What Happens in Tuscany... by T A Williams Page A

only little, but I still remember seeing Tower Bridge open. There were so many people everywhere, it was a bit scary. Looking at the traffic on the screen, and the mass of people walking to and fro, it seems things have not improved.’
    â€˜Well, shall we add a visit to London to our to-do list?’
    â€˜That would be awesome.’ They both smiled at that.
    At that moment, Mrs Milliner appeared to inform them that lunch was served. Victoria looked disappointed to be separated from the television until Katie suggested they invest in another one and position it in the dining room. ‘I got the man to run a lead in there just in case.’ She showed Victoria how to turn the TV off using the remote control. This, too, was a novelty to her.
    â€˜Should I carry it round with me, like you do with yours?’ Katie had to stop and think for a moment before she realised Victoria was confusing the remote with her mobile phone. The ensuing conversation about phones lasted almost all the way through lunch and concluded with Victoria’s determination to buy one. In response to Katie’s objection that there was no signal at Iddlescombe, Victoria sniffed and asked her to arrange it. Short of building a mast in the grounds, Katie couldn’t see how they would be able to do that, but she agreed to look into it.
    â€˜You have a letter, Miss Victoria.’
    Rosie held out a round silver salver upon which there was an envelope. Victoria’s eyes lit up. ‘I don’t get a lot of letters. I wonder who’s sent this one.’ She opened it and checked the contents. From the other side of the table, Katie could see that it was a card and it looked like an invitation. It was.
    â€˜Somebody getting married?’
    Victoria looked up. ‘No, I don’t think so. It’s our neighbours up the valley. They’ve invited me to a garden party.’ She sounded troubled. Katie was quick to pick up on her tone.
    â€˜What’s wrong? Don’t you like them?’
    Victoria let the invitation fall back onto the table top. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and fear. ‘I don’t know really. I haven’t seen them since I was a little girl. To be honest, I’ve hardly seen anybody since I was a little girl.’ She reached for the card again. ‘It’s signed Thomas Drake. Little Tommie Drake, I remember him from the pony club.’ She looked across at Katie. ‘I would have been nine or ten, just before my mother died.’ She dropped her eyes.
    â€˜What’s the occasion?’
    â€˜It doesn’t say.’
    â€˜Do you often hear from them, from him?’
    â€˜My father used to shoot with Colonel Drake, Tommie’s father, but I’m pretty sure he died a couple of years ago, at least as far as I can remember he did.’
    â€˜Well, are you going to go?’ Katie realised that this was a good opportunity for Victoria to start flapping those butterfly wings of hers. ‘Why don’t you?’ She could see that Victoria was unnerved at the prospect of a social event after so many years of seclusion. It took a while before she made her mind up. She looked up at Katie.
    â€˜All right, I’ll go. I know I’ve got to start getting out. It’s just that it’s contrary to everything I’ve got used to for so long. I’ll go as long as you come with me. It says Miss Victoria Chalker-Pyne and friend. We’ll go together.’
    Katie nodded enthusiastically. ‘Good girl, of course I’ll come with you. When is it?’
    â€˜Next weekend. Saturday at 3.00pm.’
    Katie cursed inwardly as she remembered that this was the day she was supposed to be meeting Jenny. Still, she wouldn’t be seeing her until the evening and it was only an hour by car to Exeter, so she could make it work. She looked across at Victoria with a grin. ‘Right, so what are you going to wear?’
    A look of horror swept across