The Mystery, page 11
Arriving at the harbour, the boat was ready for them to leave with the same skipper and steward onboard. The champagne and flutes had been replaced by acqua frizzante and plastic glasses that both Valentina and Jean Claude drank on the top deck as they sailed away across the lake from Cadenabbia to Varenna.
On arrival at Varenna, Valentina was conscious of her attire and didn’t want any of the public to notice her, in case they were to think she looked like ‘a lady of the night’.
Luckily, the boat came in at a private jetty, so there was no one around to see her.
Jean Claude escorted her back to her car where she had parked in the private car park connected to the jetty.
He thanked her once again for accepting his invitation to dinner and reminded her, that on his return from Maggiore, he would contact her for a possible second dinner date.
“I don’t think so,” Valentina sang to herself in her mind.
She bid him farewell, quickly jumped in her car and sped off towards home. She couldn’t quite make him out. There was something sinister about this man, but what?
Chapter 11
Mystery in Maggiore
It was Sunday, a day of rest. After a leisurely shower and a change of clothes, Valentina telephoned her daughter to ask about her weekend with Antonio. Francesca told her mother she was doing fine and that Isabella was finding lots of happiness and comfort from playing with the dogs.
“How is your weekend going so far, Mamma?” Francesca asked. “I’m sure you’ve deserved a well-earned rest after last week’s occurrences,” she continued.
“Yes, darling,” she answered, “but there is something I need to discuss with you when I see you tomorrow.”
“What is it?” Francesca anxiously inquired.
“Oh, it can wait until tomorrow, honey; it’s something I would rather not discuss on the phone.”
“Oh OK then, Mamma, what time shall I expect you?”
“At what time would you like me there, honey?” her mother asked.
“Is 10 o’clock okay?”
“Yes, darling, 10 is fine. I have a few things to sort out right now, so have a good day and I’ll see you tomorrow. Ciao, honey, take care.”
“Ciao, Mamma, see you in the morning,” Francesca answered.
Valentina sighed, took a long look at her cell phone then attempted once again to call James. The call was instantly diverted to answerphone but Valentina could not bring herself to leave him a voicemail.
She began to hatch a plan. Taking her laptop from its case, she looked up Hotel Villa Carlotta, remembering that this would be James’ home for the next five days; having said that he would be there initially for ten. Valentina thought long and hard about taking an independent trip to the hotel, as she needed to confront him. He had left her feeling hurt and confused and in view of the fact, he hadn’t called her, she needed some answers.
She made a conscious decision that she would take the trip, but after she had discussed it with her daughter Francesca the following morning. From there, she would book her hotel reservation and her coach ticket. She began to feel excited though a little anxious in anticipation of seeing James again. She then reverted her focus to the future and began to consider setting up her interior design business. With her laptop still open, she began to look for premises she could rent in Varenna or Bellagio.
After an hour or so of looking for a property, she found what looked to be ideal premises to set up a business. As well as her intentional trip to Maggiore, Valentina decided she would tomorrow, make enquiries on the three potential properties that she had just discovered on the net. An air of excitement engulfed her as she thought about a positive future, possibly with James.
At 9:00 am prompt, Valentina made a call to the estate agents to inquire about the three potential properties she had seen the day before, and made the necessary appointments to view each one the following morning. It was 9:55 am precisely when she arrived at Francesca’s villa. With a confident spring in her step, she walked through the door.
“Good morning, Mamma, you look positively happy this morning,” Francesca commented to her mother.
“Yes, darling, I am, I’ll tell you all about it over coffee,” she replied.
As usual, Margherita was pottering about in the kitchen preparing brunch, Isabella happily playing with Fifi and Ciao-ciao, and of course, Antonio had left for work.
“So how are you feeling today?” Valentina asked her daughter who was looking a little stronger.
“Yes, I’m feeling stronger and have lots more energy now, still a little sore over my operation site,” she answered.
Margherita then entered the room and greeted Valentina with the usual traditional Italian kiss. She went back into the kitchen to make coffee which was the usual procedure for Valentina’s arrival.
“So what is it you are so happy about?” Francesca asked her mother.
“Well, as I’m considering opening up an interior design shop again, I was looking for business premises on the net yesterday; and I’m happy to say, I’ve found three potential rental properties. I’m going to view first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Oh that’s wonderful news, Mamma, I’m really excited for you.”
“Well, nothing is definite yet, but yes, I’m excited too.”
“So that’s what you wanted to discuss with me?” she went on to ask.
Valentina drew a big breath in.
“Not exactly, darling,” she replied. “I have to take a trip, just for a day or two to Maggiore, preferably this coming Wednesday,” Valentina answered in a serious tone.
“Oh…” There was a pause then Francesca replied, “Am I allowed to ask why?”
Just at that moment, Margherita hurried in with the coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice for Isabella. Valentina remained silent as they continued to act as if nothing had been said regarding her trip.
After coffee and a little chitchat regarding their weekend, Francesca smiled at her mother and said, “Guess what? I have something to show you.” She gently rose from the sofa unaided with a beaming smile as if she had just won a marathon.
“Oh honey,” her mother beamed, “that’s wonderful progress.”
“Yes, I’m so happy that I’m beginning to gain my independence again.”
“Yes, but don’t over do it, darling, just take it easy, we don’t want you to relapse.”
“No, Mom, I won’t,” Francesca answered, mimicking her mother’s American accent.
“I’ll come with you, darling,” Valentina said as her daughter began to leave the room slowly, leaving Margherita to clear away the pots.
It was clear to Valentina her daughter needed to know in private her mother’s explanation for her trip to Maggiore, so Francesca explained to Margherita, she needed to go outside into the garden to get some fresh air and a little exercise now that she was feeling stronger.
Valentina accompanying her daughter explained how she felt about Dr Wainwright, James, and that she needed some answers to know where she stood with him. He had not been in touch since he left the previous week and she could not contact him. She did, however, know where he was staying and that he would be there for the next five days, so it was imperative she left for Maggiore before he was to leave by Friday.
“I hope you don’t think I am deserting you, Francesca, in your hour of need,” her mother asked
“Of course not, Mamma, if it’s something you have to do, to clear your own mind, then you must do it. I’ll be fine and after all, Margherita is good help. I also have Maria to help out. I need to know where you stand with this…man also. I can’t bear the thought of you being so unhappy again, if this…doctor is what you want, then you must do what you have to do in order to find out. I just hope…” There was a pause.
“Yes?” interrupted Valentina anxiously.
“I just hope he doesn’t hurt you, Mamma, that’s all.”
“Mmm, don’t worry, darling, I’m sure everything will work out fine,” her mother replied.
With their conversation over and the air cleared, mother and daughter went back inside.
Valentina explained to Margherita that she would be absent for the next two days as she had made arrangements to view premises in order to pursue her interior design business. She, of course, did not mention anything about her trip to Maggiore, as she wanted that to remain private. Margherita wished her well in her pursuit, reassuring her that Francesca was in good hands while she’d be away.
The afternoon was taken up with the usual procedures of playing with Isabella, reading her stories, walking the dogs and preparing for the family evening meal.
After dinner, Valentina kissed her family arrivederci, and promised she would contact Francesca over the next two days. It was 9:30 pm when she left her daughter’s villa to drive home.
Valentina was restless most of the night. Her thoughts of James, her trip to Maggiore, viewing the premises and the thought of the business were running through her mind over and over again. She could not sleep. At 3:00 am, Valentina went upstairs to the kitchen to make some tea. Checking her cell, she realised it needed charging. She began to plan her trip and what she would say to James once she had confronted him. Her emotions were a mixture of excitement, apprehension and anxiety.
After finishing her cup of comforting tea, she went back to her bed to try and sleep, eventually drifting off at 5 o’clock am. She knew she had to be up quite early to pursue the viewings which were booked in for 9:00 am, after which it was her intention to reserve a room at Hotel Villa Carlotta and buy her express coach ticket to Maggiore. So her alarm was set for 7:30 am.
Valentina awoke still feeling tired, but she had to ignore how she felt and took an immediate shower in the hope it would refresh her mind as well as her body.
She skipped breakfast and settled for another cup of comforting tea. After which, she was ready to pursue the day ahead. The first property she looked at was not too far from where she lived in Varenna, in the main village, situated with a view across the lake and not too far from the harbour. She liked it but wasn’t sure if it was big enough to accommodate her needs. The second and third properties were both in Bellagio, the next village to Varenna, which was reached by ferry or car. The properties were quite near to one another high up in a cobbled street but where an abundance of tourists congregated. Each property had their pros and cons, though worth considering for sure.
She explained to the estate agent she had some business to take care of in Maggiore but would think about the properties while she was away and contact them again for a second viewing on her return within the next few days.
The estate agent handed Valentina an information brochure on each of the properties which would help her deduce the most suitable one.
Having thanked one another, Valentina left to purchase her coach ticket before driving home to Varenna to pack her overnight bag and book her hotel reservation at Hotel Villa Carlotta.
At first, she thought she would book online, but then abandoned the idea in favour of calling the hotel directly.
The response from the receptionist was disappointing to Valentina. As the hotel was holding a seminar, all rooms were fully booked for the whole week, unless she wanted a full board for no less than five days. Valentina knew this wasn’t in her plan, nor was it possible in view of what she had told Francesca. Two days at the most was what she needed to conclude where she stood with James. However, the receptionist gave her the number of Hotel Milano not too far from Villa Carlotta that she claimed might have availability.
“Oh very well,” replied Valentina. “Is it possible you could tell me if Dr James Wainwright is staying at your hotel as a guest?” she asked
“I’m sorry, signora,” the receptionist replied. “We are not allowed to disclose such information with the outside public. However, it is quite possible he is one of our guests as we do have a medical seminar here this week,” she continued.
Valentina thanked the receptionist then called Hotel Milano with bated breath.
So, she thought, the venue for the seminar is at Villa Carlotta. Of course, that’s why Jean Claude is staying there.
Valentina’s second attempt at booking a room at Hotel Milano was a success! She managed to reserve a room for two nights, Tuesday and Wednesday and would be arriving later that afternoon. She felt relieved. Picking up her overnight bag, she made her way by car down to the deli for a light lunch before leaving on the 2:00 pm express coach to Maggiore, leaving her car in a nearby long-stay car park.
The journey to Maggiore took just over two hours from Como. The coach stopped at Stresa, just five kilometres from the two hotels in Belgirate, situated on the shore of Lake Maggiore, in the Gulf of the Borromean Islands and close to the Swiss Alps. The scenery, much like Como, was breathtaking. Hotel Villa Carlotta surprisingly to Valentina was a mere 300 metres from Hotel Milano, so this suited Valentina perfectly.
The hotel had 44 rooms over three floors. Valentina’s room was situated on the first floor with a spectacular view of the lake, with gentle hills encircling it. Decorated in pastel hues of pinks and blues, it reflected a feeling of much-needed relaxation. She unpacked her bag, sat down on the bed than called Francesca from her cell to let her know she had now arrived in Maggiore. Francesca wished her mother good luck and asked her to let her know the outcome of her meeting with James. Valentina agreed then resting her head on the pillow, she closed her eyes. Having had a restless and sleep deprived night, she was now feeling very tired, so dozed off to sleep.
It was almost 6 o’clock when she awoke; it was summertime and very warm. As Villa Carlotta was only 300 metres from her hotel, she decided to wander over and check it out. It was a romantic period mansion, with an oasis of peace set in the greenery of its 30,000 square metres of centuries-old garden, on the luxuriant Piedmontese shore of the lake. The restaurant, known as ‘The Winter Garden’, was covered by a glass ceiling and surrounded by glass walls and arch-shaped windows, which allowed in lots of light creating a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Central to the restaurant was an area of plants which had the look and feel of an impressive winter garden.
It was now 6:30; the restaurant staff were preparing to set up for evening dinner as Valentina walked through. On leaving the restaurant, she noticed that the doors of the seminar suite were open and a large outflow of people of both sexes walking out. As she stood to observe the crowd, she noticed a large blossom tree to her left that she prudently hid behind while she watched the congregation of people disperse.
Much to her surprise, she saw James standing in the foyer, just beside the tall wide double doors. He was in conversation with two females.
So, he is attending the seminar, Valentina thought. She began to shake as she witnessed the threesome in deep conversation, which then lapsed into fits of laughter as if they had heard a hilarious joke. Valentina felt sick. Her stomach tied up in knots. To make matters worse, she could not believe her eyes of what she witnessed next. Jean Claude Renoir joining the threesome as they all moved towards the direction of the cocktail bar.
Valentina became dizzy, her heart racing more than 100 beats per minute. She felt the urge to run, escape, but at the same time afraid, she would be seen.
She dashed through the doors of the hotel entrance and began to run as if she was being hunted by some hungry predator. Back in the safe haven of her hotel room at the Milano, she lay breathless on the bed and began to cry.
“Oh, what am I doing? Why am I here?” she asked herself, feelings of humiliation and confusion flooding through her mind. She was still trembling at the thought of James with the two other women and also the presence of Jean Claude joining their company. She began to think perhaps they were a foursome, but then she realised this kind of negativity was detrimental to her health and she needed to revert her mind to positive thinking, mindfulness of emotional intelligence and calmness. All the skills that James, Dr Wainwright had ironically taught her whilst in his care at the Nightingale.
“Keep calm, keep calm,” she repeated over and over to herself until her heart rate became normal again and the shaking subsided. She cleaned her face of the salty tears, toned and moisturised her skin, then applied foundation and a little makeup. She changed into her evening outfit then went down to the bar in the hotel, where she ordered a large martini cocktail in order to gain some Dutch courage.
Her mind was flooding with all kinds of thoughts, but she knew she still had to confront James to get some kind of conclusion to their relationship. Initially, she thought she would go back to the Villa Carlotta to seek him out in the bar, but that would not be discreet and anyway, they were probably having dinner by now. So she thought again, and this time came up with a smarter plan.
Now quite calm and composed, Valentina needed to eat. The hotel restaurant, a member of the Buon Ricordo chain, meaning ‘good memory’, was situated on the splendid large terrace directly overlooking the lake, with verandas surrounded by sliding glass walls that opened up to reveal the wonderful landscape beyond.
Having read the menu, Valentina decided on ordering a classic northern Italian dish, bollito di carne, typically from the Piedmont area. A hearty, rich and satisfying red wine stew which included three different types of meats, cloves and juniper berries, served with sliced toasted ciabatta, rubbed on both sides with fresh garlic. She chose a glass of Chianti Classico to accompany her meal, and her usual bottle of acqua frizzante. Her meal was delicious. One of the best stews she had tasted in a while.
She began a conversation in Italian with the waitress serving her table. Caterina was confident and proficient at her job. She reminded Valentina very much of her daughter Francesca, as there were certain similarities in their mannerisms and age. Valentina took very kindly to Caterina as they spoke in a way as if they had known each other for years.
During their lengthy conversation when dinner was over, it transpired that Caterina was trained in all aspects of hotel skills and that she had worked at Villa Carlotta for the past four years after graduating with a degree in hotel management, catering and event skills. She was new to the Milano but was asked to fill in at the restaurant that night for a colleague who had taken sudden leave.
