Lunch with Mussolini by Derek Hansen

Author:Derek Hansen [Hansen, Derek]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

Cecilia passed the pamphlets on to Signora Mila because she knew she would be interested in reading them. It was a spur of the moment decision. She had no inkling of the effect her ostensibly trivial action would have on the Signora or of the consequences that followed. Had she anticipated the shattering effect it would have upon their lives, she would have taken the pamphlets straight to the kitchen stove herself, and stood over them while they burned.

Cecilia wasn’t the least surprised when the Signora called her into her office the following day. Staff shortages had disrupted the normally smooth running of the household, and Cecilia was often called upon to help out. Even the Signora’s daughter, Carmela, had been pressed into service. It wasn’t until Signora Mila closed the door behind her that Cecilia suspected this meeting would be any different from the others.

‘Cecilia,’ the Signora began, ‘I know I can trust you so I want you to speak frankly. I want to hear from your lips what you and my husband talked about while you were reading to him.’

‘We discussed the war, Signora, and your husband’s attitude to Mussolini and fascism. But surely you know that?’

‘Of course. But I want to know if you share Guido’s beliefs?’

Cecilia hesitated. The only beliefs she shared were the beliefs of whoever she was with at the time. ‘Do I think Il Duce was wrong to take sides with Hitler? Yes. Do I still believe that he is the saviour of Italy? No. Do I think Italy will win the war? No, we will never beat America. Even if Germany conquers Russia, we will never beat the Americans. But you must understand, Signora, I will give exactly the opposite answers to the Count.’

‘Of course. As we all must do. That is, if we wish to remain at the Villa Carosio.’

‘What do you want from me, Signora?’

‘Your complete trust, Cecilia. Nothing less. I have to know that in the times ahead, I can absolutely rely upon you. Can I?’

‘Signora, when I first came here, you tried to warn me about the Count’s “tastes”. You told me I could always come to you whenever I needed to as one woman to another. In return you asked me to promise that I would never lie to you. You tell me, Signora, have I ever lied to you?’

The Signora took her time answering. She looked hard at the fifteen-year-old girl in front of her and wondered—not for the first time—how she could possibly be so calm in the face of her questioning, and so mature in the way she responded. On the surface at least, it seemed Cecilia would be ideal for their cause, but what went on behind those beautiful, deceptively passive eyes? She shook her head as if to dismiss further speculation and reached across the table to take Cecilia’s hands in hers.

‘No, Cecilia, you have never lied to me. You are a good girl and I have said that often enough. I can also see that you are brave.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.