Chapter 7
“Right, you can open your eyes now.”
Fabrizio had woken me up early that day, telling me he had a special surprise for me. We had come a long way from Paternò in the carriage and suddenly he exclaimed, “We're nearly there. Now promise me you won't look yet.”
I laughed, going along with the game.
When he took his hand away, the scene before my eyes was unreal. We were in a grove of ancient olive trees and the view extended for ever over rolling hills. On the right was a small river with a stone bridge over it, the banks lined with almond and orange trees, which filled the air with their fragrance. In the distance I could see a house made of ochre coloured stone surrounded by rows of vines. I half closed my eyes, dazzled by the intensity of the light and the seductive depths of
