by T A Williams
‘Still,’ Katie looked on the bright side, ‘they’ll probably dig up loads more dirt on him as a result. Anyway, the main thing is that he’s in custody. Now, I think we should head through to the kitchen before the oven blows up. It’s little bit full at the moment.’
They took the meal in easy stages and, altogether, it lasted almost three hours. By the time Katie served the coffee and Vicky dug out a plate of cantuccini biscuits, it was approaching four o’clock. There was still lots of food left over, not least because Katie had eaten very little. For some reason she wasn’t feeling so good. They piled up the dirty plates and made their way through to the lounge once more. Outside, the air temperature had been rising steadily all day but in here, with the shutters half-closed, it was still pleasantly cool. None of them had drunk excessively, but they were all feeling pleasantly relaxed. Paul chose an armchair and Vicky sat down alongside him. Katie wondered when he was planning to tell her the story of his mother and her father to explain why he had been a bit cool when they had first met.
As she sat down opposite them on the sofa, Katie once again caught that same quizzical look in Paul’s eyes. She did her best to put him at his ease.
‘I saw Marco yesterday. He was looking very smart.’ She tapped Martin on the arm. ‘Now there’s a really handsome man.’ Turning back to Paul she told him what Marco had said. ‘He said he was going to a funeral. Not somebody close to him, I hope?’
Paul nodded sadly. ‘A good friend’s mother, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh, how awful. Was she old?’
‘Not at all. She had cancer, I’m not too sure where, but I think it was pretty much all over her body. You met her daughter at my party last week. Do you remember Loretta?’
Katie nodded blankly. Of course she remembered Loretta.
‘Loretta’s mum died last Wednesday. Loretta phoned me from the hospital for a bit of support.’ He looked across straight at Katie. ‘She’s got nobody here nowadays. Her dad’s dead and her only brother lives in the States. The irony is that he flew over to see his mother that very day, but managed to arrive in Florence three hours too late. The funeral’s been a mad rush because he had to get back to America where his wife is expecting a baby this week of all weeks.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘I suppose Marco and I are the next best thing to brothers to her. I went straight to the hospital after she called me, but her mum had already been pronounced dead. You can imagine what sort of state Loretta was in. I walked her home from the clinic. It’s not far, but she was very tottery on her feet.’
‘God, I can imagine.’ Katie was very sorry for Loretta and her mum. More to the point, she now realised she had jumped to totally the wrong conclusion when she had seen them together. She felt awful. ‘How’s Loretta now?’
‘Still very, very upset. She phoned me when we were on our way back from the seaside the other day. She was still coming to terms with it and hadn’t found the courage to tell anybody at that stage. Her brother was jetlagged to hell and, to be honest, he’s a bit of a waste of space, so he was next to useless. In fact, once I’d dropped you two off on Thursday, I went straight round and we spent a couple of hours phoning everybody who knew her.’
‘And the funeral?’ Vicky looked at him sympathetically. ‘Did that go well at least?’
‘As well as these things ever do. I hate them.’ He shook his head and Vicky caught his hand to comfort him. Katie sat back, surreptitiously rubbing her belly, leaning against Martin’s shoulder, doing her best to take in what she had heard. So presumably Loretta and Paul weren’t back together after all. Did it mean Marco hadn’t been joking when he said Paul was going to be jealous? The pain in her abdomen came again, more insistently. She heard Martin’s voice in her ear.
‘Carpe diem.’ Sensing her upset, Martin stretched his arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards him. ‘Live for the day. Who knows what could be around the corner?’
Katie doubled up in agony as another wave of pain struck her, really stabbing into her this time. She fell to the floor, clutching herself and squealing.
‘Katie, are you all right? Katie…’
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘So Paul phoned Nando, and he phoned the doctor, and the doc shot round almost immediately. You were rolling around on the floor by that time.’
‘Oh, God, I’m sorry, Vicky.’ It didn’t sound like her own voice. Katie cleared her throat and tried again. ‘I’m so sorry for ruining the party.’
Vicky snorted. ‘Don’t be so silly. Anyway, a few phone calls, a rather swish private ambulance and they brought you here.’
‘I recall some of that. I think I can remember being wheeled around the corridors, but that might have been on my way to the operating theatre.’
‘That would have been at nine o’clock last night. That’s when they did the op and removed your appendix. They told me it was just in time. It was ever so swollen and could have gone pop at any moment.’
Katie lay back on the crisp white pillows and surveyed her surroundings. The hospital was unlike any hospital she had ever been in before. First of all, she had her own room and, by the looks of it, her own bathroom. Second, it looked more like a hotel bedroom, and a posh one at that, with tasteful pictures on the walls and stylish curtains. And thirdly, the view out of the window over the hills to the south of Florence was delightful.
Vicky was sitting on a chair near the bed and the huge bowl of fruit and the bunch of flowers she had brought with her were occupying most of the bedside table. Somewhere underneath them was Katie’s phone, tablet computer and Kindle. Vicky had thought of everything. She was smiling happily, obviously delighted to see Katie looking and sounding better. ‘Have they told you how long you’ll have to stay here?’
Katie shook her head. ‘The surgeon is supposed to be coming to see me later on after he’s finished his rounds. Hopefully it shouldn’t be too long.’ She reached out and caught Vicky’s hand. ‘Thanks for organising all this and thanks a lot for coming to see me. Have you heard from the others; Martin or Paul?’
‘Martin drove me here. He sent me in first, but he’s outside waiting anxiously to see you, and Paul told me he would drop in some time later today.’ Katie felt an immediate charge of excitement, but whether it was at the sound of Martin’s name or Paul’s was too hard for her befuddled brain to fathom out. Vicky hesitated. Katie knew her well enough by now to know something was bothering her.
‘What’s the matter? Something bothering you?’
Vicky shook her head. ‘No, nothing bad. I just wanted to tell you that I asked Martin if he would stay at the villa with me last night. I hope you don’t mind. After the whole paparazzi episode, and what the count tried to do to me, I was feeling a bit frightened at being there all on my own.’ She was looking embarrassed. ‘Actually, I asked Paul first, but he said he couldn’t, as he’d got Loretta staying. Apparently she’s been there for a couple of nights.’ She caught Katie’s eye. ‘Paul’s got such a kind heart, you know. Anyway, you don’t mind my asking Martin, do you? I mean, it was all above board. He didn’t actually stay with me, if you know what I mean.’ Now she was blushing red. ‘He slept in one of the other bedrooms.’
‘Of course I don’t mind, silly. So you’re still at the opera singer’s villa? I wouldn’t want to be there all by myself either. There’s just something a little bit creepy about the place by night.’ She squeezed Victoria’s hand. ‘I think choosing to have a big strong rugby player alongside you was a good move. I approve.’
Vicky looked relieved and explained. ‘With all the kerfuffle last night we never got round to moving out, but we will today. There’s been no sign of the paparazzi for a few days now, so Martin said he’ll help me this afternoon. We’ll collect all your stuff and see that your room back in our villa is set up for you when they let you out of here.’ She stood up and glanced at her watch. ‘Martin’ll be jumping up and down by now. He’s dying to see you and to know that you’re all right. He was really worried last night.’
‘He’s very sweet!’ Katie reached up to tidy her hair. ‘Vicky, am I a hell of a mess? I wouldn’t want to frighten the boy off.’
Vicky giggled. ‘For somebody who’s just come out of the operating theatre you look just fine.’ She bent over and kissed Katie on the cheek. ‘Now just you get well. All right?’
Ten seconds after the door closed behind Vicky, it swung open again and Martin came rushing in. Katie was pleased to see his worried expression turn to one of relief as he saw her. Presumably she didn’t look too bad after all.
‘Hi, Martin, how’re you doing?’
‘Oh, Katie, I’m so glad to see you looking well again.’ He had a bag of what looked like grapes in his hands. From the tormented way he was twisting his hands and the way the bag had crumpled up under the onslaught, she rather feared the contents would now be more useful to a wine maker. Still, it’s the thought that counts. She smiled as he dumped them unceremoniously on the last bit of space on the bedside table. He stared down at her, anxious to see that she was all right. ‘You had us really worried last night.’
‘I had me really worried last night! Hey, come over here and give me a kiss. Maybe not a full-on passionate, tongue down the throat job just yet. Just something restrained, rather like my stitches are doing to me.’ She held out her arms to him and he came over to sit beside her. He leant towards the bed, took her hand in his and deposited a tender kiss on her forehead.
‘Restrained enough?’
‘Mr Darcy himself couldn’t have done better.’ She gave his hand a squeeze. ‘So, what’s new?’
‘What’s new is that I slept in the villa last night. Did Victoria tell you? She’s asked me to take over from you as her guardian angel until you’re better.’ He looked up. ‘Any idea how long you’re going to be staying in here?’
‘I should know in an hour or two when the great man himself comes along. Hopefully not too long. I feel a bit tired, and my tummy feels a bit tender, but that’s about it.’ She smiled at him. ‘The nurse was explaining that it was all done by keyhole surgery, so she said I’d just have a couple of tiny little sexy scars. Trust an Italian to call any scar, sexy.’
‘I can imagine a scar being sexy on you.’
‘I’m not feeling very sexy at the moment.’ She gave him another smile. ‘So how are you and Vicky getting on together?’
‘Very well. She’s been telling me a bit about her upbringing all alone in that huge house. You always think of rich people as living a wonderful life, but she’s had it tough.’ He was shaking his head. ‘I tell you this, though. She thinks the world of you and she’s been terribly worried about you. I had to talk her out of having some big name surgeon flown out from the UK to do your operation.’
‘As it is, I gather from the nurse that Professor Luigi Whatsisname who did the op last night is the bee’s knees over here. No, Vicky’s been amazing. You make sure you look after her, now, won’t you?’
‘You can trust me.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll take good care of her…promise.’
Martin sat with Katie for about twenty minutes before the conversation began to lag. After he had told her for the second time that Dante the dog had come looking for his morning walking partner, she gave him a smile and put both of them out of their misery. She knew how awkward it can be to come up with conversation in such circumstances.
‘You go off now. I’ve got the specialist coming, and there was talk of something happening to my hair. I must look a right mess. Anyway, it was sweet of you to come and I’m sure that I’ll soon be fit and well again.’
He gave her an encouraging smile and squeezed her hand. ‘I’m sure you will. You look fantastic already.’ He kissed her again, this time on the lips. ‘I’m so, so pleased you’re all right.’ She kissed him back.
The day passed quite quickly. She slept quite a lot of the time and spent the rest either reading on her Kindle or refusing food. The menu of snacks and meals would not have looked out of place in a good hotel. The heading on the leather-bound booklet was even Room Service. It was clear to her that in sickness as in health, money talks. She received a regular supply of text messages from Martin and Vicky from which she learnt that the move had taken place. Her bedroom at the Chalker-Pyne villa once more awaited her.
Just after six o’clock another handsome man arrived to see her. The timing was pretty good, as the nurse had by then given her a much-needed bed bath. Her hair was brushed, her teeth cleaned and she was even offered make-up, although she refused. There was a gentle tap on the door and Paul Taylor came in, a smile on his face and a bunch of flowers in his hand. He registered the massive array of flowers brought by Vicky and shook his head ruefully.
‘I knew I should have gone with the box of chocolates.’
‘Paul, how great to see you.’ She was genuinely happy he’d come. She held out her arms towards him. ‘Come over here and say hello properly.’
He came over rather hesitantly and leant down towards her. She caught him by the shoulders and pulled him down so she could kiss him softly, first on one cheek and then on the other. She could feel his warm skin beneath his shirt and it felt good. ‘Thank you for all your help and thank you for coming to see me.’
‘I’m sorry it’s taken me so long.’ He was looking a bit uncomfortable and glanced at his watch. ‘I had to go back down to that place at the seaside to supervise the work today. It’s a pretty big job, I’m afraid. I’m sorry but I couldn’t avoid it. I would have been here earlier if I could.’ He gave her a searching stare. ‘Well, are you fixed? Good as new?’
‘It’s an extreme form of weight loss. They chop a hole in you and remove bits from inside where it doesn’t show.’ She waved towards the chair. ‘Thanks for the flowers, but you shouldn’t have. It’s pleasure enough just to see you.’ And it was. She felt really, really happy that he’d come. As happy as she had been to see Martin? She shook herself mentally and dismissed the question as unanswerable in her present state. ‘But I’m fine now, thanks. I’m a bit achy at the moment, but no real pain. The specialist says I might even go home tomorrow afternoon, but more probably the morning after.’
‘Well, you gave us all a scare yesterday.’ He managed a smile this time. ‘I’m really glad you’re OK.’ He glanced around the room appreciatively. ‘Nice place you’ve got here. Nothing but the best for the Chalker-Pynes.’ Some people might have missed the edge to his voice. She didn’t.
‘The power of money. I tell you one thing, Paul. Since I’ve been with Victoria, I’ve learnt a thing or two about being filthy rich. Yes, you get to stay in the best hotels. Yes, you can buy every material comfort you’re ever likely to want or need.’ She gave him a smile. ‘Like a room in an expensive private hospital for a friend for instance. But there are all the downsides too. Take Vicky for example. If her dad had been a normal middle class guy with a little house in suburbia, there’s no way, short of locking her in the basement, he could have so completely fucked up her life for twenty-five years. People would have spoken out, the authorities would have stepped in. It couldn’t have happened. There would have been none of this nonsense with the media and the paparazzi and slimy toads like the count of Monte Cristo, or wherever it was, wouldn’t have tried to drug, maul and rape her.’ She looked up at him. ‘It cuts both ways.’
He gave her a weak smile. ‘I know. I’m sorry if that sounded bitter. I know it’s not Victoria’s fault. It’s just that her father fucked my family up as much as he did his own.’
Katie reached out and took his hand. For a moment it looked as if he were going to pull it away from her, but then he surrendered it. ‘It must have been just awful for her, for you and, I suppose, for old Sir Algernon. If you needed proof that money doesn’t buy happiness, or indeed sanity, he’s the one.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘I’m really sorry about your mum and what happened. Sir Algernon must have been a strange, strange man. Was he?’
‘I only met him a few times.’ His eyes were looking down, trained on his hand in hers
. ‘I think he was somehow frightened of me, or maybe just guilty, even when I was still a little kid, for his relationship with my mother. I was away at school most of the year and I never saw him in the UK. And when I came home for the holidays, he usually made a point of not being there. In fact, I saw a whole lot more of Nando than I did of him.’ His voice warmed. ‘Nando taught me so much, you know. He left school at fifteen, still has trouble reading and writing even now, although that’s between you and me. And yet, so much of what I know about agriculture, and olive trees in particular, I got from him. All right, the technical, scientific stuff was Cambridge, but the practical stuff came from him. In many ways, Nando was like a father to me.’
Katie injected a brighter note into her voice, but she didn’t release her hold on his hand. ‘So have you forgiven Vicky for what her father did? It’s not her fault, you know. And she really likes you a lot. I can see that.’
Paul looked her straight in the eye. ‘Vicky’s a sweetie. God knows, she suffered enough at the hands of her father. And of course you’re right; there’s nothing to forgive. OK, I’ll admit that the first time I saw her, it wasn’t easy. You never met her father, but, if you had, you would have recognised that she’s the spitting image of him. For a moment, it was as if the old man himself was standing in front of me. It was a creepy sensation.’ She felt his muscles compress through the touch of his hand, then they relaxed. ‘Anyway, I like her a lot.’
Katie smiled back at him. ‘I’m so glad you and she are going to get on.’
He nodded. ‘I never had a sister, or a brother for that matter. Suddenly I find that I’ve sort of got one after all, and it’s a great feeling having a sister, a rather sweet little sister. The fact that she’s a bit naïve, a bit unworldly, makes her appear more like a little girl than a grown woman in my eyes. Like I say, just like a little sister. That’s how I see her.’ He caught Katie’s eye. ‘When all’s said and done, her father and my mother were an item for many years. All right, I’d be the first to admit that it was a weird sort of relationship. He would appear for a few weeks and then disappear again, there was nothing you could really define as family life, but the fact remains that in a practical sense, even if not in a legal sense, I have a family bond with her.’