Page 27 of The Royal Governess
“Of course.” The nap would have to wait.
“Milo will take you. It is done.” Marco turned back to Gabriella, who threw him a kittenish smile. How would they be spending their afternoon? When the profiteroles were served, I didn’t think I’d be able to finish three of the dainty puffs filled with some sort of cream filling. Somehow I managed.
8
On the ride into town, Lexi and Gregorio were curiously quiet. Had they hoped they’d escape without me? That wasn’t going to happen. Life on an island was unrolling a lot faster than I’d imagined. Still, I was glad Lexi and Gregorio were getting along. If she had nothing to do but drag herself off to class, it would have been a very long summer.
Vitas drove the limo again, with Milo riding shotgun. His profile was set in stern lines. Getting into the limo, I’d reached for the door handle but Milo beat me to it. “My job.”
Okay. Well then. He opened the door.
Lexi had taken a suspiciously long amount of time getting ready. In fact, I'd been spread out on the bed nodding off after that huge lunch when she finally tapped on my door. I'd barely had time to sweep my hair up into a ponytail and apply some mascara and lip gloss. My beige pants would have to do. I’d slipped into the peasant top with the purple embroidery and grabbed an old straw hat from the armoire.
My spirits lifted as the limo cruised toward town. This time I could enjoy the scenery. When I cracked my window open, the smell of lavender filled the air. The lush purple plants brightened the countryside. In the distance, expansive rows of grape vines made me curious. Was this all Marco’s vineyard? I closed the window. Wasn’t everything on the island his?
Excitement banished my earlier fatigue. We were going into the village. I would get to see more of Napolitano. Okay, I didn’t know the language, but wasn’t this summer all about adventure? A chance to see a new country?
Looking over at Lexi and Gregorio, I wondered how this friendship had developed. Their phones may have played a role. Guilt washed over me. I’d told Marco we needed access to the wi-fi so Gregorio could order books or do some research online. For all I knew, Gregorio and Lexi were zinging emails and texts back and forth.
But that wasn’t a bad thing, and I wouldn’t worry about their budding friendship now. As far as I could tell, there was no reason for concern. Not yet. Gregorio seemed like a polite, intellectually curious young man. I liked him, and the two of them were just friends. Maybe kids in their teens could do that. Friendship with a man? I wouldn’t know what that was.
“What will we do when we get to town?” I asked Gregorio. For some reason Milo had not put up the glass this time. Maybe he was interested in this little group. Or maybe Marco had told Milo to keep tabs on us.
Gregorio consulted his watch. “The markets will still be open. During the summer, the people bring their vegetables and fruits to the town market.”
“I hope they bring more than fruits and vegetables.” Lexi threw her head back onto the leather seat. She was looking way too comfortable in this limousine.
Eyes sparkling, Gregorio pivoted toward her. “Lexi, you have never seen such beauty. Everything is fresh. The lettuce is crisp and alive. Some of the vegetables even have bits of dirt still on them.” His enthusiasm made me smile.
“Dirt?” Lexi wrinkled her nose. When I pinched her, she winced and threw me a wicked look.
“Sounds great. Can’t wait to see it.” I was not about to let Lexi’s mood get me down, and I thought I caught the edge of a grin on Milo’s profile. Did he have a wife and children? The driver Vitas was like a sphinx. And today those two did not talk. Maybe Gregorio was our secret weapon. He would understand their conversation and could translate for us. Perhaps that’s what kept them quiet today.
The drive that had seemed so long when we arrived now passed quickly. The small cottages with turf rooftops looked homey and charming. A woman was hanging clothes out on a line. To her frustration, the breeze sent them flapping. When she caught sight of the car, she smoothed the curls that had escaped from her pink head scarf and bobbed into a curtsy. So they knew the royal limousine.
What a terrible invasion of privacy this would be to have people recognize you wherever you went. Shrinking back, I was happy to be an unknown visitor on this excursion.
Before too long the colorful village appeared, and Vitas took a turn. The cobblestone road vibrated under our tires. Lexi sat up to peer through windows that I now realized were shaded. We were encased in privacy. At home I would plod through the mall, anonymous except for occasionally encountering a student. Here we were people of interest, and I didn’t know how I felt about that.
The streets continued to narrow until I felt I could reach out and touch the ochre walls as we rolled past. Finally, we came to a square where older people sat on benches under fig trees. Men gestured with their pipes as they talked. Children clung to their mother’s hands or pulled carts filled with bags. The bright sun glittered off water spraying from a fountain. The square felt invigorating and I couldn’t wait to walk around. Perched on the edge of her seat, Lexi also looked eager. All thoughts of Marco, Gabriella and that stilted lunch faded. We were here and I was sharing a new experience with my daughter, along with an excellent guide.
When Milo opened the door, I jumped out with Lexi right behind me.
“Wow, will you look at this?” Lexi twirled around to take it all in. I hoped that the sudden silence of the crowd was caused by the royal limo, not Lexi’s bare midriff or shorts. Her gladiator sandals made her legs look longer than ever. But I wasn't going to worry about my daughter on such a gorgeous day.
Coming around the back of the limo, Gregorio glanced at his watch with that distinctive Rolex styling. “Come back in two hours, Milo.”
Milo nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. As you wish.”
Astonishment left Lexi and me mute. With those few words, Gregorio had changed from student to royal heir, with people at his command. Watching the black limousine glide away and disappear, I wondered at the power of this young man. And I was curious. “Your father doesn’t leave you with security?” I was thinking of the monarchy of Great Britain and how their security people were so important.
“No one would harm us,” Gregorio said with uncharacteristic nonchalance. “My father would draw and quarter them.”
A chuckle dried on my lips. My student seemed completely serious. But then he gave me a playful grin. He could be a tease, and I liked that side of my new pupil. Near the square sat an enclosure with something that sure looked like a guillotine but without the blade. The wood was weathered and suspiciously stained. A brass plate marked the spot and I wondered if this was historical. “Do you ever use that?” I pointed.
“Not lately.” His set expression told me nothing.
“Mom, I think he's kidding you,” Lexi said in an undertone as we followed Gregorio down the lane.
