The Troika Dolls - Miranda Darling [169]
‘He’s a businessman. I have to believe I’m not worth the expense or the effort. Out of sight, out of mind.’ Her eyes were on the tips of the Alps on the far side of the lake. ‘Anyway, I could use a long holiday.’
Stevie hoped she sounded resolute and brave, because she didn’t feel it.
The ferry master had climbed on board unnoticed. He switched on the ship’s PA system and a beautiful voice as lonely as a star drifted out and swirled around the boat. Stevie recognised it immediately—it was singing ‘Casta Diva’, an aria from Bellini’s opera, Norma.
The dark voice sent shivers across Stevie’s shoulders. It could belong only to Maria Callas.
She turned to Henning. ‘I think the captain thinks we’re lovers.’
Henning looked down at Stevie, his blue eyes burning now. ‘Aren’t we?’
Stevie waited, looking everywhere for her courage. Finally, shyly, she said, ‘Well, not yet.’
Then Henning smiled like the sun. Stevie felt suddenly warm. She moved closer to him and, not quite tall enough to reach his shoulder, she leaned her head against his chest. Henning drew her in close and held her.
On the far side of the lake, a ray of sunlight struggled through the clouds and hung like a gold rope against the dark sky.
It had to be a sign, thought Stevie, something good.
The ferry master appeared on deck and stood to one side, looking out.
‘Hear that?’ he grunted.
There was a groaning, cracking sound. Stevie heard it again—and now the sound was all around them, like whales meeting and bridges falling, loud and eerie.
‘The ice is moving,’ said the ferry master, leaning on the rails.
‘Spring is coming.’
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Sophie Edelstein, Rosie Garthwaite, Catriona McFar-lane, Rowan Lawton, Lilia Osadchuk, Jason Darling, and Daniel Darling for generously sharing their expertise with me. Fran Moore at Curtis Brown deserves many thanks for her support of me, and of this book, as do Jane Palfreyman, Ann Lennox, Alex Nahlous and the rest of the team at Allen & Unwin. Thank you to my parents, Michael and Manuela, per tutto, and to the Wieland family for their frequent and generous hospitality. Finally, an enormous thank you to my husband Nick, whose support makes the impossible possible.
Grazie a tutti.
Table of Contents
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
DEDICATION
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS