Under a Siena Sun (Escape to Tuscany #1) - T.A. Williams Page 0,72

comment, to specify that the source of the flatulence had been canine rather than human, when Guido saved the day.

‘Barolo, really! I can’t take you anywhere, can I? Sorry, Lucy, but he must have eaten something earlier that disagreed with him.’

On the other side of the table she could see David grinning and then he burst out laughing, followed by Guido. It was really good to see David so relaxed. Maybe having his location plastered all over the internet and national and international papers really had been good for him after all.

Guido finished his coffee, checked his watch, and rose to his feet. ‘I’m sorry, Lucy, but Barolo and I have to go, I’m afraid. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. Next time at my place.’

Lucy accompanied him and his dog to the door and as she climbed back up the stairs to the loggia, she could feel a sensation of anticipation building at the thought of finding herself all alone with David by candlelight. However, she was disappointed to see him on his feet, leaning against the balustrade, staring out at the handful of lights dotting the dark hillside. She went over to his side.

‘All well, David?’

He turned towards her and in the candlelight she could see he was smiling. ‘Fine, Lucy, just fine. This has been a lovely evening. I like Guido. He seems like a good guy. Who knows? Maybe he’ll be able to shed some light on the origins of the castle.’

Lucy nodded, although she would have been far more interested to hear him tell her about any feelings he might be developing towards her. Still, conversation was conversation, so she rose to the occasion.

‘Well, if anybody can find out, it has to be Guido.’

She saw him look at his watch. ‘Here’s hoping. Anyway, I suppose I’d better go, too. Boris needs his walk.’

Boris was stretched out comatose beneath the table and Lucy seriously doubted whether he needed an urgent walk, but she went along with it. Clearly David was feeling uncomfortable finding himself here alone with her. She picked up the cheese plate and a few other bits that needed to go in the fridge and, as she did so, he collected the rest and loaded them onto a tray. She was impressed – millionaire or not, he was certainly housetrained.

‘Thanks, David. I could have done that. So, tell me, did you walk down through the olive trees?’

‘Yes. There are just two die-hard paparazzi left by the gate in a camper van, but I thought I’d better take no chances. Imagine if they followed me here and got a shot of you and me together. Who knows what story they might invent?’

‘What story, indeed!’ Although she was increasingly coming round to the conviction by now that she would enjoy being part of that story if it ever came to fruition. ‘Well, if you’re walking back through the fields, I might walk with you partway if you don’t mind. It’s such a lovely night.’

David easily roused the dog with the magic word and they set out on their walk. The near-full moon had risen above the hills and it was bright enough to cast shadows among the olive trees. Lucy soon found it was quite easy to follow the track as it wound its way up the hillside. It was almost completely silent up here and she started to make out little yellow dots of light among the olive trees. As Boris stopped to mark his territory, she stopped as well, watching the fireflies and reflecting what a wonderful place she had chosen for her new home.

She was very conscious of David beside her in the dark and she found herself yearning for his touch. She was even seriously considering at least catching hold of his hand, when a sudden movement barely a few yards away from them startled her. She actually did reach out and grab hold of his arm, but this was with no romantic intent. There could be no doubt about it – something big was lurking in the bushes just off the track to the right of them.

‘Well, well, well, are we lucky or are we lucky? Can you see it?’ David’s mouth was so close to her ear as he whispered that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her. ‘Look, there it is.’

Still clutching his arm, she followed the direction of his pointing finger and gradually managed to make out a light-coloured wedge shape moving slowly