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CHAPTER TWO
THECHRISTMASROSTERwas definitely the main topic of conversation over the next couple of days.
Antonietta was training in the Oratory, which was unusually quiet, but whenever she entered the staffroom it was all that was being discussed.
‘It’s not fair,’ Chi-Chi huffed. ‘Even Greta has got Christmas off and she only started three months ago.’
‘She has children, though,’ Antonietta pointed out.
‘How comeyouare off, Vincenzo?’
‘Because I live in Florence, and if I am to spend any time with my family then I need adequate time to get there.’
‘But it is the Old Monastery’s first Christmas,’ Chi-Chi said. ‘Surely the head of PR should be here and tweeting...or whatever it is you do.’
‘I do rather more than play on my phone,’ Vincenzo said, and then looked to Antonietta. ‘How are things in the Oratory?’
‘Quiet...’ Antonietta sighed as she peeled the lid off a yoghurt. ‘It’s fully booked for next week, but the place was dead yesterday and it’s almost empty today. I think people must be saving up their treatments for Christmas.’
She looked up as Francesca came to the door.
‘Ah, there you are Antonietta. Could I ask you to service Signor Dupont’s suite? I know you are meant to be doing your training in the Oratory today—’
‘Of course,’ Antonietta said, and went to get up.
‘Finish your lunch first,’ Francesca said. ‘He has asked that it be serviced at one o’clock.’
‘I’m glad she asked you and not me,’ Chi-Chi said, the very second Francesca had gone. ‘I’ve been working there the past couple of days, and he might be important, but he’s also mean.’
‘Mean?’ Antonietta frowned.
‘He told me to refrain from speaking while I do my work.’
‘Well, I expect he has a headache,’ Antonietta said, without adding thatshecertainly did when Chi-Chi was around.
Vincenzo looked at the time and then stood and brushed off his suit, smoothing his already immaculate red hair in the mirror before heading back.
‘For someone so vain, you’d think he would have noticed that he’s putting on weight,’ Chi-Chi said the moment he was gone. ‘His jacket doesn’t even do up any more.’
‘Leave him alone,’ Antonietta snapped.
But Chi-Chi would not, and carried on with her grumbling. ‘He’s only got Christmas off because he’s a manager.’
‘No.’ Antonietta shook her head. ‘Francesca is working. I’d better go.’
‘But you’ve barely sat down.’
She was happy to get up. Antonietta was more than a little bit fed up with Chi-Chi’s rather grating nature.
‘I need to get the linen ready to take up to the August Suite.’
Fetching the linen was one of Antonietta’s favourite tasks. Here at the Old Monastery the linen was tailor-made for each bed and was washed and line dried without a hint of bleach.
Antonietta breathed in the scent of fresh laundry as she walked in. Vera, who worked there, must be on her lunch, so Antonietta selected crisp linen and then walked across the stunning grounds.
A guest who had just arrived that morning had told her that it had been raining and grey in Rome when they’d left. Here, though, the sky was blue, and it was a little brisk and chilly, with cold nights.
The guard checked her ID and actually addressed her. ‘He will be back by two, so please make sure you are done and out by then.’
