drop-off. But Intel were watching and I didn’t want to cross their operation.
Back home, I went for a swim. We had a beautiful pool in the basement. Irrationally, I regarded it as my personal property and, more rationally, tried to use it every day. The hypnotic rhythm of length after length, back and forth, in the warm, moist atmosphere settled my thoughts as well as calming my body. Water flowing intimately over my skin always gave me physical pleasure. Dappled light dancing on the mosaic walls enhanced the seductive dream-like ambiance in the pool area. I felt myself blending with the water and drifting…
My semi-stupor was broken by a discreet cough.
‘Sorry to interrupt you, lady, but the Countess would like us to meet in half an hour’s time to discuss the family day.’
Crap. I swam over to the edge where Junia stood like some implacable messenger from the gods.
‘We’ve postponed it twice.’
Hours of talking nicely to, let’s be honest, fairly boring people who all they shared with you was a name and a few genes. I should have felt ashamed at feeling like that, but didn’t. I tried to stare her out, but she refused to budge.
‘Very well, Junia, you win.’
Sitting in my grandmother’s office, making faces at Helena who’d also been dragged in to help, I tried to be constructive, but it was boring. Nonna and Junia had it zipped up so all we did was drink wine and make rude comments about family members.
‘Where on earth shall we seat Lucius Mitelus Superbus?’ Junia frowned over her table plan.
‘Not next to me!’ No danger, really. I was on the top table and he was a nobody. His wife Valeria was nearer as a second cousin.
‘Nor me,’ squeaked Helena, realising she was much more vulnerable. ‘Gods, if anybody had an appropriate cognomen , it’s him!’ She was right: he thought his branch should be senior with him as head of the family. He was a pretentious, arrogant jerk with bad breath and a creepy smile. Although I knew this social stuff was important to the family’s powerbase, I didn’t need it when I was trying to concentrate on the operation. I yawned.
My grandmother looked down her long nose at me and said briskly, ‘Well, I think we’ll finish for now – Carina Mitela looks as if she is falling asleep. We’d better not disturb her.’
Junia and Helena sat there immobile and silent.
‘I apologise, Nonna, I did not intend to be impolite.’
‘We sometimes have to turn our efforts to less welcome areas and carry out duties towards others which we would rather avoid.’
She frowned at me like Mr Olsen, my high school principal, used to when I’d failed an easy exam. I felt fifteen years old and just as embarrassed.
I was still smarting from my grandmother’s reprimand as I gulped down my coffee. I hated being in the wrong. It overshadowed all the right things you’d done and crippled your judgement of things you still had to do. But she was right. I had a privileged position and needed to pay some attention to the balancing obligations and responsibilities. But I didn’t have to like it.
When I decided I’d beaten myself up for a sufficient time, I went along to the nursery to see the children as they went to bed. Conrad was already there, tickling Tonia’s toes while she giggled hysterically. Around the corner, Allegra was combing her hair in front of her mirror. She stared intently at her reflection; her mouth was set in a straight line. Such a solemn face for a six-year-old. She’d inherited my bright blue eyes, but the red brown hair came from my mother. I picked Gil up, kissed him. He smiled. My heart fluttered. He giggled and burrowed his head into the fold of my arm. Allegra broke her gaze and still carrying Gil, I went through into her room.
‘Hello, darling,’ I said. ‘You look as if you have some serious thoughts in there.’ I stroked her forehead.
‘Great Nonna says I’ll have a long tunic and palla for the family day and must behave
Back home, I went for a swim. We had a beautiful pool in the basement. Irrationally, I regarded it as my personal property and, more rationally, tried to use it every day. The hypnotic rhythm of length after length, back and forth, in the warm, moist atmosphere settled my thoughts as well as calming my body. Water flowing intimately over my skin always gave me physical pleasure. Dappled light dancing on the mosaic walls enhanced the seductive dream-like ambiance in the pool area. I felt myself blending with the water and drifting…
My semi-stupor was broken by a discreet cough.
‘Sorry to interrupt you, lady, but the Countess would like us to meet in half an hour’s time to discuss the family day.’
Crap. I swam over to the edge where Junia stood like some implacable messenger from the gods.
‘We’ve postponed it twice.’
Hours of talking nicely to, let’s be honest, fairly boring people who all they shared with you was a name and a few genes. I should have felt ashamed at feeling like that, but didn’t. I tried to stare her out, but she refused to budge.
‘Very well, Junia, you win.’
Sitting in my grandmother’s office, making faces at Helena who’d also been dragged in to help, I tried to be constructive, but it was boring. Nonna and Junia had it zipped up so all we did was drink wine and make rude comments about family members.
‘Where on earth shall we seat Lucius Mitelus Superbus?’ Junia frowned over her table plan.
‘Not next to me!’ No danger, really. I was on the top table and he was a nobody. His wife Valeria was nearer as a second cousin.
‘Nor me,’ squeaked Helena, realising she was much more vulnerable. ‘Gods, if anybody had an appropriate cognomen , it’s him!’ She was right: he thought his branch should be senior with him as head of the family. He was a pretentious, arrogant jerk with bad breath and a creepy smile. Although I knew this social stuff was important to the family’s powerbase, I didn’t need it when I was trying to concentrate on the operation. I yawned.
My grandmother looked down her long nose at me and said briskly, ‘Well, I think we’ll finish for now – Carina Mitela looks as if she is falling asleep. We’d better not disturb her.’
Junia and Helena sat there immobile and silent.
‘I apologise, Nonna, I did not intend to be impolite.’
‘We sometimes have to turn our efforts to less welcome areas and carry out duties towards others which we would rather avoid.’
She frowned at me like Mr Olsen, my high school principal, used to when I’d failed an easy exam. I felt fifteen years old and just as embarrassed.
I was still smarting from my grandmother’s reprimand as I gulped down my coffee. I hated being in the wrong. It overshadowed all the right things you’d done and crippled your judgement of things you still had to do. But she was right. I had a privileged position and needed to pay some attention to the balancing obligations and responsibilities. But I didn’t have to like it.
When I decided I’d beaten myself up for a sufficient time, I went along to the nursery to see the children as they went to bed. Conrad was already there, tickling Tonia’s toes while she giggled hysterically. Around the corner, Allegra was combing her hair in front of her mirror. She stared intently at her reflection; her mouth was set in a straight line. Such a solemn face for a six-year-old. She’d inherited my bright blue eyes, but the red brown hair came from my mother. I picked Gil up, kissed him. He smiled. My heart fluttered. He giggled and burrowed his head into the fold of my arm. Allegra broke her gaze and still carrying Gil, I went through into her room.
‘Hello, darling,’ I said. ‘You look as if you have some serious thoughts in there.’ I stroked her forehead.
‘Great Nonna says I’ll have a long tunic and palla for the family day and must behave
Similar Books
