From the Baroness’s Diary III

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

I smile at my dear Chloé as we drive back to the winery, a two-hour ride across rolling hills and valleys. She has her hand in mine, but her face is tilted to the window, gasping in wonder at every picturesque tableau presented to her.

“Do you like it here?” I ask her, proud that she will now see the country I love so much.

“Oui. Oh, oui. How could I not?”

“Well, the main winery is even more beautiful than this. The land has been in my family for centuries,” I say to her. “You will like it just as much as I do, I am sure.”

“You say it is quite big, no?”

“Oh, very. We supply a great deal of wine that is consumed in the surrounding towns,” I explain. “My father had very different ideas about how to plant and harvest our grapes. It was difficult at first, but eventually people came around, and our wineries are the finest in all of Italy.”

“But how do you manage such a large operation?”

“It was difficult at first, I’ll admit. But once miei fratelli and I got it right, all improved.”

“Oh. Your brothers?”

“Yes. I have a younger one, and an older one. We are very close, and I’m very proud of them. You’ll meet them today.”

She clasps a hand over her chest. “I’m very excited to meet them! I can hardly wait.”

“And they can hardly wait to meet you, Cara. They’ve heard much about you. All good.” I pat her hand as we drive down the wooded, narrow lane which ends in the winery. We bump along the dirt road, lined with tall cypresses until the villa comes into view, with its sun-dappled windows, green shutters, and burnt-orange plaster walls.

Though I’ve come home to this view a thousand times, I, myself, sigh at the beauty at it.

Beside me, Chloé is speechless. She squeezes my hand tightly. “It is like something from a dream.” She shuffles to the edge of her seat to get a better look.

I pull up to the front of the house, kicking up gravel in the C-shaped driveway. I see Anna Milo’s face in the window, and it quickly disappears. The front door opens as we’re getting out into the bright sunshine, and Anna steps out. “Ciau, Anna.”

She takes one look at Chloé and backs into the house.

“Anna is the orphaned daughter of my older brother’s best friend. My mother and he took her under their wings to help the girl. She’s not very—” I stop myself before I complete my thoughts that Anna is not very easy-going. I don’t need to caution Chloé against her because I don’t even know if she is staying. Plus, Anna is just a troubled, too pampered teenager made an orphan who needs all the love we could give. “She’s shy and still young. A country girl.”

“I’m sure I will like her very much.”

I reach into the back of the automobile and pull out her bags. “I can’t wait for you to meet my brothers.”