Second Chances in Chianti (Escape to Tuscany Book 2) T.A. Williams (early reader books .txt) 📖

she loved this charming and historic little city. On an impulse, she decided to go to a hair salon – for the first time in many months – in readiness for tonight. She had enough experience of Hollywood invitations to know that the instruction to come dressed in any old thing was not to be taken seriously. She had no doubt that a world-famous actress and her retinue wouldn’t turn up in shorts and scruffy T-shirts. It looked as though her Stella McCartney was going to get its second outing in five years tonight.

Conscious that she would have to walk some way up the road and then along a gravel path to get to the villa, she invested in a nice pair of sandals with just a bit of a heel. They were comfortable and would be a lot more stable than the one pair of ‘smart’ shoes with fairly high heels that she had brought. While shopping, she also bought some new underwear and told herself that this was just because she needed some, not because of any possible hook-up with Matt. Her brain told her she wasn’t even fooling herself, but she had bought it by then.

At six o’clock she let herself into the villa grounds through the side gate and walked up through the olive trees to the house. It felt strange to be arriving here as a visitor after having been a resident. She was about to ring the fine old doorbell alongside the front door when it opened and she found the red-haired woman standing there with a smile on her face and a thousand dollar dress on her back. Alice was glad her instincts to dress up had been vindicated.

‘Alice, hi. I’m Tracey.’

‘Good evening, Tracey. Thanks for the invitation.’ Seeing as she was now nominally back in Hollywood-land, she added a bit of froth. ‘And that’s a gorgeous dress. I love it.’

Tracey’s smile broadened as she returned the compliment and then led Alice through the dining room and out onto the terrace.

‘Alice, so good of you to come.’ Conrad’s voice cut across the chatter and all faces turned in her direction. ‘You look just great.’

Thanks to all her years of acting, Alice managed to keep her face from blushing, as she felt herself the object of so many eyes, and she did what she always did in these circumstances. She reminded herself of how she had felt that time on set when she had had to bare all. In comparison, this was just a walk in the park. She went across to shake hands with Conrad and he then made the introductions, starting with Felicity Winter, who was standing at his side with an unexpectedly friendly expression on her face. Alice had never met her before and she was as stunningly beautiful in the flesh as on-screen, even though she wasn’t wearing anything extravagant or outrageous. Her dress did shriek class and expense, though – definitely a long way from shorts and a T-shirt.

‘Felicity needs no introduction, does she? And, Felicity, you know this is…’

‘Polly!’ Felicity surprised Alice by reaching out, catching her by the shoulders and air-kissing her noisily, before grabbing hold of her arm excitedly. ‘My favourite character in my favourite show. I have box sets of all five series, and I regularly watch them over and over again. It’s a real pleasure to meet you in the flesh, Alice.’

Alice was genuinely impressed. It had been five years ago, after all. ‘Well, I’m even more pleased to meet a megastar like you, Felicity. I can’t tell you how many of your films I’ve seen and loved.’

At that moment Paolo materialised at Alice’s elbow with a tray of champagne. Alice took a glass, thanked him and waved the white envelope she was carrying at him.

‘By the way, Paolo, I’ve found out a lot more about that shield in the hallway. It’s all in here.’ She turned towards Conrad Chesterfield and held the envelope out to him. ‘Paolo showed me the shield when I was here before and I’ve been doing a bit of research. I’m delighted to say I think I may have found the identity of the man who used to own your villa, or at least the medieval building on whose foundations this one’s built.’

She saw interest and maybe something more on Conrad’s face. Respect maybe? He took the envelope but made no attempt to open it. ‘That’s amazing, Alice. So, go on, tell us. Who was he?’

‘It’s still not proven, but I’m ever more convinced that it might have belonged to the man who gave his name to America.’ In the general hush that followed this revelation, she added the name. ‘Amerigo Vespucci or, if not him, at least somebody from his family.’ She went on to give them a brief summary of what was laid out in her paper and she saw wonder on the faces of the listeners. Then, as she was looking round the group, her eyes suddenly alighted upon a familiar, if unwelcome, face in the background. It was Zoë, but Alice didn’t have time to consider the implications of the bad-tempered director’s presence at the villa for now.

‘Alice, that’s simply amazing.’ Conrad looked around at his family and then back at her again, his eyes shining. ‘So you think my house might have started life belonging to the man who discovered America? That’s awesome.’

It turned out to be a most enjoyable evening. Even Zoë was on her best behaviour and came over to deliver air-kisses with every appearance of warmth, although Alice knew of old just how good an act her old director could put on. She was introduced to the rest of Conrad’s family, and found them friendly and welcoming. His other daughter, Silvia, and her two little children were very pleasant. Unsurprisingly, her husband was also involved in the TV business.

It soon emerged that they had all seen the results of Carrie’s revenge upon Richie, and Alice was mightily relieved to find that