Chapter 18 #2
They crossed the courtyard and then went through another archway into an anteroom which led to a stone staircase. The stairs eventually opened onto a grand vaulted corridor perfumed with beeswax and the smell of lemons and lined with floor to ceiling windows on one side and portraits on the other.
‘This is a hidden palace,’ she whispered. ‘And absolutely glorious, not a fortress at all.’
He laughed. ‘You’re right but I think it may have once been both.’
Tapestry chairs and tall brass lamps polished to a shine stood at intervals and half a dozen oriental rugs that must have cost a fortune lay along its length. She glanced out of one of the windows and looked across at another sumptuous building with statues perched along its stone balconies.
‘Goodness!’ she said.
‘Wait till you see the view from the other side.’
They went through a hall and then he knocked on a door. It was opened by what she assumed must be a butler dressed in black. ‘Sir, miss,’ the man said with a little bow. ‘Follow me.’
‘Does your uncle have an apartment here?’ she whispered.
‘The entire palace is his, but he prefers to live in just one apartment.’
‘Who lives in the other apartments?’ she asked.
He was about to reply but she stepped away catching her breath as they were led to an uncovered upstairs terrace with a view right across the island.
‘Great, isn’t it?’ he said with a grin. ‘Ah, there’s my Uncle Addison.’
The man who had been sitting in a cane armchair gazing over the balustraded terrace at the view, sprung to his feet. ‘I never tire of it,’ he said and bounded over to hold out his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you my dear. I’m Addison Darnell. Do call me Addison.’
She stopped herself from curtseying just in time and managed to say, ‘Riva Janvier.’
The man before her was tall, over six foot, broad-shouldered and with the same cornflower blue eyes as his nephew.
He wore a velvet waistcoat in navy over a crisp white shirt.
His face was tanned and covered in a network of fine lines, but what she found extraordinary was the vitality that seemed to spring from him.
That and his long white hair tied back at the nape of his neck.
‘Come and join me, Riva,’ he said and turned towards the view. ‘Not too hot for you?’
‘Not at all. There’s a lovely breeze up here.’
He smiled back at her. ‘Isn’t there? And so much sky. That’s why I love it.’
‘Only when we can drag him away from his work,’ Bobby said, and when he saw Riva’s look of surprise he added, ‘My uncle is a rather well-known painter.’
‘I dabble,’ the older man said.
‘Hardly.’
‘Those portraits in the corridor?’ she asked.
‘Yes. Afraid so.’
‘But they’re beautiful.’
‘You can come again,’ he said and grinned at her. ‘Maybe you might sit for me one day.’
She smiled but beneath the banter Riva detected something in his eyes she couldn’t name. He must miss his wife, she thought, as the butler arrived bearing drinks. Or maybe she was just imagining things.
‘Do you have other relatives who live here?’ she asked Bobby as she sipped her drink.
He shook his head. ‘Mother visits occasionally.’
Addison pulled a face. ‘My little sister Agatha does not enjoy the dust.’
‘Nor does she approve,’ Bobby said, exchanging a look with his uncle and then bursting into laughter.
‘My nephew is correct. My sister doesn’t approve that I work. Especially after she married Bobby’s father and became part of the British landed gentry.’
Bobby lowered his eyes. ‘My father was never a snob.’
‘Indeed, he was not. You must miss him terribly. I know I do.’
‘Yes,’ Bobby said. ‘But the snobbery, it was always mother. Still is.’
‘That’s my sister, I’m afraid. But come, we are boring our young visitor.’
Riva had been glancing around at the pots of plants and felt herself blushing. ‘No, not at all,’ she said.
‘Tell me all about you,’ Addison continued.
She glanced nervously at Bobby, who laughed. ‘You can be honest. I’ve already shared your dark secret.’
She blushed again, feeling the warmth rising up her neck and into her cheeks. But she told Addison about her job in Paris, though not about the manner of her leaving, about seeing the advert and how, itching to broaden her horizons, she’d set out for Malta.
‘I admire your courage my dear. And have you made many friends?’
‘Well, there’s Bobby and Lottie, of course, and one of the girls I work with.’
‘You must come here more often. Malta is not just full of stuffed shirt Britishers.’
‘My uncle throws fabulous parties. People come from all over Malta and Gozo, and from all over the world too. Artists, writers, actresses and so on. You’ll love it.’
His uncle raised one eyebrow. ‘I used to. Not so much these days. Ah, there’s the bell. Lunch is served, milady.’
Riva laughed and followed the butler to the loveliest dining room, also in fresh air with views over the countryside but this time with pillars supporting a glass roof.
A cut-glass bowl filled with large yellow daisies sat in the centre of a table laid with a brilliant white tablecloth.
Bobby pulled out a chair for her, so she settled herself and took in the sandy terraces, trees and bushes that surrounded Mdina.
‘As you can see,’ Addison explained. ‘This palazzo is partly built into the fortifications.’
‘I’ve never been anywhere more lovely.’
‘I hope you’ll approve of the food too. We’ll have no figs until later in the year, but you must try them then, even if Bobby isn’t over here at the time. He’ll be training to be a pilot soon.’
She hadn’t thought about Bobby leaving and her spirits dipped momentarily. She felt a sudden premonition of something she was unable to identify, and she shivered despite the heat. What nonsense, she scolded. Everything was going to be fine. Everything was fine.
They ate a zucchini risotto to start with, followed by lamb and then a delicious Grand Marnier and orange soufflé.
The time passed quickly with Addison and Bobby teasing each other, always including her if she didn’t understand, and before she knew it, they were getting up to leave.
Addison kissed her on the cheeks, and she told him she’d had a wonderful time.
‘Come again soon,’ he said and handed her a gold embossed card, his blue eyes so intense she felt he could see right into her. ‘Should you ever need a break, do just drop by. I have plenty of guest rooms in this old place. Or let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.’
Then, at the door, he whispered in her ear. ‘He’s never brought a girl to meet me before. But I’m so pleased he did today.’