Dreaming of Verona: An enchanting, feel-good holiday romance Read online

  ‘My friends?’ Alexandra’s voice was low, her tone morose rather than annoyed. ‘My father wouldn’t dream of it.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Then maybe somebody from your father’s staff? Surely there must be somebody he trusts and you like.’

  Alexandra shook her head. ‘Nope, nobody.’

  With considerable regret, Suzie decided she had no choice. ‘Well, I’m sorry, Alexandra, but I think I’d prefer not to be involved, if you don’t mind. I think the best thing would be if I just say no to your father.’

  To her surprise, Alexandra reached out and caught her by the arm. ‘Don’t do that. Please say you’ll come.’ There was an unexpectedly pleading note in her voice.

  ‘You want me to come with you?’ Suzie could hear the disbelief in her own voice.

  ‘Yes, please.’ Alexandra’s hand dropped from Suzie’s arm. ‘If you say no, my father won’t let me go to Italy at all. It’s as simple as that. He’s already said as much. He trusts you because your father’s the local vicar and there’s nobody else he approves of. Please say yes. You’ll be doing me an immense favour.’

  Suzie paused for a few moments of reflection. ‘And you won’t resent my presence? You heard your father; he wants me to be his spy. That’s pretty distasteful.’ She held Alexandra’s eye for a moment longer. ‘And if I take the job, I’ll have to do as he says. He’s the one paying my wages, after all. You realise what that means.’

  Alexandra nodded. ‘I understand and I won’t hold it against you, I promise. I know my father all too well and I know this is the only way for me to get away. I give you my word I’ll be on my best behaviour.’

  For a moment, Suzie could hear the voice of a little girl coming from the woman opposite her and she felt a wave of sympathy, maybe even pity for her. After a few moments’ deliberation, she came to a decision.

  ‘All right then, I’ll say yes. And please try to remember that I’ll just be doing what your father wants me to do. I don’t like the idea of it, but I’ll have to do as he asks.’

  Chapter 2

  Barely three weeks later Suzie and Alexandra set off for Italy – or, more precisely, for central London first. A luxury saloon with a chauffeur collected them from Devon and deposited them at the Ritz Hotel on the corner of Piccadilly. Suzie had often walked past this world-famous luxury hotel, but had never dreamt of setting foot over the threshold. As the limousine pulled up behind a spotless black Bentley, a pair of liveried porters came out and set about unloading their luggage onto a trolley. As Suzie was still thanking the driver, Alexandra turned and disappeared into the hotel without a word. The driver gave a little salute, and the car had already pulled out into the traffic as the thought occurred to Suzie that she might have been expected to give him a tip. She was still trying to work out just exactly what this job entailed, so for now, she thought it best to concentrate on the luggage. One of the porters waved towards the glass doors.

  ‘Do please go on in, miss. We’ll bring your luggage.’

  Suzie climbed the half-dozen steps, hardly daring to touch the glistening brass handrails for fear of marking them. As she stepped through the doors into the lobby, she felt a total fraud. All her life, she and her parents had struggled with money and she had had to do two different jobs to fund her three years of postgraduate study. Her work at the charity had been fulfilling, but her salary had barely covered the exorbitant cost of renting a tiny room in a crowded flat in south London along with three other girls. Now here she was, embarking upon a holiday of unlimited all-expenses-paid luxury, beginning with this iconic five-star hotel. She felt pretty sure the porters and the immaculate reception staff here would be able to see clear through her disguise. She wasn’t a member of the privileged classes and they knew it.

  Alexandra, on the other hand, definitely was, and she was used to getting her own way. As Suzie arrived at the front desk, she found her looking and sounding like thunder.

  ‘No, we are not sharing a room. The reservation was for two single rooms.’

  A dapper gentleman wearing a sober dark suit bearing a badge on the lapel indicating he was the Assistant Manager inclined his head towards her deferentially.

  ‘If you’ll just give me a moment, Lady Tedburn, I’ll get this sorted out.’ Seeing Suzie at Alexandra’s shoulder, he gave her a little bow of the head. ‘Doctor Cartwright, I presume. Welcome to the Ritz.’

  Suzie was mightily surprised to be addressed with her full title. Presumably Lord Tedburn had asked his PA to make the reservation and had informed her of Suzie’s full qualifications. She took heart; it wasn’t as good as ‘milady’, but it was still better than plain old ‘Miss Cartwright’. She gave him an answering smile and a nod, while Alexandra just stood there, looking stony-faced. As the Assistant Manager and two receptionists pored over the computer screen, Suzie glanced around apprehensively. Near them was a chubby, bald, middle-aged man speaking what sounded like Russian. Alongside him was one of the most beautiful girls Suzie had ever seen. Was she his daughter, his PA or something else? Doing her best to avoid going any further along that line of conjecture, she hastily turned her attention to the wonderful vaulted ceilings, highlighted with intricate plasterwork, the polished marble and the impeccably clad staff. It was another world.

  In spite of her father’s occupation, she wasn’t a particularly religious person – probably as a result of overexposure to it all – but she did hold strong views on right and wrong. And she knew that this kind of life – pleasant as it might be for some people to be waited on hand and foot – wasn’t right. Not while a staggeringly high percentage of the world’s population didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Everywhere she looked in this place, she saw opulence and excess and this, she reminded herself, was only day one of her month-long trip. She hoped she would manage to reach a point where it didn’t feel so weird but, at the same time, she told herself, she had better not get too used to a lifestyle she knew she would never experience again in all her life.

  Within a few seconds, everything was resolved and the formalities concluded. As a stylish young lady led them towards the lift, Suzie thanked the reception staff and gave them a smile. Alexandra ignored them completely. In the lift, their guide, whose lapel badge indicated her name was Anna, informed them that their rooms were on different floors, and accompanied Alexandra to her room on the third floor first. As they got there, Alexandra turned back to Suzie.

  ‘We’ll meet in the restaurant at eight. After having something to eat, we’ll take a taxi to the party. I don’t want to arrive too early.’ And she turned away with a dismissive wave of the hand. Suzie could feel her hackles rise at Alexandra’s attitude and her tone, but she bit her lip and, for now, just nodded. Maybe her stroppy companion would mellow as the days went by. She certainly hoped so.

  Tonight was to be Alexandra’s going-away party with a group of her friends. Lord Tedburn had insisted that Suzie be invited along to keep an eye on his daughter and she had been dreading it. From Alexandra’s reaction, it was pretty clear she resented the intrusion, and the journey up in the car had been conducted in almost complete silence. As far as Suzie could gather, these friends didn’t fall into the ‘undesirable’ category in Lord Tedburn’s eyes and she wondered why he felt her presence to be necessary. Clearly, so did his daughter.

  The party was scheduled to take place in a wine bar in Knightsbridge and Suzie had no illusions as to what hiring a place like that would cost. Presumably these friends were all from the same sort of privileged, or rather overprivileged, background as Alexandra. Suzie gave a little sigh as she was shown to her predictably faultlessly elegant hotel room. She had hardly been out anywhere socially since Rob’s departure from her life a year ago and wasn’t looking forward to finding herself in the midst of a whole bunch of people who all knew each other. The fact that they would almost certainly be from a very different world from hers didn’t help.

  Not having had lunch, Suzie was feeling hungry by eight o’c
lock and the dinner here at the Ritz would have been wonderful, except for her dinner companion. Alexandra appeared wearing a remarkably formal black evening dress that screamed style and expense. It also screamed the obvious fact that Alexandra wasn’t wearing a bra and the open front of the dress extended almost down to her navel. In comparison, Suzie felt positively shabby – although far more structurally secure – in her only decent dress, and the look she got from Alexandra only served to confirm that opinion. Although Alexandra didn’t comment – indeed, she barely said a word all meal – her distain was evident. Suzie made a few attempts at conversation, but ended up consuming her beef Wellington with celeriac and Périgord truffle in complete silence. Even the exquisite white chocolate and coconut mousseline failed to bring a smile to her morose companion’s face and it was a relief when they got up and set off for the party.

  A smile did, however, finally appear on Alexandra’s face once they reached the wine bar. The place was packed with people and the noise level high. As Alexandra was spotted, it rose even higher as friends descended upon her from all round the room, air-kissing her theatrically and gushing greetings. A few people even greeted Suzie, but as Alexandra didn’t bother to introduce her to anyone, she soon found herself on her own. She helped herself to a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took refuge in a corner, quite happy to observe the goings-on from afar.

  As it turned out, she wasn’t on her own for long. Barely a minute or two after taking up her position, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find herself looking up into the face of a tall man with short-cropped fair hair.

  ‘Hello, I saw you on your own. I hope you don’t mind me coming over to say hi.’

  ‘Not at all. Are you one of Alexandra’s friends?’ As she asked the question, she studied him a bit more closely. He looked as if he were in his late twenties – pretty much the same age as she was – and, apart from being tall, he was undeniably good-looking. Very good-looking indeed. As he leant closer to her, she realised that he was also extremely drunk.

  ‘We’re all Alex’s friends here. I’m Tommy. Who’re you?’

  The individual components of the cocktail of alcoholic aromas on his breath were hard to identify, but the overall effect was highly toxic. Breath like that could most probably strip wallpaper, and she took a step back, only to feel her bottom bump into the wall as she backed into the corner. Turning away slightly to take a deep breath of unpolluted air, she summoned a smile as she looked back and replied.

  ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Tommy. I’m Suzie.’

  ‘Hi, Suzie.’ Hemmed in as she was, she found herself unable to avoid the ensuing kisses on the cheeks she received from him but, mercifully, he didn’t try to do anything more intrusive. He just took an unsteady step back and stared right into her eyes. ‘You’re gorgeous.’

  Suzie felt the colour rush to her cheeks. She had never been very confident in social circles and she certainly had very little experience of tall, handsome – if plastered – men calling her gorgeous. She began a slow process of shuffling her way out of the corner so as to clear a way of escape, but she soon realised that she had little to fear from Tommy. He was so drunk, he was wobbling about, and it was probably only a matter of time before he keeled over. In spite of his current state he looked friendly enough, and she didn’t want him to hurt himself so, spotting an unoccupied table, she made a practical suggestion.

  ‘Would you like to sit down, Tommy?’

  ‘Good idea…’

  Unsuccessfully attempting to restrain a burp, he turned towards the table and stood there, swaying slightly. He looked uncertainly towards it as if he were trying to decide whether his legs were capable of propelling him over to it or whether it might magically come to him. Taking pity on him, Suzie caught hold of his arm and guided him across the room until she was able to pour him into one of the low armchairs. He subsided with a deep sigh and his eyes closed. She was trying to make up her mind whether to go off and leave him or whether to sit down across the coffee table from him when she was surprised to hear her name being called. She looked round and saw Alexandra coming over from the bar, a glass of champagne in one hand and an unexpected sparkle in her eye. This was just about the first time Suzie had seen Alexandra looking truly happy and relaxed and it totally changed her whole appearance.

  ‘I see you’ve met Tommy.’ She chuckled. ‘Somehow, I think he’s going to feel awful tomorrow morning.’

  Suzie smiled back. ‘He looks like a nice guy, but he’s drunk as a skunk.’

  Alex nodded. ‘It’s his birthday and I’ve got a feeling some of the other boys have been spiking his drinks. I think he needs to sleep it off.’

  Both of them turned their eyes back to Tommy and it was eminently clear that he had already embarked upon that course. His eyes were closed and he looked as peaceful as a little baby – a very drunk baby. Then Alexandra surprised Suzie.

  ‘Come and let me introduce you to some of my friends.’

  Suzie was impressed. ‘Of course. I’d like that.’ As Alexandra led her across the room, she risked a direct question. ‘Are these what your father would consider to be “suitable” or “unsuitable” friends?’

  Alexandra gave her a wry smile. ‘Suitable, I think it’s fair to say.’ She then lowered her voice. ‘My father probably knows almost all the parents, and any whose families he doesn’t know are friends who’ve been approved by my big brother.’ The smile became more sardonic. ‘Sanitised for my convenience.’

  By this time they had reached a group of a dozen or so people, roughly half male and half female. The men were wearing anything from jeans and T-shirts to lounge suits, while the girls were all dolled up to the eyeballs and, incredibly, two or three of them were actually exposing more skin than Alexandra. Clearly, Suzie thought to herself, she was now firmly in the midst of the if you’ve got it, flaunt it brigade. She was introduced by Alexandra as ‘Suzie, my friend from Devon’. Suzie could understand why Alexandra didn’t want to broadcast the fact that she had been employed by Lord Tedburn to escort and supervise his daughter. She smiled and shook a few hands and was even on the receiving end of a number of kisses – not just from the men.

  The evening wasn’t as grim as she had been expecting and Alexandra’s change in demeanour was both welcome and surprising. This newfound cheerfulness lasted almost all evening, but was marred towards the end. It was nearly midnight and Suzie had been surprised to find that Tommy had discovered a second wind. As a result, she found him at her side like a little lapdog, breathing alcohol in her face and repeating how gorgeous she looked. The compliments would have had more weight if his booze-befuddled brain had managed to come up with another adjective. In the end she got so fed up with the constant repetition of the word ‘gorgeous’ that she excused herself and headed for the Ladies. It was while she was in there, looking at herself in the mirror, absently thinking that it was high time she spent some of her newly arrived cash on a visit to a hairdresser, when the door opened and Alexandra came stomping in. Or at least, doing her best to stomp in high heels.

  ‘Hi, Alexandra, what’s up?’

  Alexandra gave a heartfelt sigh. ‘Just life…’

  ‘Anything you want to talk about?’

  There was a pause before the shutters came down across Alexandra’s face and the familiar surly look returned.

  ‘No.’ There was a brief pause and then, to Suzie’s delight, she added one more word: ‘Thanks.’

  So, Suzie said to herself, no breakthrough yet, but maybe very early signs that the ice maiden might be beginning to thaw.

  Chapter 3

  They landed at Venice Marco Polo Airport in the late afternoon the following day. As the aircraft flew in over the calm grey-green waters of the lagoon, Suzie peered out of the window in fascination and marvelled at the sight of Venice below them. The whole city was clearly laid out and she easily recognised the Grand Canal, St Mark’s Square and the Lido – the long island that formed a natural breakwater b
etween Venice and the sea. Beside her, Alexandra shot occasional glances out of the window and then relapsed into the same morose state she had been in all day. Suzie had just made one attempt to get her to talk about what had happened at the end of the party, but this had been met with stony silence and so she had stopped trying. Hopefully Alexandra would start to mellow once they got to Italy. As for herself, she felt a rising sense of excitement that she was going to see Venice for the first time and then, after that, her long-awaited Verona.

  A sleek varnished water taxi took them across the lagoon from the airport to the hotel. This was right in the heart of the city, by the side of the Grand Canal, and Suzie knew it to be one of the most famous hotels in the world, frequented by celebrities from all walks of life – from real royalty to Hollywood royalty. And now it was going to be home to Suzanne Cartwright from deepest Devonshire.

  The more she thought about it, the more surreal it felt. Her room was next to Alexandra’s and both rooms looked right out over the water to the island opposite and the spire of San Giorgio Maggiore, the setting sun turning the sky beyond an ethereal pink. As the door closed behind the porter who had brought up her suitcase, Suzie stood at the window and surveyed the view. This was, without a doubt, one of the most romantic places she had ever visited.

  Romance, she reflected, had been largely notable by its absence in her life so far. She had had a few boyfriends at university and sporadically since then, but her natural shyness and her concentration on her studies, and then her job, had restricted her social life to a minimum. Her one relationship of any length had been with Rob, the only man for whom she had felt any real lasting affection, but this had come to an abrupt end when he had been offered a job in Canada. He hadn’t asked her to accompany him and she hadn’t offered, so their relationship – such as it was – had just died a death. That had been at Easter the previous year and it had taken her quite a while to get over him. She couldn’t really say she had been broken-hearted – somehow the depth of feeling between them hadn’t reached that far – but it had been tough all the same.