Edie’s eye was particularly taken with two large statues of dogs, set on giant plinths at the top of the stairs. Tall and thin with pricked ears, wedge-shaped heads and curled tails, they seemed to be guarding the entrance. They had such noble, gentle faces, however, it was doubtful they’d deter anyone.
‘They’re Cretan hounds,’ Katerina said, noticing Edie’s interest. ‘They’re one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe, possibly the oldest.’
‘They don’t look very scary.’
‘No, they’re very polite and mild-mannered. They make wonderful pets. You wouldn’t want to be a cat or rabbit, though. They love chasing small animals and can run extremely fast.’
Jessica, who was nearby, came and joined them.
‘When was the villa built?’ she wanted to know.
‘Sections date back to 1462,’ said Katerina. ‘It was built by the Venetians but has been greatly modified since.’
‘Did the current owners make many modifications themselves, or was it all done before they bought the place?’
Katerina frowned as if for some reason the question annoyed her.
‘The renovations have taken place over very many years,’ she said. ‘You will see what miracles have been achieved when you step inside.’
After crossing the threshold, Edie gazed in wonder round the open entrance hall with its high ceilings, smooth, whitewashed walls and creamy marble floor tiles. They were so clean, she imagined she could see her reflection in them.
A number of curved archways led off the hall into smaller rooms, one with comfy-looking red velvet armchairs and a TV, another with a desk, bookshelves, more chairs and an antique wooden table with a fancy chessboard on top.
The place, though light and airy, didn’t feel clinical or impersonal. Quite the opposite. It seemed as though every painting, object and piece of furniture had been carefully selected by someone with immense taste and style.
In the very centre of the hall was a polished dark wood table on which sat an unusual, chunky, greenish-grey ceramic vase with a round bottom and narrow neck. There was something very pleasing about the irregular shape and uneven texture, and the piece could only have been made by hand.
Another, bigger archway at the end of the hall led into a dining room with a cream-coloured marble table, flecked with black. It was so large, it could easily seat at least twelve people.
From here, Katerina showed them into the kitchen at the back of the villa, which was a spacious, square-shaped room painted yellow and white, with French doors overlooking the garden.
It seemed to have everything they needed, including a brand-new dishwasher and a giant, American-style fridge-freezer. There was even a heavenly scent of citrus in the air, thanks to the lusty-looking lemon tree growing just outside the open window.
Beyond the kitchen lay a shady patio, complete with a rectangular wooden table and chairs. It was here, Edie decided, that they’d eat most of their meals.
Next, she followed a small pathway through a trellised archway, covered in climbing roses and a trailing vine. The others followed a little way behind.
Soon, she reached the main pool area, looking out over the mountains, town and sea. Five wooden sun loungers, with thick yellow cushions, beckoned invitingly from an area to the left, shaded by leafy foliage.
On the other side of the pool was a walled courtyard, largely hidden behind lush trees. On investigation, Edie was intrigued to find this housed a square-shaped plunge pool, decorated with beautiful blue and white mosaic tiles.
At the far end, water trickled out of the open mouth of a fierce-looking, bearded man’s face, which was made of white stone, stained green in places by algae.
‘I wonder who that’s supposed to be?’ Hannah said, pointing at the fountain.
‘Poseidon, I expect,’ Jessica replied, coming alongside. She stuck her hands in her jeans pockets and tilted her head, studying him from afar. ‘He was God of the sea, earthquakes, horses and storms.’
Hannah put her hands in her own pockets and stared at Jessica, wide-eyed.
‘Is thereanythingyou don’t know?’ She seemed genuinely amazed.
Jessica gave a small smile. ‘Oh yes. Lots.’
Edie pursed her lips. She was beginning to find the hero worship a tiny bit bugging.
‘This’d be a great place for nude sunbathing,’ she commented, changing the subject.
‘And skinny-dipping,’ Hannah replied with a wink.
