Shadows of the Past by Blake Margaret

Author:Blake, Margaret [Blake, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2016-01-06T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Rosa d’Casta — when the woman announced herself on the phone Alva pondered on what she could possibly want. She remembered the woman as being completely self-centred and practically ignoring Alva at the dinner party. Rosa had sent flowers to the hospital and Alva had written a note of thanks. She rather hoped that that had not been seen by Rosa as a gesture of wishing to strike up a friendship, but when Alva asked politely how Signora d’Casta was, the woman ignored the greeting and launched in, rather hysterically, with the statement that she had to see Alva.

‘Believe me it is so important,’ she emphasized.

‘Well, what is it about?’ Alva murmured, holding herself back a little.

‘I cannot come there,’ Rosa said, ignoring the question. ‘You must come here to my villa, and you must come alone. Do not tell anyone that you are coming here!’

‘I’m sorry. Signora but after what I have been through … ’

‘If you think that is the end of it you are madder than I thought!’

Well, hardly an encouraging statement — Alva reeled slightly from it, feeling a film of perspiration break out on her upper lip.

‘Listen to me! It is so important. I know that your husband is away. I was very close to his wife, you know, we were friends … I know more than you can imagine and if you want me to help, you will come here and listen to me.’

‘Why don’t you come here?’ Alva asked, recovering slightly. If anyone was deranged then she was certain it was the d’Casta woman.

‘I cannot, walls have ears — isn’t that what you English say? And believe me at the palazzo that is more so than anywhere. It is a place of secret passages and hidden doors.’

Well that was true, she supposed. Already Alva had discovered that there was a door behind a wonderfully carved panel in her room. Luca had shown it to her; he had said it was where one of his ancestors visited lady houseguests who had fallen under his spell.

‘Charming!’ she had said. ‘I hope you never use it!’

‘Well, I could use it to come to you … but its entrance is not in my bedroom … ’

‘Thank goodness for that. If you ever ask me to change rooms when we have guests I warn you I will be terribly suspicious.’

Rosa’s voice interrupted her reverie. ‘Are you listening to me, Alva? I am not joking, I assure you, you are in danger, believe me I know plenty of things.’

‘I don’t understand?’

‘About Luca and his first contessa. Renata’s mother. Things are not what they seem … ’

‘I don’t really want to know,’ Alva said, but a cold band had started to tighten inside her. She felt a shiver as if someone had walked over her grave. This was ridiculous — was the woman implying that Luca was not what he seemed. She remembered how Rosa d’Casta had been all over him at the dinner party. Hardly the actions of someone who loathed, or was afraid of the conte.

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