There’d been a moment of recognition, a flash of understanding in those strange green eyes before her guard snapped in place, like a visor.
‘What are you doing here?’
Her voice was familiar too. That accent that was part American, part Italian, part English, an accent, like her sister’s, that seemed to belong everywhere and nowhere.
Kate didn’t answer. If Simona was the person who had sent the altered paintings, then it was up to her to make the first move. Kate certainly didn’t intend to give her any clues.
The other woman held her gaze for a few moments, then glanced down at the package under Kate’s arm. ‘You brought the painting?’
‘You know it?’
An almost imperceptible nod of the head. ‘Marsyas.’
‘Did you know it had been altered?’
Simona stared at her. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’ she asked. No doubt about it, Simona was definitely nervous.
Kate said, ‘I thought perhaps you were expecting me.’
‘I had hoped…’ Simona’s voice trailed away.
For the moment, surprise had given Kate the upper hand. She said, ‘This painting will have to be returned to Signor Barzini in Florence, since it came to me from him. But I thought you might be able to tell me who has been altering the pictures. This is the second one I’ve received. It’s extremely irresponsible to allow valuable paintings to be vandalized in this way, as I’m sure you realize.’
‘Kate, stop. Please.’ Simona ventured a smile, though her expression was still haunted. ‘You’ve taken me by surprise and there is so much… Don’t be angry. It was so important that you come.’
‘Then it was you who had those details added? But why?’
‘Oh, so many reasons. But… you should have warned me you were coming.’
‘I don’t understand, Simona. If you wanted me to visit, why not just get in touch in the normal way?’
‘Would you have come?’
‘Maybe, but…’
Kate’s moment of hesitation seemed to give Simona the opportunity she needed. ‘Come up to the house, Kate. How did you get here? You must be thirsty after your long journey. Do you have any luggage?’ She had stepped into the role of hostess, filling those awkward first moments with the kind of conversation that would have done for any visitor. As they walked along the path through the trees towards the house, she pointed out the changes and improvements that had been made to the Villa Beatrice, gave a brief account of the work of the Fondazione.
‘We run courses all through the summer. This is the last day of the season. Tomorrow we have our closing ceremony—it’s quite an event. You’ll enjoy it. Luckily I have no guests at La Rocca so there’s plenty of room.’
‘La Rocca?’
‘You remember the tower house. Where my uncle lived.’
Kate shivered as another memory struggled up into the light. ‘I’m not staying,’ she said firmly. ‘I have a taxi waiting.’
‘A taxi? But of course you will stay. We have such a lot to talk about. So much catching up to do.’ And when Kate was about to protest again Simona said firmly, ‘You can’t go now, you’ve only just got here. And if you want to go later on then my driver will take you. Please, Kate, just stay a little while.’
Kate couldn’t think of any logical reason to refuse. It was the sensible thing to do, after all. She needed to get to the bottom of this business with the altered paintings; she had no other plans for the rest of that day and David wouldn’t be able to join her till tomorrow; it was an invitation to spend time in one of the most beautiful estates in Italy; she was interested in the work of the Fondazione… all perfectly logical reasons for accepting Simona’s invitation. On the opposing side there was nothing but the fact that her gut was twisted with anxiety at being here again—and that instinctive urge to flee.
Simona dealt with the taxi, laughing incredulously when she saw how much it cost Kate. ‘If you’d phoned me
‘What are you doing here?’
Her voice was familiar too. That accent that was part American, part Italian, part English, an accent, like her sister’s, that seemed to belong everywhere and nowhere.
Kate didn’t answer. If Simona was the person who had sent the altered paintings, then it was up to her to make the first move. Kate certainly didn’t intend to give her any clues.
The other woman held her gaze for a few moments, then glanced down at the package under Kate’s arm. ‘You brought the painting?’
‘You know it?’
An almost imperceptible nod of the head. ‘Marsyas.’
‘Did you know it had been altered?’
Simona stared at her. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’ she asked. No doubt about it, Simona was definitely nervous.
Kate said, ‘I thought perhaps you were expecting me.’
‘I had hoped…’ Simona’s voice trailed away.
For the moment, surprise had given Kate the upper hand. She said, ‘This painting will have to be returned to Signor Barzini in Florence, since it came to me from him. But I thought you might be able to tell me who has been altering the pictures. This is the second one I’ve received. It’s extremely irresponsible to allow valuable paintings to be vandalized in this way, as I’m sure you realize.’
‘Kate, stop. Please.’ Simona ventured a smile, though her expression was still haunted. ‘You’ve taken me by surprise and there is so much… Don’t be angry. It was so important that you come.’
‘Then it was you who had those details added? But why?’
‘Oh, so many reasons. But… you should have warned me you were coming.’
‘I don’t understand, Simona. If you wanted me to visit, why not just get in touch in the normal way?’
‘Would you have come?’
‘Maybe, but…’
Kate’s moment of hesitation seemed to give Simona the opportunity she needed. ‘Come up to the house, Kate. How did you get here? You must be thirsty after your long journey. Do you have any luggage?’ She had stepped into the role of hostess, filling those awkward first moments with the kind of conversation that would have done for any visitor. As they walked along the path through the trees towards the house, she pointed out the changes and improvements that had been made to the Villa Beatrice, gave a brief account of the work of the Fondazione.
‘We run courses all through the summer. This is the last day of the season. Tomorrow we have our closing ceremony—it’s quite an event. You’ll enjoy it. Luckily I have no guests at La Rocca so there’s plenty of room.’
‘La Rocca?’
‘You remember the tower house. Where my uncle lived.’
Kate shivered as another memory struggled up into the light. ‘I’m not staying,’ she said firmly. ‘I have a taxi waiting.’
‘A taxi? But of course you will stay. We have such a lot to talk about. So much catching up to do.’ And when Kate was about to protest again Simona said firmly, ‘You can’t go now, you’ve only just got here. And if you want to go later on then my driver will take you. Please, Kate, just stay a little while.’
Kate couldn’t think of any logical reason to refuse. It was the sensible thing to do, after all. She needed to get to the bottom of this business with the altered paintings; she had no other plans for the rest of that day and David wouldn’t be able to join her till tomorrow; it was an invitation to spend time in one of the most beautiful estates in Italy; she was interested in the work of the Fondazione… all perfectly logical reasons for accepting Simona’s invitation. On the opposing side there was nothing but the fact that her gut was twisted with anxiety at being here again—and that instinctive urge to flee.
Simona dealt with the taxi, laughing incredulously when she saw how much it cost Kate. ‘If you’d phoned me
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