to know that I’m not like Justin in the book. You mean far too much to me for there to be any doubts in your mind.’ He leant down and kissed her softly on the top of the head. ‘This isn’t just a fling. I’m in it for the long haul, Alice, if you’ll have me.’
She reached up towards him with her arms and her lips.
‘I’ll have you, Matt. Oh yes, I’ll have you.’
Epilogue
‘And this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Documentary Series goes to…’
Up on the stage, the glamorous presenter took her time opening the envelope, deliberately heightening the tension. Alice glanced around the table and gave Antonia an encouraging wink. She felt Matt’s hand catch hold of hers under the table and squeeze.
‘…Wonders of the Renaissance.’
Alice felt a surge of delight. They had done it! This year there was no need to fake a smile as she beamed at Antonia and saw her beam back.
‘You did it, Alice, you did it!’ Antonia had to shout to make her voice heard over the applause and she couldn’t have sounded happier. ‘Go on, up you go.’
Alice turned to Matt, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He grinned at her and echoed what Antonia had said. ‘I knew you could do it. Off you go. They’re waiting.’
Alice rose to her feet and went round to hug Antonia.
‘We did it, Antonia. I couldn’t have done it without you. You made it happen.’
Alice straightened up and gazed around at the sea of faces, all looking in her direction, and felt a rush of pride. As she weaved her way between the tables towards the stage, people called out her name, shouted congratulations and reached out to shake her hand or high-five her.
Up on the stage, she took the award from the presenter, gave her a grateful kiss on the cheek and stepped up to the mike.
‘Thank you, thank you so much.’ The applause subsided. ‘I’m so very grateful to the Academy and to all the viewers out there for choosing Wonders for this award. I’m delighted to accept it on behalf of the whole team, led so ably by Antonia.’ She pointed down towards her and blew a kiss. ‘There are so many people to thank.’
She had rehearsed the names in her head time and time again, just in case the series would be chosen for the award and she was pleased to see the pleasure on the faces of her colleagues as they were mentioned. Once she had given credit where it was due, she allowed herself a few more personal comments.
‘As some of you may know, embarking upon this series was the culmination of five hard years of study for me and it involved a major change of direction in my life. I owe a lot to Zoë and all my friends at Pals Across the Pond for helping me to cut my teeth in the wonderful world of television. As for Wonders, my fervent hope is that this series and the subsequent ones will introduce more and more people to a subject that has become so dear to me.’ She brandished the golden statuette in the air. ‘Thank you once again.’
Amid more applause, she made her way back to her table and went round hugging everybody, before returning to Matt’s side and kissing him again. As she did so, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Fliss standing there, looking predictably stunning in a pale blue silk dress that fitted her like a glove. She, too, was beaming.
‘Brilliant, Alice. Really well done and richly deserved. I’ve watched all the episodes and I was so impressed.’ She kissed Alice warmly. ‘I’m looking forward so much to working with you when shooting of our movie starts next month.’
As she went off, her place was taken by Millie, who had more important things on her mind.
‘Hi Al, massive congrats and all that. Now then, let’s see the ring.’ After her mother, Millie had been the first person Alice had called with the big news.
Alice grinned and brandished her left hand. ‘Before you say it, I told Matt I didn’t want a damn great rock.’
‘Wow, Al, it’s gorgeous.’ While Millie took her hand and studied the ring, Matt leant across and confessed. ‘As I know nothing about engagement rings, I just asked them for the oldest one they had.’
Alice gave him an affectionate peck on the cheek. ‘What girl wouldn’t love a ring that started its life five hundred years ago?’ She kissed him again, this time for longer. ‘Or a man who started his life thirty-seven years ago. I do so love you, Matt.’
He reached out and rested his palm against her cheek. ‘And I love you too, Dr Alice Butler. Want to know something? I love you for the way you look, the way you act and the way you always try to do the right thing but, above all, I love you for your brain.’ And he kissed her aga
in. As she emerged from his embrace, Alice glanced up at Millie and grinned triumphantly.
‘What did I tell you?’
Millie grinned back at her. ‘Hang on to him, Al, this one’s a keeper.’
Alice looked back tenderly at Matt, her heart threatening to burst.
‘Nobody needs to tell me – I know.’
He smiled back at her. ‘Forever?’
‘Forever.’
Acknowledgements
With warmest thanks to my editor, Emily Bedford, and all the team at Canelo.
Escape to Tuscany
Under a Siena Sun
Second Chances in Chianti
Find out more
About the Author
T.A. Williams lives in Devon with his Italian wife. He was born in England of a Scottish mother and Welsh father. After a degree in modern languages at Nottingham University, he lived and worked in Switzerland, France and Italy, before returning to run one of the best-known language schools in the UK. He’s taught Arab princes, Brazilian beauty queens and Italian billionaires. He speaks a number of languages and has travelled extensively. He has eaten snake, still-alive fish, and alligator. A Spanish dog, a Russian bug and a Korean parasite have done their best to eat him in return. His hobby is long-distance cycling, but his passion is writing.
Also by T.A. Williams
Chasing Shadows
Dreaming of Venice
Dreaming of Florence
Dreaming of St-Tropez
Dreaming of Christmas
Dreaming of Tuscany
Dreaming of Rome
Dreaming of Verona