One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft

Author:Sue Moorcroft [Moorcroft, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008260057
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Phew, July! The first of the month arrived with searing temperatures and solid bookings. Sofia and Aurora were run off their feet on Sunday checking guests in and out, housekeeping staff hustled to service rooms for fresh occupants, and Il Giardino was full to bursting with red-faced, overheated tourists. Sofia could only spare the occasional glance through the doorway to see the wait staff working busy tables under sun-baked parasols as she parroted meal times for what felt like the hundredth guest.

It was towards the end of her shift when she became conscious of two people watching her. She was listening to an elderly lady’s story of how her coach broke down on a day trip to Rome but her eyes were drawn from the lady’s gently wrinkled face to the watchers. With a shock, she realised it was Gianni Bianchi and a young woman, probably three or four years younger than Sofia. When her gaze rested on her uncle, he scowled.

When the lady went off to browse the leaflet stand in search of more entertainment, Gianni and the young woman approached.

‘Buon giorno,’ Sofia said tonelessly.

Gianni, smart in a suit with a white shirt but no tie, didn’t bother to return the greeting. He glared at Sofia. ‘So, you have snubbed me. I extended a hand to you but you have shown plainly where your loyalties lie. I would have apologised for my hasty words but now I see there is no point.’ He turned upon his highly polished heel and stalked out with his nose an impressive distance in the air.

Blankly, Sofia watched him go. What had just happened? Gianni was obviously furious all over again but she hadn’t the least idea why. Seeing Aurora sending her a questioning glance while she stapled a card receipt to a check-out sheet, Sofia shrugged, hoping it looked as if she didn’t mind being publicly berated by one of her nearest living relatives. ‘Sorry. My uncle.’

Aurora raised an eyebrow. ‘I know who Gianni Bianchi is.’ Her glance slid to where the young woman still stood gazing at Sofia. The young woman wasn’t smiling but she wasn’t scowling either. She looked to be about twenty-four.

Sofia had little choice but to acknowledge her. ‘May I help you?’

The young woman tilted her head slightly. ‘Will you talk to me? I’m Chiara Bianchi. Your cousin.’ Chiara didn’t look like Gianni. Not only was there was no trace of hostility in her eyes but she had a longer face, a slightly-too-large nose and a firm jaw.

Though she felt a spark of interest that a member of her family was promoting the idea of a normal conversation, Sofia began to say that she needed to get on with her work. But then curiosity took over along with a trickle of excitement. ‘My shift ends in fifteen minutes.’

Chiari stepped back to glance through the doorway to the outside. ‘I see my father has waited for me. We will meet you in Il Giardino.’

Sofia had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

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