‘Willyoube staying?’ Kate asked, daunted at the thought of all those celebrities. It would be nice to have an ally.
‘No. I’m just here to get everyone sorted and settled in. I have some stuff to go over with Will in the next couple of days, but I’ll be leaving on Monday too. I have to get back to man the fort,’ she said cheerfully, ‘but I will be flying out from time to time. Don’t worry,’ she added, as if she knew how Kate was feeling. ‘Like I said, they’ll all be gone by Monday, and the guys are really easy – you won’t have any problems. I’ve made some notes for you about likes and dislikes food-wise, but they’re not very fussy. Owen and Rory eat pretty much everything. Georgie’s borderline anorexic so eats practically nothing. Phoenix is a vegetarian, but I don’t suppose that’s a problem.’
‘Oh, no, I’ve done a lot of vegetarian cooking. My boyfriend’s a vegetarian, actually.’
‘Oh, really? Didn’t he mind you coming out here for the summer?’
‘Well, he wasn’t exactly over the moon about it,’ Kate confessed, ‘but it was such a great opportunity I couldn’t pass it up. I couldn’t make anything like this kind of money at home. And Will said Brian – my boyfriend – could visit while I’m here.’ The prospect of a free holiday had mollified him somewhat.
‘Will said that?’ Louise said thoughtfully. Kate got the impression that she didn’t approve somehow. Maybe she was afraid they would disrupt the calm working atmosphere.
‘How’s the food shopping here?’ she asked, changing the subject.
‘There’s a great local market twice a week, and some reallygood shops in the village.’ Louise briefed her as they drove, and before long they were turning off the road onto a long avenue lined with ramrod-straight cypress trees towards a huge, apricot-coloured house.
‘Wow!’ Kate gasped, as they circled an ornate fountain and pulled up.
Louise had called Will when they were turning into the drive, and he came out to meet them. ‘Hi, Kate.’ He looked tanned, healthy and relaxed. ‘Welcome to Tuscany – it’s great to see you here.’
Her heart slammed against her ribs as he bent to kiss her cheek.
‘I’m glad you survived your drive with Miss Whiplash here,’ he said, grinning at Louise.
Louise opened the car boot and Will took out the first couple of bags. ‘Leave the rest – I’ll have it brought up later,’ he said.
They entered a vast tiled hall, wonderfully cool after the heat outdoors.
‘Come on, I’ll show you your room,’ Louise said to Kate.
‘Oh, I’ll do that,’ Will told her, already heading for the stairs.
‘Okay.’ She seemed a little put out and gave Will a beady look as he led Kate upstairs.
It wasn’t lost on Will. He couldn’t understand what was up with Louise. She had been reluctant from the start about hiring Kate and, even though they obviously got on well, she still didn’t seem sold on the idea.
He led Kate down a long corridor. ‘This is it.’ He opened a door and ushered her into a big, high-ceilinged room filled with sunlight.
‘Oh, it’s beautiful,’ Kate said. It was almost as big as her entire Dublin flat. A high double bed dominated the main part of the room, and two steps led down to a little sitting area with a sofaand window seat. There was a vast en-suite bathroom, and shuttered French windows opened onto a little balcony overlooking the garden.
‘Glad you like it.’
Sounds of voices, music and splashing water floated up to her from outside. Opening the French windows, Kate stepped onto the balcony. Amid well-kept lawns planted with an abundance of trees and flowers, a huge infinity pool offered spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The scene below her was a paparazzo’s wet dream as major stars and minor celebrities frolicked in the sun. Tessa and a willowy, honey-skinned blonde Kate recognised as Fawn were throwing shapes in their bikinis at the far end of the garden while a photographer snapped them. A couple of topless blondes from Central Casting were cavorting in the pool with Owen.
What had she let herself in for? She couldn’t have felt more out of place if she had inadvertently strayed into thePlayboymansion.
‘I’m sorry about all the extra people,’ Will said, joining her at the window and looking down moodily at the scene below. ‘Unfortunately everywhere Tessa goes a media circus follows, so our cover is blown. I’m hoping when they all push off, the paparazzi will lose interest and leave us alone. Anyway,’ he said, more cheerfully, ‘they’ll be gone by Monday.’
‘Tina wasn’t able to come?’
‘No.’
‘Oh, pity.’ Kate tried to sound disappointed for him.
Will tilted his head to one side and regarded her fondly. ‘I’m gladyou’rehere,’ he said. He seemed genuinely pleased to see her.
‘Me too.’
‘Well, when you get settled in, come and relax by the pool. Make yourself at home. I’ll show you the rest of the place later.’
