Page 58 of A Chance in a Million
She had to wait some time for his reply. ‘You saw Taffy and he told you?’ His voice was hoarse.
‘He told me everything. Like I say, I can’t wait to see you. Believe me.’
At least, she thought to herself, she should be able to see him this evening and talk to him, although she had been hoping for a hug at the very least. The bad news was that it sounded as though the serious conversation she needed to have with him about where they went from here might have to be delayed still further. It was frustrating in the extreme, but there was nothing she could do about it for now.
‘Well, if you’re sure…’ He was still sounding tentative.
‘Of course I’m sure.’ She adopted a less serious tone. ‘You’re not the only person around here to be injured in the line of duty, Captain Cooper. Just you remember that.’
‘Yes, but…’
‘Yes, but nothing.’ Aware of his continued discomfort, she changed the subject slightly. ‘Your mum’s looking forward to seeing you again as well.’
‘I’m delighted she’s prepared to get out of the house, even if it’s just for a short walk through the town.’ He sounded brighter. ‘She’s been stuck at home for so long. I look forward to seeing her.’ Now would have been a good time to add the words ‘and you’ but he didn’t.
Back at the villa, she found Alvise in the final throes of loading the Fiat. She spotted several boxes of fat red tomatoes, freshly picked pears, and a crate of wine in the boot, alongside a number of jars containing porcini mushrooms, artichoke hearts and olives. He saw her looking and grinned.
‘You can’t beat home produce. There’s more wine, fruit and vegetables and a big bag of polenta flour stuffed in behind the front seats. All you need to take are Her Ladyship’s bags and the dog. You should have plenty of room in the big car.’
‘Would you prefer to take the Mercedes? I’m just as happy driving the Fiat if you like.’
He shook his head. ‘No, you go with Her Ladyship. That way you can speak English together. Maria’s convinced it’s been speaking English with you and the girls which has brought her out of her shell. Personally, I think it’s your influence, rather than the language but, whatever it’s been, it’s worked. She’s so much more cheerful nowadays.’
‘Long may it continue. Now all she’s got to do is to start writing again.’
Flora and Luciana came along to see them off and there was a definite sparkle in Flora’s eyes as she gave Jane a hug and kiss on the cheeks. Jane was sorry to leave her but promised to come back and see her again as soon as she could. Whether this would be with David remained to be seen. She and Veronica chatted almost all the way back to Venice, and the change compared to the first few times she had met her was palpable. Mind you, Jane told herself, Veronica wasn’t the only one. She, too, was feeling much more cheerful than even just a couple of months earlier – or, at least, she would be once she had had the chance to talk to David properly.
After calling ahead, they found Diana waiting for them with the boat when they arrived in Venice. By the time they had unloaded the bags and the dog and Jane had squeezed the car into the garage, Alvise also appeared in the little Fiat and they managed to get everything and everybody into the launch and headed down the Grand Canal to home. Huge banners on some of the bridges announced theFestival del Cinemaand the crowds in the city didn’t appear to have lessened, even though September was just around the corner. Luckily, out here on the water, they could still breathe.
It was past two by the time they arrived at the palazzo and Jane was mightily impressed to find that not only had Maria removed the dustsheets from the furniture and opened up the shutters and windows to air the old building, she had also prepared a meal for them all. Jane joined the family for a late lunch in the dining room looking out over the canal, and she had to admit that the view here onto centuries of history really did take some beating, even if there were no wide-open spaces or wooded hills. Above all, she had a feeling of homecoming and when she went up to her apartment after lunch it felt familiar and welcoming, not least as she was accompanied up the stairs by the Labrador, who immediately stretched out on her floor and was soon snoozing contentedly. She decided to follow his example and lay down on her bed feeling a bit drowsy – as a result of the hours of driving and also probably helped by the glass of wine she had consumed with lunch – and within moments she was asleep.
Jane and Veronica managed to avoid the worst of the crowds and got to the hospital surprisingly quickly, finding themselves with fifteen minutes to kill before the agreed time of seven p.m. for their visit to David. Jane suggested stopping for a coffee in a little cafe just along from the hospital and this gave her and Veronica a chance to talk. First, Veronica asked for a progress report on Jane’s book and sounded very pleased to hear that it was coming along well. Jane tried to explain what point she had reached.
‘You know they say you should write about what you know? Well, I’ve set the start of the book in London but the main part is going to be here in Venice.’
‘That sounds exciting. Let me know if you want me to take a look at the first few chapters for you, or maybe you prefer to wait until you’ve finished?’
‘I’d love you to take a look at what I’ve done. I’ll print out what I’ve got for you. Thank you so much. And what about you? Still no sign of your muse returning?’ To her considerable surprise, she saw a little smile appear on her employer’s face.
‘I don’t want to speak too soon, but I was talking to my mother-in-law last night and then I had an interesting dream. I think it just might add up to the bare bones of a new romance.’
‘That’s fantastic news. Do you want to tell me about it or do you prefer to keep it to yourself?’
‘I need to work out a few more details but then I promise I’ll tell you, and you can let me know what you think of the idea. I hope you approve. It might be a bit controversial.’
‘That sounds intriguing, and exciting.’ Jane almost felt like getting up and giving Veronica a hug. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard for ages. Now all we need is for David to tell us the plastic surgery to his face has been successful, and that’ll be that.’
Veronica shot her a whimsical look. ‘So you know all about his wound now, do you? Did he tell you, or was it Diana?’
‘Neither. It was a chance meeting with a comrade in arms of his at the wedding last Saturday. He gave me the whole story. David had told me some of what happened, but hearing it from a third party was fascinating.’ She shrugged apologetically. ‘I had to promise I wouldn’t repeat what the guy told me – although I must admit I did end up telling your mother-in-law yesterday – but what emerged clearly is that David acquitted himself brilliantly.’ She caught Veronica’s eye. ‘You’ve raised a very brave man, but also one with considerable respect for the lives of his men. You can be very proud.’
Veronica looked quite overcome for a moment before she started talking, now in a more sombre voice. ‘Thank you. I was very much against him joining the army, but he was dead set on it and of course my husband saw it as continuing the family tradition. There have been Coopers in the British Army for almost two centuries. When I heard he’d been seriously wounded, I was devastated. Peter, my husband, was distraught and I often wonder if the cancer that killed him a year later was somehow brought on by what happened to David.’
At that moment a waiter arrived to take their order. After ordering a cappuccino for herself and an espresso for Jane, Veronica carried on, her voice a little stronger now.
‘It’s only now, looking back, that I realise just how deep into despair I let myself fall.’ She looked up and caught Jane’s eye. ‘And it’s you, more than anybody, I have to thank for helping me out of it. Really, Jane, thank you.’ Jane was still mumbling a few words in reply when her employer suddenly stunned her. ‘David thinks the world of you, you know.’
At first, Jane tried to make light of it. ‘For helping you? I was only doing my job and, besides, I like you a lot as well.’
