Indiscretions - Elizabeth Adler [66]
The villa sat at the end of a long, straight avenue of poplars, bent and dripping beneath their burden of rain. It looked gloomy and uninviting as they stepped from the taxi, and India huddled under the portico, waiting while Fabrizio settled with the driver and arranged for him to pick them up on Sunday morning.
“The servants were told to expect us,” he said, pressing the bell.
India watched the lights of the taxi disappear down the driveway, leaving them alone in darkness. Fabrizio rang the bell again—and again they waited. The rain on the roof of the portico sounded even louder in the silence.
Fabrizio lifted the heavy iron knocker and rapped at the door. “Damn it, where is everyone?” he demanded. “Hello, anyone home?”
“I sure as hell hope so,” murmured India. What if there was really no one here and they were stuck in the middle of nowhere—on a night like this? So much for an illicit romantic weekend!
“Wait here,” commanded Fabrizio. “I’ll go and find the servants.”
“But Fabrizio—what if there are no servants?”
He was already down the steps and heading for the corner of the house. “There are always servants.”
His voice sounded angry and India hoped he was right. She peered nervously into the darkness. Faint rustlings in the undergrowth and the soughing of the wind in the trees brought back memories of every creepy movie she had ever laughed over—only, now they didn’t seem funny. She pressed closer to the door and prayed that Fabrizio wouldn’t be long.
Five minutes passed. India hugged her fur jacket around her; it was freezing standing here, there was no escape from that wind. She checked her watch again—another five minutes. Damn it, where was Fabrizio? Surely he should have found someone by now? A branch cracked like a pistol shot, crashing to the ground somewhere in the darkness along the avenue. What was that? Where was Fabrizio?—Where was everybody? She couldn’t bear to wait here any longer, she’d go and find him. He’d turned right, heading for the back of the house, hadn’t he?
Keeping close to the wall, India hurried after him, tripping over ornamental statues and urns in the darkness. Every window was shuttered, so even if there were anyone inside it would have been impossible to catch so much as a gleam of light, but of course the owners were away and all the main rooms would be closed. Fabrizio bad been looking for the servants’ quarters. An arched gate led around the side of the villa, and India peered through it hesitantly. You’re just being silly, she told herself sternly, of course there’s no one there, there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Lifting her chin she strode through the arch and walked a few steps. If anything, it was even darker here than at the front of the house, and she paused uneasily.
“Fabrizio?” Her voice drifted tentatively on the wind. She listened hard, but there was only the sound of the rain flinging itself against the walls of the villa. “Fabrizio?” She called louder this time and strained her ears for a reply. Something must have happened to him. Oh, God, and she was here all alone without a car, probably miles from the nearest town. Panic gripped her. It was a couple of seconds before she realized that she had heard something, a different sound—yet familiar. A footstep on the gravel. India stood rooted to the spot, straining her ears. Yes, there it was again. Panic stricken, she turned and ran back through the arch—and straight into the man on the other side.
“India! Where the hell have you been?” Fabrizio grasped her by the shoulders. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“Fabrizio. Oh, thank God.” Her knees felt weak with relief. “I thought something had happened to you. You were gone so long I got scared.”
“What is there to be scared of? If you’d stayed put you wouldn’t be this wet. Now we’re both soaked!”
“Where are the servants?”
“What servants?” asked Fabrizio bitterly.
“Those servants who are always here—remember?”
“There’s no one here. There must have been some