was wonderful, thank you.’
‘And Dr Bonetti?’
‘His wife has been taken into emergency surgery, but I’m afraid that’s all I know.’
Emergency surgery? That didn’t sound good.
‘Let us hope she pulls through. Alexis Bonetti is a strong woman—I’m sure her constitution will hold her in good stead.’
She nodded. ‘I hope so.’
‘May I offer you a refreshment before we settle down?’
‘I’m fine, thank you. Sergio had some coffee brought to my room.’
‘Excellent.’
He stared at her for a moment more and then indicated that maybe they should sit down at one of the tables on the sun terrace. He pulled out a chair for her, and she smiled her thanks at him as she sat down.
He sat opposite. ‘Well, I’ll try not to keep you here too long. I just need my yearly physical to be carried out. Dr Bonetti usually does the deed, but this year it will be down to you—if that’s all right?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘He usually runs a barrage of tests—I’m sure there’s a list somewhere. And then, if I’m all okay, he signs me off for another year.’
‘I know what to do—don’t worry. He emailed me your file, with a list of assessments I need to put you through and the paperwork that needs filling out.’ Dr Szenac smiled. ‘According to your file you’re in very good health, and your last couple of physicals had you back at full health after your...’ she looked uncomfortable ‘...blip.’
‘My kidnapping. Yes. Well... Two years in a cave, will do that to any man.’
She nodded. ‘Yes. My apologies for bringing it up.’
‘Not at all. My therapist says it’s good to talk about it. The more often the better.’
She smiled her thanks.
He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable, so he tried to change the subject. ‘You’re originally from Poland?’
‘Yes. Krakow.’
‘I’ve never been there. What’s it like?’
‘I don’t know. I haven’t been there for years. I just remember the grey and the cold.’
He saw her shiver and it intrigued him that she could still feel it, all these years later, just thinking about it.
‘When did you move here?’
‘When my mother died. My father was...away, and I had no one else except for my Aunt Carolina, who lives here.’
‘On Isla Tamoura?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I’m very glad you’re here.’ He smiled.
She nodded. ‘Yes. Me too.’
WHEN KRYSTIANA WOKE the next morning, the first thing she did was reach over and turn off her night-light. It was an automatic thing—something she hardly noticed doing—but today when she did so she stared at it for a moment, wondering if Crown Prince Matteo had one too.
For two years he’d been stuck in a cave. Was he now afraid of the dark?
Throwing off the bedcovers, she got up and threw open the double doors to the sun terrace. The fragrant air poured in and she closed her eyes for a moment as the warm rays from the sun caressed her skin. This was what she loved about living here. The warmth. The colour. The heat. The beauty of this treasured isle.
How fortunate that her aunt lived here. It had been exactly what she had needed after her experience at the hands of her father—to leave such an ugly existence behind and come to a place that only had beauty at its core. There had been a new language to learn, but wonderful, loving, passionate people to support her. New friends. A new life. Isla Tamoura had given her a new beginning, a new hope, and she loved it here so much.
Krystiana took a quick shower and braided her long hair into its usual plait, donned a summery dress and sat down to eat the breakfast that had been brought in on a tray. She was used to eating breakfast alone. She quite enjoyed it. But this time, before her day started, she grabbed her pad and pencils and began sketching the view from her balcony. This afternoon she would be going home again, so there was no time to spare.
Her sketch was vague. Outlines and shapes. She would fill in the colour later, allowing her imagination to take flight. She took a couple of quick photos using her phone.
She almost lost track of time, and when she did glance at her watch she saw there were only a few minutes until nine o clock—her scheduled time to give the Prince his yearly physical. She left her pad and pencil on the bed, finished her orange juice and then pulled the sash to call Sergio. She wasn’t sure exactly where in the palace the examination would take place.
Sergio arrived, looking as perfectly presented as always. ‘Good morning, Dr Szenac. I hope you slept well?’
‘Very well, Sergio, thank you. I have my appointment with His Highness Prince Matteo, to start his physical, but I’m not sure where I have to go.’
He nodded. ‘I believe you are expected in the private gym. Dr Bonetti always carries out the yearly check-ups there.’
‘Thank you.’ She’d had no idea the palace had its own gym—but, then again, why wouldn’t it? Matteo and his family could hardly pop out to the local leisure centre if they wanted to lift a few weights, could they?
Sergio led her through the palace, down long tapestry-filled hallways, past vast vases so big she could have climbed inside and not been seen even standing upright. They passed a coat of arms, a suit of armour, and fireplaces filled with flowers, until he brought her to a set of double doors.
‘The gym, Dr Szenac. All of Dr Bonetti’s equipment has been laid out for you, and the computer has been set up for you to enter the results of each test for the record.’
‘Thank you—that’s very kind.’
‘The computer isn’t likely to be difficult, but if you do have any queries we have an IT expert on hand.’
‘That’s marvellous.’
Sergio smiled and opened the doors.
The gym was filled with all types of equipment—treadmills, stair-masters, weight machines, free-standing weights, workout equipment, yoga mats. Anything and everything seemed to be here, and one wall was made of glass that revealed a room beyond filled with a full-length swimming pool.
Pretty impressive!
But she didn’t have
