Chapter 9
9
ROSE
Rose stared out of the window of the Citroen as Ben steered them down a windy, gravelly road, following Luna and Marco who was driving a yellow Alfa Romeo.
She blinked, feeling weary.
The tour of the restaurant kitchen had been fascinating, but the chef had insisted on getting them to try even more food and wine – and her stomach was stretched to its limit.
For the first time since Aurora had loaned Rose one of her dresses, she was grateful it was so loose.
In the back of the car, Aurora muttered something about her own clothes shrinking, as Coco barked at a flock of birds.
‘And there it is,’ Aurora said suddenly in a hushed tone as a stunning, earth-coloured stone building appeared over the horizon.
The house was flanked by a backdrop of rolling green hills and a cloudless blue sky which offset the terracotta barrel-tiled roof.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Rose whispered, opening the passenger window as they headed through a set of wrought-iron gates.
She breathed in the scent of lemon and cypress trees, and the cool spray from a goddess-shaped fountain as they passed.
‘This is Villa Paradise,’ Ben announced proudly as he pulled the car in front of the huge building and stopped beside the sportscar Marco had parked.
‘I sat outside for a couple of hours when I first saw it. It’s an incredible piece of architecture – I dream of designing something like this myself.
’ He looked wistful.
‘It’s been in the Marino family for generations,’ Aurora chimed in.
‘Shall we get out? I think I spotted Cesare between some of the lemon trees.’
‘That’s Marco’s grandad?
’ Rose checked, trying to recall the family from the photo Ben had shared.
‘Yes. He enjoys working in the garden sometimes,’ Ben told her, opening the door and getting out at the same time as Marco and Luna.
Rose got out too, absorbing a blast of pure heat which scorched her skin.
She looked up at the villa again, taking in all three magnificent floors, the ornate wall accents, and the mosaic porch that led to an impressive, curved oak front door.
There were pots of flowers dotted around adding splashes of pinks, yellows and vibrant blues.
‘It’s incredible, isn’t it?
’ Luna said excitedly, bounding over to stand beside Rose.
‘Wait until you see inside. The wedding’s going to take place in the garden at the back of the villa – it’s so pretty.
There are trees and so many flowers and we’re all going to sit outside!
’
She clapped her hands and yanked Rose away from the Citroen, leading her towards the entrance of the villa.
‘There’s a swimming pool in the back too, and a huge olive grove – there are so many places to sit in the garden, it goes on for miles.
You’re going to have to come exploring with me.
’
‘Perhaps later, tesoro ,’ Marco said firmly.
‘We’ve been gone a while; we should see if Mama or Papa need us to help them get ready for the engagement party.
’
‘Of course,’ Luna said, nodding at Rose and mouthing an apology.
‘Let’s catch up later.
’
‘Can’t I help?’ Rose offered.
Marco shook his head firmly.
‘You are a guest; my parents would not hear of it. Luna, why don’t you find Mama and I’ll see everyone to their rooms so they can refresh?
’
‘I’ll come in a minute.
’ Aurora handed Coco to Luna, who immediately took off around the side of the house carrying the dog.
‘I’m assuming Aldo and I are in the usual room?
’ the older woman checked and Marco nodded.
‘I’m going to see if I can find Cesare first.’
Marco looked towards a cluster of angular lemon trees positioned on their right, but Rose couldn’t see anyone.
‘Is he hiding somewhere?’ Marco asked, frowning.
‘I think he’s on his phone,’ Aurora said.
‘I’ll go and see if he’s okay.
Aldo tells me things have got much worse.
’ She headed away from them, her skirts swishing, and Rose watched her go.
What was worse? She considered asking Marco, but from the look on his face guessed he wouldn’t share with her.
‘Is Cesare hiding?’ Ben asked.
‘No,’ his friend said, his forehead knotting.
‘I gave Nonno his first mobile for his birthday in January and now he’s obsessed with doing crosswords.
He says they keep his mind young.
Mama says he disappears into the garden for hours sometimes.
Of course, he could be using it to distract himself.
’ He looked unhappy.
Rose shifted her gaze between the two men hoping one of them would elaborate.
Ben winced. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said.
What exactly what he was apologising for.
Was something wrong with Marco’s perfect family?
Did Luna know about it?
‘No matter,’ Marco said briskly, his eyes skimming across Rose’s face before he glanced at the house.
‘You should follow me so I can show you where you’ll be sleeping.
It’s a different room from your usual, Ben.
We’ll pick up your luggage later.
’
‘I’ve got no luggage,’ Rose muttered, following him slowly as she tried to spot where Aurora had gone – wondering why the older woman had been so determined to find Marco’s grandad and what exactly had got worse.
But Aurora had already been swallowed by the greenery, leaving Rose in the dark.
Rose stood on the small balcony at the end of her bedroom and gazed at the view.
Villa Paradise was stunning and the grounds were extensive.
From here, she could see the perfect backdrop of mountains peppered with trees.
Closer to the main house was the glittering swimming pool Luna had mentioned, surrounded by umbrellas and loungers — framed by sprawling gardens of olive, cypress and lemon trees and flowering shrubs.
To the far left of the estate, two small, burnt orange stone houses sat side by side.
Each had a blue wooden table and one chair which had been set away from each other on opposing patches of grass.
The two gardens were separated by a thick fence panel flanked by stunning pots of pink oleander.
The barrier looked new and a little out of keeping with the original buildings.
Perhaps the family had begun to rent the cottages in the summer, and it was there to give their clients privacy?
She walked back inside and paced the room, picking up her skirt as Aurora’s dress skimmed along the wooden floor.
She needed new clothes but had more important things to worry about.
Like where was Luna and when was she going to get a chance to speak to her friend alone?
She knew Luna and Marco’s bedroom was on the second floor of the villa because Marco had mentioned it – while she, Ben and Aurora were all located on the top.
Rose had no idea how she’d find out which of the many bedrooms belonged to her friend, she only knew she had to track her down.
She pulled her mobile from her pocket and tapped out a quick message, checking that she hadn’t already received a reply to the two she’d already sent.
Hi, Luna. Are you okay?
When can we talk properly?
R xx
Rose returned to look at the view and noticed what she presumed was a woman dressed in black trousers wander out of the doorway of one of the small cottages.
The woman moved slowly and it was obvious, even from here, that she was elderly – but Rose couldn’t see her face because she was too far away.
She carried a basket under one arm and proceeded to pick lemons off a tree to the right edge of the property.
A few moments later, a tall man dressed in khaki green wandered out of the other cottage doorway.
The man watched the woman for a few moments before approaching.
As he did, the woman began to gesticulate angrily — then she threw the basket on the ground and stomped back inside her house.
Rose watched the scene play out, fascinated by the body language of the two people.
There was anger there, but something else too, she just couldn’t read it.
Had she just witnessed a family feud, were they guests of the Marinos, or was this somehow connected to what Aurora had spoken about earlier?
Her senses were tingling, and she wished she could find out more.
It had been over forty-eight hours since she’d last spoken with a client, and Rose was beginning to get withdrawal.
She enjoyed fixing things when she could – enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction she got from bringing people together.
Perhaps she could help the couple?
Her phone buzzed and she stepped back inside, out of the sunlight.
Hi, Rose. I’ll come and find you in a few minutes.
L xx
Rose smiled, wishing she had the notes she’d packed in her suitcase.
She’d have to track down a printer later.
She’d prepared a folder for Luna and Marco.
A series of questions designed to help them take a step back and think clearly about their impending marriage and all the potential pitfalls.
She’d prepared a further list of suggested rules to follow so they could spend time getting to know each other properly over the next few months.
She just had to convince them to follow it now.
Her mobile buzzed and she immediately picked up before the ring tone kicked in, expecting it to be Luna.
‘Rose,’ her mother said, and her heart sank.
‘Are you still in Italy?’ The question came out as more of an accusation than interest.
‘Yes, I’m just getting settled in to Marco’s family home.
’ There was no point in sharing the story of her lost luggage, or any of the things that had happened since she’d arrived in Nice.
Rose hadn’t told her mother Luna’s fiancé’s name and wondered if she’d ask who the man she was staying with was.
‘Did you get my wedding invite before you left?’ her mother shot back.
‘Because you haven’t RSVP’d and I need to know what time you’ll be there.
’
‘I got it.’ Rose sighed.
‘Did you know Dad’s getting married on the same day?
’
‘It wasn’t a surprise.
’ Her mother snorted.
‘Darling, you know your father’s never had an original thought.
Of course he’s chosen the same day for his wedding.
He’s trying to upstage me.
I hear the bride is younger than you.
’ She sounded bitter, and Rose went to sit on the bed.
It was a four-poster crafted from walnut, with piles of puffy pillows and crisp white sheets.
Matching gauzy curtains hung around the sides and they fluttered as a breeze from the overhead fan caught them.
Sighing, she lay down and pressed the mobile to her ear, feeling tired suddenly.
‘He’ll be divorced before the cake’s been cut.
I need you at my wedding, Rose.
You’ll love William – we’re perfect for each other.
This time, I know I’ve got it right.
You can do a speech, tell us about all the rules we need to follow.
’ She chuckled. She’d never taken any of Rose’s advice seriously, often joking about her career.
‘How long have you known William?’ Rose asked flatly.
‘Time isn’t important,’ her mother said dryly.
‘When you finally allow yourself to fall in love, you’ll understand that.
Rose, tell me you’ll be there.
It won’t feel like a wedding unless you are.
’
Rose sighed; she didn’t want to fall out with either of her parents.
‘I need to talk to Dad again,’ she said wearily.
Usually, she had plenty of energy for conversations like these.
Would at least spend a few minutes trying to show her mother the error of her ways, but the long journey here had sapped it out of her.
Someone knocked on the door of her bedroom and she sat up.
‘I’m sorry, I’ve got to go.
Luna’s come to see me,’ she said, feeling a wave of relief.
At least she could stop one relationship disaster and save her best friend.
‘I’ll call when I can and let you know about the wedding, okay?
’
‘You’d better come to mine,’ her mother snapped before hanging up.
Rose put the phone down, trying to untangle the new knot in her stomach, and opened the door, gaping when she saw Ben standing in the hallway.
‘What are you doing here?’ She folded her arms as something quivered in her belly, making the knot evaporate.
‘Luna couldn’t make it.
’ His forehead crinkled.
‘She said she’d just sent you a text?
’
‘I was on the phone,’ Rose said roughly, glancing towards the bed where she’d left her mobile.
‘She said to tell you that she’d see you later, at the engagement party or before if she can make it,’ Ben told her.
He’d showered and changed – into a dark blue shirt that made his brown eyes shades darker.
He’d put on shorts too, which showcased the perfectly developed muscles of his legs.
His skin was tanned, and he looked healthy and far more attractive than any mortal had a right to look.
Rose sighed, irritated by her reaction to him, which was the result of unruly pheromones – nothing more.
‘Marco’s taken her to get her hair done for the party.
It was a last-minute appointment, a surprise, which is why she didn’t mention it earlier,’ Ben said, avoiding looking at her.
‘Luna asked me to walk you into the village.’
‘Are you sure Marco didn’t ask you to get me out of the way?
’ Rose asked suspiciously, pulling Aurora’s dress back onto her shoulder as it slid off.
Her linen trousers were washed and hanging in the bathroom, but she wasn’t hopeful that she’d ever wear them again.
‘What have you done with Aurora?’ Rose checked the empty hallway behind Ben.
‘Is she at the hair appointment too?’
‘She’s having a nap with Coco,’ he said.
‘She barely slept a wink last night. Lumpy bed, apparently.’ His lips curved.
‘If you stand in the hallway, you’ll hear her arguing with Aldo.
I don’t know how they always seem to have so much to say to each other considering they never stop talking.
’ He sounded wistful.
Rose frowned when she heard another shout.
‘Do you want to go to a boutique?’ Ben’s eyes filled with humour.
‘Or are you planning to borrow Aunt A’s clothes until your suitcases turn up?
’ The smile he gifted her was the wrong side of wicked.
‘ If they ever do.’
‘They’ll get here.
But yes please, I do want to go.
’ Rose puffed out a breath.
She’d worn enough glitter to last a lifetime.
‘I hope they have shoes.’ She’d been wearing the same pair of pumps for way too long.
‘There’s only one way to find out,’ Ben said, sweeping an arm into the corridor.
Rose grabbed her handbag and mobile before following him out of the door.