they were ever to marry, their relationship would be different from other couples’, but she was prepared for that. Their love was unique; it was a spiritual thing, based on a shared appreciation of art and mutual respect.
The one dark spot on her horizon was her failure to help her friend Mimi and her Jewish husband Daniele. Mimi’s letter begging for help lay unanswered on Vicenzo’s desk, a nagging reminder of her failure. One evening, unable to bear the guilt any longer, she picked up the letter and threw it onto the fire. As she watched it burn, her shame evaporated while Mimi’s words of desperation curled and were reduced to ashes.
In the evenings, the radio was her companion. Although it was illegal to listen to foreign broadcasts, she and Constanza listened to the nine o’clock news on Radio Londra. After all, who would reveal their secret? One evening, the announcer brought news of the Allies’ struggle to broach the German’s defensive line reaching from coast to coast across the country south of Rome.
‘It doesn’t sound very positive, does it?’ said Constanza.
‘No,’ replied Isabella. ‘I fear the chances of the Allies coming to our rescue anytime soon appear rather remote.’ She looked up and smiled encouragingly at the maid. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll survive.’
But as she lay in bed that night, the distant rumbling of guns broke through the silence and she thought of the men battling for a position not far away.
The following day, Constanza came into her room. The dogs stood up from their night’s sleep by Isabella’s bed, wagging their tails.
‘Buongiorno, signorina,’ Constanza said, pulling open the curtains, revealing a clear blue sky. ‘The Count has written and asked me to tell you that he has some friends who are coming to stay here today. He thanks you very much for caring for the dogs and the house but suggests that you return to your own home now.’
Isabella sat up in bed, her mind still fuzzy with sleep. ‘He wants me to go?’ She was confused.
‘Yes, signorina. He tells me to say thank you and that he will be in touch soon. But it would be safer for you not to be here today.’
The maid left, followed by the dogs. Isabella dressed and packed her things. Half an hour later, she came downstairs carrying a small suitcase. In the kitchen, Constanza had laid out some coffee on the table.
‘Constanza, is he angry with me?’ she asked.
‘No, signorina, not at all! He just said that, as others are expected, it would be safer for you to go.’
‘I see, and the dogs?’
‘I will manage, thank you. I think maybe in a few days, his sister may come here and take them to the country. They will miss you though, they really do love you.’
‘And I love them.’ Isabella held out her hand and the dogs ran towards her, snaking their heads beneath her fingers. ‘Did he say whether he wants me to come back?’ Isabella asked, as Constanza handed her a cup of coffee.
‘No.’ Constanza picked up the letter and read his instructions. ‘He said to tell you that he would be honoured if you could continue to care for the house, but from a distance. That it would be safer for you not to live here anymore.’
Isabella was hurt he had chosen to write to Constanza and not her. Surely a personal note, explaining the situation, would have been better? Confused and upset, she drained her coffee cup.
‘Well, I’d better be going then,’ she said, putting the cup back on the table.
Constanza smiled, picked up the cup and took it to the sink to wash. Isabella felt as if her presence was being erased from the house.
‘I’ll see you soon,’ said Isabella, retreating to the hall, followed by the dogs. She put on her fur coat and picked up her suitcase. She walked to the doorway of the sitting room and took a last lingering look at the house she had hoped, one day, to call home. Only the evening before, she had been imagining that her place was at Vicenzo’s side forever. Now it seemed she was no longer necessary – that she was being dismissed, like a superfluous servant. She leant down to kiss the dogs goodbye, before loading her suitcase into her car and driving home.
Her mother was coming down the stairs, when Isabella let herself back into the villa.
‘You’re back then?’ Giovanna said. ‘I thought you’d left us forever.’