Read Online temptation in florence 04 - expected in death by Beate Boeker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Beate Boeker
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When would they start to laugh and realize this was all a joke? She looked at the faces around her. A few were pretending to focus on their plates, embarrassed by Aunt Violetta's antics, but most showed open admiration for Violetta's theater production and were clearly impatient to see the next act. She willed herself to look at Garini. At times like these, she wondered how long he would stick to her and her unpredictable family.
He was surveying the action without twitching a muscle. His face looked as if it were carved of stone and didn't give anything away.
Oh, Madonna. Carlina sighed. She went to her mother, took the parcel Aunt Violetta had not deemed worthy of attention, and held it out once again to the ancient lady. “You should really try on these shoes, Aunt Violetta. You'll like the color. I know Mama chose the wool especially for you. It's violet.”
A withering glance reduced her to silence. “Don't take me for a fool, Carlina. And I never liked violet. I prefer black. Besides, I'm not trying on shoes in the middle of eating my dinner.”
As nobody had started to eat yet, it was a gross exaggeration, but nobody pointed that out. Aunt Violetta turned her head like a turtle and addressed Uncle Teo. “They say there's no fool like an old fool, Teo. How can you fall for a scheming woman like that Olga? Don't you remember her history? Besides, she's much too young for you.”
Uncle Teo pulled his bushy eyebrows together and returned her stare with dignity. “That history is quite old, my dear. I think we should let the past go and concentrate on the future.”
“You can't forget the past!” Aunt Violetta's voice filled the room without the slightest difficulty, though by now, it was quiet as a grave because the family hardly dared to breathe for fear of missing a single word of this highly entertaining dispute. “The past is the base of everything that happens today! People don't change drastically, believe me. Their characters are done when they're born, and you just apply a thin layer of civilization with all that education and stuff--” she made a dismissive movement with her hand, “-- but after the age of sixty-five, most of that thin layer falls off again,--”
“--as amply proven by yourself.” Olga's words cut into her speech and fell into a silence that turned from appreciative to stunned. All eyes were on her. She lifted her chin and eyed the assembled Mantoni family with an hauteur that was fit for a Queen. “As I'm obviously not welcome here, I will leave.”
She started to leave the room, but before she could reach the door, Uncle Teo addressed them all. “I'm ashamed of all of you. You should rethink your position.” He followed Olga, and the last thing they saw was his arm, draped comfortingly over her thin shoulders.
Aunt Violetta snorted like an old horse. “Men. He's infatuated. It's obvious that we need to help him. He won't get out of the snares of that one all on his own. I'll think of something.” She looked around the table. “But let's eat first. There is no reason to overcook the pasta.”
Chapter 6
I
Carlina's heart hammered in her chest as she stood at Uncle Teo's door the next evening. She didn't usually meddle in other's people businesses, but she had the feeling that now was the right time to make an exception. Still, she felt ill at ease and wished she were somewhere else. Anywhere, in fact, but in front of Uncle Teo's door. She knocked and waited.
Nothing. In the distance, she heard the bells of Santa Croce chime the hour. Seven o'clock. Her throat closed. How she loved this house. She would miss the bells. She cocked her head. Still nothing. What if something had happened to Uncle Teo? Was Olga with him? She rang again.
Finally, just as she was considering using her own key to get into the apartment, she heard Uncle Teo's shuffling steps. He opened the door in slow motion.
“Uncle Teo! Are you all right?”
He looked tired, and his usually impeccable
He was surveying the action without twitching a muscle. His face looked as if it were carved of stone and didn't give anything away.
Oh, Madonna. Carlina sighed. She went to her mother, took the parcel Aunt Violetta had not deemed worthy of attention, and held it out once again to the ancient lady. “You should really try on these shoes, Aunt Violetta. You'll like the color. I know Mama chose the wool especially for you. It's violet.”
A withering glance reduced her to silence. “Don't take me for a fool, Carlina. And I never liked violet. I prefer black. Besides, I'm not trying on shoes in the middle of eating my dinner.”
As nobody had started to eat yet, it was a gross exaggeration, but nobody pointed that out. Aunt Violetta turned her head like a turtle and addressed Uncle Teo. “They say there's no fool like an old fool, Teo. How can you fall for a scheming woman like that Olga? Don't you remember her history? Besides, she's much too young for you.”
Uncle Teo pulled his bushy eyebrows together and returned her stare with dignity. “That history is quite old, my dear. I think we should let the past go and concentrate on the future.”
“You can't forget the past!” Aunt Violetta's voice filled the room without the slightest difficulty, though by now, it was quiet as a grave because the family hardly dared to breathe for fear of missing a single word of this highly entertaining dispute. “The past is the base of everything that happens today! People don't change drastically, believe me. Their characters are done when they're born, and you just apply a thin layer of civilization with all that education and stuff--” she made a dismissive movement with her hand, “-- but after the age of sixty-five, most of that thin layer falls off again,--”
“--as amply proven by yourself.” Olga's words cut into her speech and fell into a silence that turned from appreciative to stunned. All eyes were on her. She lifted her chin and eyed the assembled Mantoni family with an hauteur that was fit for a Queen. “As I'm obviously not welcome here, I will leave.”
She started to leave the room, but before she could reach the door, Uncle Teo addressed them all. “I'm ashamed of all of you. You should rethink your position.” He followed Olga, and the last thing they saw was his arm, draped comfortingly over her thin shoulders.
Aunt Violetta snorted like an old horse. “Men. He's infatuated. It's obvious that we need to help him. He won't get out of the snares of that one all on his own. I'll think of something.” She looked around the table. “But let's eat first. There is no reason to overcook the pasta.”
Chapter 6
I
Carlina's heart hammered in her chest as she stood at Uncle Teo's door the next evening. She didn't usually meddle in other's people businesses, but she had the feeling that now was the right time to make an exception. Still, she felt ill at ease and wished she were somewhere else. Anywhere, in fact, but in front of Uncle Teo's door. She knocked and waited.
Nothing. In the distance, she heard the bells of Santa Croce chime the hour. Seven o'clock. Her throat closed. How she loved this house. She would miss the bells. She cocked her head. Still nothing. What if something had happened to Uncle Teo? Was Olga with him? She rang again.
Finally, just as she was considering using her own key to get into the apartment, she heard Uncle Teo's shuffling steps. He opened the door in slow motion.
“Uncle Teo! Are you all right?”
He looked tired, and his usually impeccable
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