An hour later she was downstairs, dressed in a short white flared cotton designer skirt, small pink T-shirt and matching flat fifties-style shoes.
‘I hope you slept well?’ the Prince said when she joined him at the breakfast table.
Victoria smiled, noted how attractive he looked, dressed in jeans and a white polo shirt.
‘Great, thanks.’
‘Please sit down.’ He’d risen to greet her and now they both sat at the glass table laid with attractive ceramic crockery. Not at all palatial, she thought with a tiny smile, feeling at ease as she sipped a delicious glass of chilled orange juice.
‘I have taken the liberty of asking my doctor to come after breakfast and check you over. Then, I thought I would take you around the island, and we can lunch on board my yacht, the Mona Lisa.’
‘Well, that’s very kind. But I feel fine, and am sure I don’t need medical assistance.’
‘Perhaps. But indulge me and see Dottore Manfreddo. He is the Royal Physician and a delightful character. That way we’ll both be assured that you are all right and we can forget that whole incident—okay?’
‘All right,’ she agreed with a reluctant smile.
‘As soon as you’re finished with him we’ll set sail.’
‘I’d love to. By the way, you suggested that I look at some property while I’m here. I think that’s a good idea. I might as well make good use of my time,’ she said, breathing in the gorgeous day, looking out over the cliff at the superb view, clearer now that the heat haze had subsided.
‘Perfect. I can arrange for someone to show us something tomorrow.’
‘Great.’ Victoria realised that she hadn’t felt so good in a long time. There was something so agreeable and easy about Rodolfo that she’d never encountered in any man before. Not that she knew that many men, she realised ruefully. But Rodolfo seemed interested in her, and her life, and she was able to forget that he was a prince, that his reality was so different from hers.
Together they enjoyed a pleasant and interesting conversation over the delicious array of fruit and pastries set before her. ‘Gosh, I’ll have to be careful not to get fat here,’ she remarked, laughing.
‘I don’t see any danger of that happening,’ he answered, his eyes fleeting over her in that same scrutinizing, yet admiring manner they had yesterday. ‘Now, come. The doctor will be here any moment.’
‘SO, SIGNORINA, how are you feeling?’
‘I’m fine. Better than I’ve felt in a while.’
‘Good.’ The elderly doctor smiled a wrinkled but reassuring smile and placed his index finger on her pulse. ‘Your heart-rate seems perfect. No palpitations or shakiness since you have stopped taking the medication?’
‘No. I don’t even feel that I need it.’
‘Excellent,’ he approved. ‘I think you have been lucky, young lady. In fact you haven’t taken enough for it to harm you in the long run. But what will you do when you have to face a similar situation again?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I’ll just have to cross that river when I come to it?’
‘If you permit, I have another suggestion. Here in Malvarina we are very knowledgeable regarding herbal remedies and teas. There is a special tea, made of a local herb, that soothes the nerves without causing any harm to your system. I would recommend you take some with you when you leave. Sometimes, if you are feeling tense, you can have a nice cup of this brew and you will feel more relaxed without doing yourself any harm whatsoever. It is well known on the island. I drink it myself sometimes.’
‘Thank you, Doctor. That would be wonderful.’
‘Now, I want you to relax and take it easy for a few days—forget all this nonsense and enjoy yourself. That is the best way to recover.’
They both rose and shook hands.
‘Thank you again, Doctor. It was very nice of you to come.’
‘Not at all. Any request of the Prince’s is a pleasure.’
They walked out into the drawing room, where Rodolfo was waiting. ‘Everything okay, Doctor?’ he said frowning slightly.
‘Absolutely fine. Victoria is a healthy young woman and has not suffered any side-effects from the pills. I believe she did not take them long enough for them to harm her.’
‘Good.’ He let out a sigh of relief and smiled. ‘Thanks, Dottore.’
‘I recommended some of our special island tea. I’ll have some sent over later.’
‘Good idea.’
They all shook hands, then the doctor departed, leaving them alone.
‘Let’s go and enjoy the day.’ Rodolfo took her hand and together they walked towards the courtyard, where they’d arrived. A silver Porsche convertible stood gleaming in the sun. ‘Jump in,’ he said, opening the door for her, ‘and let’s go for a spin.’
Victoria sat in the car, hair blowing in the breeze. She loved the island immediately, the scent of the orange and lemon trees, the lovely faded terracotta houses peering lazily from behind olive groves overlooking the sea. There was a gentle sense of peace in this place, and a pace of life that she identified with.
With time to explore Malvaritza, she could see that all its charm had been preserved: there was a small crooked church in the main square, which was bordered by little cafés where some old men played backgammon and others drank coffee and passed the time of day. As Rodolfo had promised, the town also housed some lovely shops, filled with exclusive designer brands and jewellery and also quaint boutiques. But all this was incorporated into the architecture and atmosphere with such extreme good taste and grace that it didn’t spoil the overall feel of the place.
The town, she realised as they drove on down towards the sea—in fact the whole island—was like Rodolfo: tranquil, elegant and charming.
Soon they were entering a little fishing port below, and she could see a large yacht at anchor and wondered if that was the Mona Lisa.
Just as she was about to ask, Rodolfo pointed out to sea. ‘There she is,’ he said, a touch of pride in his voice. ‘I had her built three years ago.’
‘She’s beautiful,’ Victoria exclaimed, shading her eyes to take a better look at the vessel. She could see a small motor boat steered by a uniformed sailor approaching the shoreline as they parked the Porsche.
Minutes later they were on board the yacht. Leaning against the deck rail, Victoria sighed as the craft raised anchor and the vessel glided out to sea. Rodolfo stood next to her in the stern and together they watched the island recede.
‘You’re right about Malvarina, and I take back all the nasty things I said the other night in Cannes. It truly is a beautiful spot.’ Victoria smiled, relaxed now, the soft wind mussing her hair as she gazed over the side at the white ripples of the wake.
‘But not as beautiful as you,’ Rodolfo said softly, slipping a hand over hers.
Victoria swallowed. There was a choice to be made: she could pull her fingers away and pretend that