Lee Wilkinson - The Padova Pearls

Maybe it had been a special delivery ordered by phone? If that was the case, it would account for her father not mentioning anything about a visitor.

The fact that the man had been Italian was no doubt quite irrelevant.

But would a delivery of that kind be made by taxi?

Well, the box had come from somewhere.

Giving up the riddle, her thoughts went back to a possible burglar. The box was still here, but what about its contents?

Mostly it was costume stuff. The only items of any real value were her few good pieces of jewellery and her father’s signet ring…But surely any would-be thief would have taken them?

A glance inside showed that nothing was missing, so maybe the whole concept of a burglar had sprung from her imagination?

But what about the curtains?

Perhaps, her mind taken up with the fair-haired stranger, she had closed them herself without registering the fact?

As if to add weight to this theory, she realized that none of the curtains at the rear of the house had been closed.

Common sense jumped in and pointed out that they wouldn’t need to be. The garden was surrounded by a high wall, so no one could have looked in and noticed anything amiss.

Oh, well, if someone had come in—and it was starting to look less likely—they had gone out again without taking anything or doing any damage, so she must try and put the whole thing out of her mind.

She was about to move away and prepare for bed when she caught sight of something that looked like a wisp of stocking dangling from the drawer she kept her underwear in.

Frowning a little, she pulled it open to find that one of her fine silk stockings had somehow escaped from its protective wrapper and snagged on the top of the drawer.

She stared at it, a chill running through her, certain, or almost certain, that she hadn’t left it like that.

A quick glance in her other drawers suggested that someone had looked through them, leaving them marginally less neat.

But, if that was so, as well as the puzzling—how did they get in? was the equally perplexing—what had they been looking for?

While she showered, brushed her teeth and put on her nightdress, she turned the whole thing over and over in her mind, but it made no sense.

By the time she climbed into bed, heartily sick of the fruitless exercise, she determined to think no more about it.

At once, thoughts of the fascinating stranger who had looked so like the man in her portrait brought to life flooded in.

The joy she’d felt on first seeing him came back to linger like some sad ghost. And she knew now that, as though under a spell, she had spent all her life just waiting for him.

But a one-sided enchantment was no use, and that was all it had been. Otherwise he wouldn’t have walked away as casually as he had.

So what was the point of repining?

None at all, she told herself stoutly. She would try not to think about him. Though, with his face only a few feet away, that was easier said than done.

Reaching out a hand, she switched off the light, but blotting out sight didn’t stop the thoughts and regrets that tramped ceaselessly on the treadmill of her mind.

She slept badly, tossing and turning restlessly, and awoke headachy and unrefreshed to find the light of another grey, overcast day filling the room.

A bleary glance at her bedside clock showed that, for once in her life, she had badly overslept.

As quickly as possible, she showered and dressed in a neat business suit, coiled her dark hair and put on a hasty dab of make-up. Then, having swallowed a cup of instant coffee, she pulled on her coat and made her way to A Volonté.

Despite walking fast, she was over half an hour late by the time she hurried through the heavy smoked glass doors into the oval-shaped gallery.

Quiet and elegant, with its white, gold and dark green decor, its graceful sweep of staircase, its classic columns, which supported the encircling balcony, it was a Mecca for the art world.

On her way to the staff room, she glanced up at the balcony. Several people were already strolling round looking at her father’s paintings. At the far end a couple with their backs to her—a tall fair-haired man and a petite woman with a black shoulder-length bob, were studying the miniatures.

The exhibition appeared to be getting off to a good start, thank the Lord.

When Sophia had hung up her coat and tapped on David’s office door to give him her apologies—which he waved away—she went back to take her place at the discreetly positioned desk.

Over in the lounge area she could see Joanna sitting on one of the dark green velvet couches talking to a balding man she recognized as a Parisian art critic and private collector.

A glance at the balcony showed the woman was still admiring the miniatures, while her companion had moved away a little and was looking at a collection of Venetian scenes which had been hung together.

More people were starting to drift in, but the gallery’s policy was to let them browse in peace until they had a question to ask or were ready to buy, so Sophie turned her attention to the latest auction room catalogues.

There was a Joshua Roache coming up next week, and an early Cass that David might be interested in for his private collection…

A woman’s voice said, ‘Scusi signorina…’

Putting the catalogue to one side, Sophia looked up with a smile. ‘How can I help you?’

Judging by the smooth bell of black hair, it was the same woman who had been up on the balcony a few minutes ago.

She was extremely well dressed and vividly beautiful, with large black eyes, a creamy skin, a straight nose and full red lips. Her figure was voluptuous, her scarlet-tipped hands smooth and plump. As well as several dress rings, she wore a wide chased wedding band and a magnificent matching diamond solitaire.

At close quarters, Sophia could see she was somewhat older than she had first appeared, probably in her middle thirties.

In fluent but heavily accented English, she said, ‘I would like to know more about this picture…’

To Sophia’s dismay, she had taken down the miniature that Mrs Caldwell had remarked was both her favourite and Peter’s.

Stretching out a hand, and trying hard to keep her voice even, Sophia suggested, ‘Perhaps you’d like to give it to me?’

In spite of all her efforts, it must have sounded too much like an order because, with a haughty look, the woman informed her, ‘You are talking to the Marquise d’Orsini.’

‘I’m sorry, but no one is allowed to remove any of the paintings.’

‘You do not understand. I intend to buy it.’

‘I’m afraid it’s not for sale.’

‘How can you say such a thing?’ the Marquise cried angrily. ‘An art gallery exists to sell paintings, does it not?’

Aware that the woman’s raised voice was attracting curious glances, Sophia said soothingly, ‘Of course. All the paintings on this floor are for sale, including some excellent miniatures.’

‘But it is this one I want.’

‘I’m extremely sorry, but that one and the other miniatures on the balcony are part of a Peter Jordan exhibition, and not for sale.’

‘Nonsense! I wish you to—’

Sophia heard no more as, glancing up, she saw a tall, good-looking man approaching. He was dressed in smart casuals, his carriage was easy and there was a quiet assurance in the way he held his blond head. His dark grey eyes were fixed on her face.

Rooted to the spot, she gazed at the man she had never seriously expected to see again.

Was his coming into A Volonté a coincidence?

No, surely not.

A surge of gladness filled her and brought a glorious smile to her face.

He smiled back, that white, slightly crooked smile that made her feel hollow inside.