Page 66

‘Go say hello to your Uncle Robertu and then excuse yourself to see your friends. Stay away until dinnertime, can you do that for me?’ She could see he wanted to object. ‘Danjel, please. This isn’t forever, I promise.’

His mouth was a firm line. ‘He’s going to put you in hospital.’

‘I promise that won’t happen,’ she fibbed. She had no idea how far Lawrenz might go, but that wasn’t for her son to know. ‘Kiss Uncle Robertu, smile. And go.’

He gave her a soft glare of despair but did as he was asked. She took a moment to straighten her dress and take a slow and steadying breath, then pinched her cheeks to bring some colour into them. Bless you, Robertu, she thought. Your timing is perfect.

She stepped into the living room with a soft smile. ‘Hello, brother,’ she said as he stood, a glass of wine she imagined he really didn’t want already in hand. She noted Lawrenz’s was already half empty. Danjel had gone.

‘Sorry to interrupt,’ Robertu said. ‘But maybe it’s a good thing. Lawrenz said you were having a disagreement.’ He grinned. She knew Robertu knew it was a lie, but he kept up the pretence for her sake.

‘I keep telling Lawrenz to put up his prices and maybe we won’t have to work so hard,’ she said. ‘But he refuses to listen to me. What would I know?’ She gave an amused sigh and settled down to half listen to the brothers talk business, while she disappeared into her imagination, picturing herself giving a talk to school students about the history of the city, of the Knights Hospitaller and the artist they gave sanctuary to.

When she sensed movement, she brought herself back to the present. ‘Leaving so soon? I haven’t offered you food or even a coffee,’ she said.

‘No, don’t worry, but thank you, Leni,’ Robertu said, his soft gaze landing on her.

‘Have a coffee. She makes the best, you know that,’ Lawrenz urged, smiling at her. That was his apology, she knew. The full sum of it. ‘I have to pack anyway.’

‘Leaving again?’ she asked.

‘You weren’t listening?’

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath. ‘Can I help you pack?’

‘No. Make my brother a coffee.’

His regret rarely improved his manners, but his rudeness was the least of her problems. ‘Why don’t we go downstairs, Robertu? We have to open up soon anyway,’ she said, glancing at her watch.

‘Of course. See you in the bar, brother.’

‘I won’t be long.’ Lawrenz held her gaze for a moment, then turned away abruptly. Another warning.

They lived over the family bar these days, which formed the ground floor. Upstairs they had a large apartment on the corner of Republic Street, just down from the Grand Master’s Palace. Most of the foreigners still called it Kingsway because it was the main thoroughfare for the city, but the original name had been ‘Strada San Giorgio’ when it was built by the Knights Hospitaller.

In the bar Robertu stared at her. Valentina ignored him, glad to have the excuse of preparing the coffee.

‘Are you not going to tell me?’ he asked.

‘What’s to tell?’

‘Danjel looked spooked. Did he hit you?’

‘Robertu, stop,’ she hissed, looking around, nervous that her husband might stride in at any moment. ‘It doesn’t do any good. I’m glad you arrived when you did, though.’ She turned back to him in time to see his sad expression.

‘I’ve got to get you both away from here.’

‘Don’t talk nonsense.’ She heard the creaking of the floorboards above and knew they had a moment to talk openly, although she had to pay attention; she wouldn’t put it past Lawrenz to tiptoe down and eavesdrop, such was his paranoia about Valentina being unfaithful.

‘This can’t go on.’

‘It’s been going on since we married, and here I am.’

‘He speaks to you with such disrespect,’ he hissed. ‘I hate him for it.’

‘Calm yourself. It does no good. Just promise me that if I ever ask, you’ll get Danjel to safety. He’s becoming too vocal to me with his own desire to protect me. I don’t need Lawrenz getting wind of his son’s bold ideas. He’d enjoy cutting him down to size.’

‘I promise you, but Leni, on this next trip of his…’