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As the feasting ended the speeches started, and she looked around the table and saw that these people were the ones she loved.
Nico started by thanking his staff, and Antonietta for her marvellous idea. And there was clearly too much champagne flowing, because they all toasted Aurora for persuading him.
Then Francesca spoke. ‘My staff have never let me down...’
Antonietta flushed a little at that.
‘Never,’ Francesca said. ‘There is nowhere I would rather be than here this Christmas.’
And then Antonietta stood, and though her speech was short and sweet it came from her heart. ‘I am so lucky to have you all.’
She truly was, Aurora knew. She finally had her magical Christmas.
‘I might go for a walk in the temple ruins,’ said Pino. ‘And burn this dinner off.’
‘A good idea!’ Francesca smiled.
For a second Antonietta thought Francesca was going to suggest joining Pino, but there was something in his stance that suggested he wanted to be alone.
‘Enjoy your walk,’ Francesca said.
‘Thank you.’ Pino smiled.
But one day Francesca would join him. Antonietta just knew it.
It really was a two-by-two world, Antonietta thought as she bounced little Gabe on her knee and looked over to Vincenzo and Tony, who were happily holding hands.
‘Antonietta,’ Francesca whispered in her ear. ‘Sorry to pull you away, but I need someone to take a trolley up to the August Suite.’
And it seemed that ‘someone’ would be her.
‘Here,’ Antonietta said, and handed little Gabe back to Aurora. ‘I have to take a trolley up. I shouldn’t be long.’
‘We ought to get going,’ Aurora said.
‘Yes.’ Antonietta forced a smile. ‘You have an announcement to get to.’
Antonietta could hear the laughter wafting up from the ballroom as she pushed the trolley along the cloister. She hadn’t been back to the August Suite since her cruel parting from Rafe, and it didn’t help that it was Christmas Day.
And that everyone was happy except her.
She pressed her fingers into her eyes and rued the champagne she had drunk, because guests did not need a chambermaid with tears in her eyes.
‘Service,’ she called after knocking.
When she got no reply, she swiped her card and let herself in.
‘Service,’ she said again.
And then stepped into a room that was not in complete darkness, for though the drapes were drawn, every candle in the suite had been lit. The August Suite was softly illuminated with twinkling lights that stretched and danced to a gentle breeze she hadn’t even been aware existed.
It felt like a church, or a ballroom, as if the stars had been brought down from the sky.
‘Buon Natale, Antonietta.’
She jolted at the sound of his voice.
‘Rafe!’
