Third Time Lucky

by Croft, Pippa

  Alexander manages to get through the soup and main course by communicating in monosyllables. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. It hardly matters what he says because Valentina is too busy regaling us with stories about her vacations, her parents’ new villa in Sardinia and the expansion of the gallery she owns in Positano. I have a sneaking suspicion that she’s making so many hand gestures to show off her admittedly impressive cleavage.

  As soon as dessert has been served, we all retreat to the sitting room – if you can call it a retreat, with the Cold War raging between us. Valentina can’t resist a few remarks about missing General Hunt and how ‘things aren’t the same at Falconbury without him’. I don’t know how Alexander can put up with her comments, they’re so close to the bone.

  When she gets up to try and push a cushion under Alexander’s arm, I have murder on my mind. On the other hand, it is funny.

  ‘What are you smiling at?’ she asks, glaring at me as Alexander grunts an ‘I’m fine’ at her. ‘You think it is amusing that Alexander is in pain?’

  ‘I’m not in pain,’ he growls, clearly wincing as she rearranges the cushion.

  ‘There, you see, he’s not in pain. Not from his injury anyway,’ I shoot back, stung at last.

  ‘That’s because you don’t know him well. Anyone as close to him as I am would know how he really feels.’

  Suddenly, Alexander gets up. ‘I am actually in the room. Shall I leave so you can carry on discussing me in private?’

  ‘Amore, don’t be silly. I’m only concerned for you!’

  It’s too late. Alexander stalks off, and the cushion falls to the carpet.

  ‘You see what you have done now?’ Valentina says with a glare of triumph.

  Realizing it’s useless to argue with her – and a little pissed at Alexander including me in his comment – I escape to the library and lock the door to give us both time to cool down. The last thing I want is to get into a row with him with Valentina in the house because I suspect that’s exactly what she wants. Maybe Alexander really is tired – it hasn’t been long since his op – or just brooding, because when I finally slip into bed beside him, he doesn’t make any attempt to have sex, which is unusual. Irritated by the idea that this would please Valentina, I sit up and do some reading.

  I opened my eyes this morning to find his side of the bed empty and a note on my pillow saying he’s gone to walk Benny and will see me at breakfast. I don’t know when he left the house but working on the assumption he’ll be back sooner rather than later, I pull on skinny jeans and my top from last night and head downstairs.

  The aroma of cooked bacon and sausages drifts down the hallway from the morning room, but before I can walk in, I hear raised voices. My Italian classes don’t cover some of the vocabulary on Valentina’s side but I can get the gist. Alexander, on the other hand, is making himself perfectly clear.

  ‘I’ve said I appreciate you coming over to see how I am, but now I think it’s time you left,’ Alexander snaps.

  Valentina switches to English. ‘You are a fool! She is only after one thing, your money and your title.’

  ‘Now you’re being ridiculous. Lauren couldn’t care less about that stuff. And I’m not listening to another word.’

  Though I’m seething mad, I’ll give Valentina one thing. She does a very elegant snort.

  ‘I never thought you would be so naive, tesoro, but now I realize how deeply you have been taken in. She must be better in bed than I’d have given her credit for. She doesn’t have the body of course,’ she says dismissively, ‘so she must have some tricks up her sleeve that have warped you.’

  I almost laugh at this; she is utterly outrageous. Ignoring the temptation to burst in and throw a few insults her way, I decide to wait in the hallway as Alexander assumes his chilliest tone.

  ‘Valentina, please don’t force me into asking you to leave this house.’

  ‘What?’ she blusters. ‘You can’t throw me out! Your mother would turn in her grave and if the general were alive, he would weep to see how you treat me. You will regret it too – when things go wrong with your cheap little American, you’ll come running back and by then maybe it’ll be too late.’

  Impatience tugs at the edge of his voice now. ‘I don’t care what my father would think and I won’t discuss my mother with anyone. I’m sorry if your parents are offended, but it can’t be helped. And as you told me yourself, you’re very busy with the gallery expansion. I expect you’ll want to get back this evening,’ he says firmly, making it clear the conversation is over, as he makes his way to the door.

  There’s an audible gasp from Valentina and then more expletives. I suppose I ought to laugh or cheer, but the last thing I want to do is walk in on them and risk a full-scale war. It’s like volcano versus iceberg and for now, I think I’ll stay out of it.

  Back up in the bedroom, the minutes stretch to thirty before I hear the door open. I bury my head back in my art book, not that I’ve taken in any of the contents.

  ‘Lauren?’

  I wait a few seconds before I glance up at Alexander. ‘Oh, hello. Sorry I didn’t make breakfast. I must have lost track of time.’

  If he doesn’t believe me, he doesn’t show it, but he does look fed up. ‘It’s a good thing you didn’t come down,’ he sighs. ‘I’ve asked Valentina to leave. Ideally right now, but I doubt she’ll be able to get a flight from Heathrow until later this evening.’

  I close the book. ‘I thought she travelled everywhere by private jet?’ I keep my tone light.

  ‘Not on this occasion,’ he says ruefully.

  ‘I’m not going to lie. I’m relieved she’s leaving but I’m sorry it’s been awkward.’

  His face is inscrutable as he crosses to the window, then all I get is a back view. ‘I need to do my physio,’ he says dully, sounding like the sky has just fallen in on him. When he turns around, I realize he genuinely does look worn out and I’m reminded that he’s on a long road to recovery.

  ‘Is the arm getting any better?’ I ask tentatively, all too aware of his volatile mood.

  ‘It’s fine.’ He walks over to me and sits by the bed. I think he’s in far more pain than he lets on and the realization that it may be a long time before he’s fit for duty is beginning to sink in.

  ‘OK.’ I pause. ‘Well, unless you want help with the physio, which I’m guessing is a ‘no’ …’ He confirms with a shake of his head. ‘Then it’s probably too late for breakfast now so I may as well go for a run and then grab some brunch.’

  He brightens. ‘Yes, why don’t you take Benny out with you?’ Delighted to see his dark mood lift even a little, I readily agree.

  Soon, Benny is loping around me, sniffing round hedgerows, marking his territory and wearing out his tail muscles in his delight at being taken out for a run twice in one morning. I haven’t gone that far because I’m starving and really I just wanted to give Alexander some space.

  This time, I do a quick circuit of the deer park and start walking back towards the stables for my cool down. I’m skirting the side of the house, turning the corner towards the boot room entrance, when a red-faced Talia dashes up to me.

  ‘Have you seen Alexander?’

  ‘He was in his bedroom but that was half an hour ago. Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘Bloody Valentina! She took Alexander’s hunter out for a ride without asking and she says he’s thrown her. You’d think she’d broken her ankle from the way she’s shrieking.’

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Back at the stables, giving everyone hell in between screams.’ Talia pulls a face. My heart sinks as I wonder if this will mean Valentina won’t be leaving as soon as I’d hoped.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ‘Does she need an ambulance?’ I ask, walking alongside Talia.

  Talia snorts. ‘Of course not. I’m not wasting their time; she can go off to A&E like everyone else.’

  What sounds like a howl of agony comes from the direction of the stable ya
rd. ‘I guess I’d better go and find Alexander,’ I say reluctantly. I’d really hoped to be able to leave him to get some rest.

  Talia stomps off, while Benny, who seems delighted with this new excitement, races ahead into the hallway, his claws clattering on the tiles. After I find Alexander and fill him in, we hurry down to the stable yard and the sight that greets us is like something from a comic opera. Valentina is sitting on an old mounting block, holding her ankle and moaning at Talia, who is behaving with admirable restraint.

  ‘Can I fetch you a pack of frozen peas? You should get some ice on that …’

  Valentina rounds on her. ‘Frozen peas! What the hell do you think I am? I don’t need vegetables, I need expert medical help.’ I’d second that, I think, but not of the kind she means. ‘Oh, Alexander, thank God you are here. Your stupid hunter threw me.’

  Alexander strides forward. ‘Why were you on him in the first place? What were you doing to him?’

  ‘Me doing to him? He is the most useless animal on the planet. I have no idea why he decided to throw me.’

  ‘I thought you never fell, Valentina,’ he retorts, then in a softer tone: ‘Here, let me see this ankle.’

  He kneels down and with his good hand probes the flesh around her ankle. I’m no doctor, but I can’t see any swelling. Then again, she can’t have fallen very long ago so maybe the bruising has yet to come out. I’m desperately trying to be charitable and failing by the second.

  ‘Owww!’ She screws up her eyes in pain.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ says Alexander soothingly, while continuing to check her foot and ankle with his good hand. I remember when I twisted mine outside his house and he did the same to me … I nearly went through the roof, in more ways than one.

  Valentina watches him, wincing occasionally.

  Carefully, Alexander replaces her foot on the concrete yard and stands up. ‘I don’t think it’s broken.’

  ‘What? How can you tell? I need an X-ray.’

  ‘I doubt it but if you want to get checked out, Brandon will take you to A&E. Shall I call the contessa for you?’

  She manages a brave smile. ‘There’s no need to trouble my mother but you must know I can’t possibly go to A&E on my own.’

  ‘I don’t expect you to. I’m sure Helen will be happy to go with you.’

  She purses her lips. ‘You mean you won’t come?’

  He stiffens. ‘If I thought it was necessary, of course I’d come, but I have a meeting with someone from the regiment later today.’

  ‘And they are more important than me, of course!’

  ‘That’s not what I’m saying. Do you really want to sit for four hours in the local minor injuries unit only to have some doctor say you might have bruised your foot?’

  ‘Might have?’

  ‘A&E isn’t the nicest of places, Valentina, and the hospitals are stretched to the limit as it is. I really think you’d be better at home.’

  ‘You could call out your doctor,’ she says sullenly.

  ‘I suppose I could, if you really want me to.’

  ‘You can’t just leave me here like this!’

  ‘Look,’ he sighs. ‘Let’s help you to your room and get an ice pack on it, give you some paracetamol and then rest it for a while. Talia can give you some vet tape to strap it up.’

  ‘Vet tape? I am not a polo pony!’

  ‘It’s the best thing for it,’ I say, trying not laugh. ‘I can vouch for that.’ This is the same remedy Alexander offered me when I fell over outside his house in the autumn.

  ‘Will you bandage it for me?’ she wheedles, ignoring me completely.

  Alexander holds up his sling. ‘With one hand? I don’t think I can, but I’ll ask Helen to help you.’

  Valentina curls a lip. ‘Thanks for nothing,’ she mutters, then seems to cheer up. ‘Of course, I can’t possibly leave until it’s healed.’

  ‘Of course …’ I mutter.

  She glares at me but Alexander says, resignedly, ‘Let’s see how it is after you’ve rested it. Of course you can’t go if it’s too bad, but you’ll have Brandon to help you at the airport.’

  ‘The airport? I will be black and blue by tomorrow,’ she says, then directs her next comment straight at me. ‘It will be days before I can even think of leaving Falconbury.’

  I can’t keep silent any longer. ‘You might find you have remarkable powers of recovery.’

  ‘My genes are excellent, but an injury like this will need a lot of rest,’ she snaps back.

  Talia stands by, tight-lipped. Suddenly Benny dashes forward and sniffs Valentina’s foot.

  ‘Get him off me,’ she cries, batting at him.

  ‘Here, Benny!’ Alexander calls but it’s obviously the most excitement Benny has seen for months. With a joyful bark, he lunges forward and licks Valentina’s foot like it’s a beef bone.

  ‘Vile creature!’

  Benny obviously doesn’t speak Italian and takes her shriek as encouragement to cover her foot in drool. ‘Get off me!’ She snatches up her riding crop and catches Benny’s rump with a sharp crack. Yelping in pain, he skitters backwards.

  We are all frozen in shock.

  ‘How dare you!’ Talia lunges forward and wrenches the crop out of Valentina’s hand. She grabs Benny’s collar and pulls him protectively against her legs.

  Valentina’s ‘O’ of outrage changes into a sly smile. ‘Did you hear how your groom spoke to me?’ she says to Alexander.

  ‘She was worried about Benny – we all were. You didn’t need to go that far,’ I cut in, furious.

  Valentina regards me with contempt. ‘I would expect you to defend her.’ She addresses Alexander again. ‘You heard that, tesoro?’

  Alexander’s face is like thunder. ‘Yes, I heard.’

  Benny slinks over to Alexander and eyes Valentina with a blend of hurt, fear and confusion that deserves a canine Oscar.

  ‘I’m sorry, Alexander,’ Talia’s voice is quiet and small. It’s not like her at all but she’s obviously worried she’s going to lose her job and despite what she had to put up with when the general was alive, I know she respects Alexander and adores the horses.

  Valentina’s eyes flash. ‘You should apologize to me, not him.’

  Talia folds her arms. ‘You shouldn’t have hurt Benny, and I know it’s not the first time you’ve hit him,’ she accuses.

  ‘Talia was trying to protect my dog, and I don’t blame her,’ Alexander says coldly.

  Valentina pouts and says, ‘I was in pain, and I’m sorry for lashing out but my foot is so sore. Come here, Benny, I did not mean to hurt you.’ She holds out her hand. ‘Here, boy.’

  Benny shrinks back behind Alexander, a look of horrified innocence in his eyes.

  ‘He won’t come to you now,’ snaps Talia.

  Valentina merely smiles. ‘I hope you’re going to fire her for this, Alexander.’

  Talia is as tough as they come but I can see she is worried.

  ‘Valentina. Shut up,’ says Alexander, looking thoughtful. ‘Talia. Are you accusing Miss di Cavinato of mistreating my dog?’

  She looks up, taken aback by the question. ‘Well, yes, I am. I’ve seen her hit him and kick him. More than once.’

  Valentina snorts. ‘She’s lying.’

  ‘She’s not.’ I can’t stay silent any longer. ‘I also saw Valentina hit Benny with her riding crop on the day of the hunt.’

  ‘She’s making it up, tesoro; she and your groom have always been against me and they would say anything to make me look bad. It’s her word against mine.’

  Alexander turns to Talia, grim-faced. ‘Talia, I think I’ve heard enough now. Some people might expect me to insist you apologize to Valentina,’ he says. I am shocked to hear him talk like this and start to interrupt.

  He shoots me a warning glare that makes me instantly shut up. ‘However, on this occasion, I’d fire you if you did say you’re sorry.’

  Talia’s mouth is open in astonishment and I want to punch the
air for joy.

  He turns to Valentina and his tone is glacial. ‘I’ve always known you loathe Benny, and I’ve tried to overlook it. Not everyone likes dogs, which is fair enough, but as for beating the animal, lying about it and then trying to have one of my most loyal and valuable members of staff fired – I can’t forgive you for that, Valentina.’

  She narrows her eyes. ‘What are you saying? That you care more for your dog and your groom than me?’

  ‘At this particular moment, that’s a pretty accurate assessment.’

  ‘But what about my ankle?’ she shrieks.

  ‘I’m sorry you’ve been hurt but I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think. Talia, would you mind fetching Robert and Brandon so that they can help Valentina up to her room?’

  ‘It would be a pleasure, your lordship.’ Not bothering to hide her glee, Talia saunters off to the house to fetch help.

  With Talia gone, Valentina clearly needs a new target and I’m in the firing line.

  ‘How dare you treat me like this in front of her,’ she cries, jabbing her finger in my direction. ‘And how could you even think of throwing me out with my ankle like this!’ she shouts at Alexander.

  ‘Like I said, I’ll have Brandon take you to the airport and make sure there’s someone there to help you. In fact, I’ll ask Helen if she’d mind calling Alitalia right now and book you a ticket on the first flight to Naples tomorrow morning, if you want to be back in Positano? First class, of course, and I’ll charge it to my account.’

  Forgetting her injury, Valentina jumps to her feet and stands with her hands on her hips in the yard. ‘You will not treat me like this!’

  ‘You seem to have made a rapid recovery,’ I say calmly, raising my eyebrows at Alexander.

  The look she gives him is pure venom, then she laughs at me. ‘You shut up. I know what you are like. Playing the innocent victim, the nice little all-American girl, and all the while you are turning Alexander against me.’