down to Ca'n D'alt, Olivia saw that Maria had turned on all the outside lights and these shone out like a celebration through the branches of the almond trees. And even as Cosmo stopped the car, and they were commencing to unload themselves, Maria and Tomeu were there, coming towards them through all this brightness; Maria stocky and sun-browned in her black dress and apron, and Tomeu shaven for the occasion and wearing a clean shirt.
" Hola, senor ," called Tomeu, but Maria had no thoughts for any person but her darling child.
"Antonia."
"Oh, Maria." She was out of the car and away, running down the path and into Maria's embrace.
" Antonia. Mi nina. Favorita. Como estd usted? "
They were home.
Penelope's bedroom, which had once been a donkey's stable, led directly off the terrace. It was so small that there was room only for the bed and a chest of drawers, and a row of wooden pegs had to do duty as a wardrobe. But Maria had given it the same ruthless treatment as Antonia's room, and it shone clean and white and smelled of soap and freshly ironed cotton, and Olivia had filled a blue-and-white jug with yellow roses and stood this, with some carefully chosen books, on the wooden bedside table. Two tiled steps led up to a second door, and she opened this and explained to her mother the whereabouts of the only bathroom.
"The plumbing's a bit erratic; it depends on the state of the well, so if the loo doesn't work the first time, you just have to go on trying."
"I think it's all quite perfect. What an enchanting place." She divested herself of her cape, hung it on a peg, and turned to stoop over the bed and open her suitcase. "And what a dear man Cosmo seems. And how well you're looking. I've never seen you look so well."
Olivia sat on the bed and watched her mother unpack.
"You're an angel to come at such short notice. It's just that I thought it might be easier, having Antonia, if you were here as well. Not that that's the only reason I asked you. Ever since I set eyes on this place, I've been wanting to show it to you."
"You know I love doing things on the spur of the moment. I phoned Nancy and told her I was coming and she was mad with envy. And a bit cross, too, because she hadn't been invited, but I didn't take the slightest bit of notice of that. And as for Antonia, what a darling pet of a child. Not in the least shy, laughing and chatting the whole day. I do wish Nancy's children could be half as companionable and well-mannered. Heaven only knows what sin I committed to be landed with such a pair for grandchildren. . . ."
"And Noel? Have you seen Noel lately?"
"No, haven't set eyes on him for months. I rang him up the other day to make sure he was still alive. He was."
"What's he doing with himself?"
"Well, he's found himself a new flat, somewhere off the King's Road. What it's going to cost him I didn't dare to ask, but that's his problem. And he's thinking of leaving the publishing world and going into advertising—he says he's got some very good contacts. And he was just off to Cowes for the weekend. The usual."
"And you? How are things with you? How's Podmore's Thatch?"
"Dear little house," said Penelope fondly. "The con-servatory's finished at last, I can't tell you how pretty it is. I've planted a white jasmine and a vine, and bought rather a smart basket chair."
"About time you had some new garden furniture."
"And the magnolia flowered for the first time and I've had the wistaria pruned. And the Atkinsons came for a weekend, and it was so warm we v/ere able to have dinner in the garden. They were asking after you and send their dearest love." She smiled, becoming motherly, her expression one of satisfied affection. "And when I get home, I shall be able to tell them that I have never seen you look so well. Blooming. Beautiful."
"Was it an awful bombshell for you, my staying with Cosmo and throwing up my job and
" Hola, senor ," called Tomeu, but Maria had no thoughts for any person but her darling child.
"Antonia."
"Oh, Maria." She was out of the car and away, running down the path and into Maria's embrace.
" Antonia. Mi nina. Favorita. Como estd usted? "
They were home.
Penelope's bedroom, which had once been a donkey's stable, led directly off the terrace. It was so small that there was room only for the bed and a chest of drawers, and a row of wooden pegs had to do duty as a wardrobe. But Maria had given it the same ruthless treatment as Antonia's room, and it shone clean and white and smelled of soap and freshly ironed cotton, and Olivia had filled a blue-and-white jug with yellow roses and stood this, with some carefully chosen books, on the wooden bedside table. Two tiled steps led up to a second door, and she opened this and explained to her mother the whereabouts of the only bathroom.
"The plumbing's a bit erratic; it depends on the state of the well, so if the loo doesn't work the first time, you just have to go on trying."
"I think it's all quite perfect. What an enchanting place." She divested herself of her cape, hung it on a peg, and turned to stoop over the bed and open her suitcase. "And what a dear man Cosmo seems. And how well you're looking. I've never seen you look so well."
Olivia sat on the bed and watched her mother unpack.
"You're an angel to come at such short notice. It's just that I thought it might be easier, having Antonia, if you were here as well. Not that that's the only reason I asked you. Ever since I set eyes on this place, I've been wanting to show it to you."
"You know I love doing things on the spur of the moment. I phoned Nancy and told her I was coming and she was mad with envy. And a bit cross, too, because she hadn't been invited, but I didn't take the slightest bit of notice of that. And as for Antonia, what a darling pet of a child. Not in the least shy, laughing and chatting the whole day. I do wish Nancy's children could be half as companionable and well-mannered. Heaven only knows what sin I committed to be landed with such a pair for grandchildren. . . ."
"And Noel? Have you seen Noel lately?"
"No, haven't set eyes on him for months. I rang him up the other day to make sure he was still alive. He was."
"What's he doing with himself?"
"Well, he's found himself a new flat, somewhere off the King's Road. What it's going to cost him I didn't dare to ask, but that's his problem. And he's thinking of leaving the publishing world and going into advertising—he says he's got some very good contacts. And he was just off to Cowes for the weekend. The usual."
"And you? How are things with you? How's Podmore's Thatch?"
"Dear little house," said Penelope fondly. "The con-servatory's finished at last, I can't tell you how pretty it is. I've planted a white jasmine and a vine, and bought rather a smart basket chair."
"About time you had some new garden furniture."
"And the magnolia flowered for the first time and I've had the wistaria pruned. And the Atkinsons came for a weekend, and it was so warm we v/ere able to have dinner in the garden. They were asking after you and send their dearest love." She smiled, becoming motherly, her expression one of satisfied affection. "And when I get home, I shall be able to tell them that I have never seen you look so well. Blooming. Beautiful."
"Was it an awful bombshell for you, my staying with Cosmo and throwing up my job and
Similar Books
![MINE! [New World Book 8]](https://fs.ageofbook.com/503196/thumbs/152x264/mine-new-world-book-8.jpg)
