“I believe you’re right, Justine,” Antonietta agreed.
“Please give Joie Sanders a call and let her know I need an appointment. Ask if she would be willing to come here to the palazzo.”
“I’ll set it up immediately. Sanders is renowned for her security measures, but she’s very hard to get. She might be able to recommend someone to us though. Shall I cancel your performance at the local charity event next week?”
Antonietta shook her head. “No, it’s for a good cause. But I want
Nonno
protected, too; that’s important, Justine. See to it that our security people keep a close eye on him until I can work something out with Sanders.”
Don Giovanni hurried into the hall, his breathing heavy from trying to run. “What is it, what has she done? Franco, is she going to be all right?” His usual authoritative voice trembled.
“We’ll take her to the hospital,
Nonno
,” Franco said gently. “They will fix up Margurite’s leg in no time.”
“Sit down,
Nonno
,” Tasha said, concerned. “Toni has taken some of the pain away, and Margurite is much more comfortable.” Quickly she hugged the child’s shoulders in reassurance. “You’re so brave,
cara mia
. Isn’t she brave, Toni?”
“Very brave.” Antonietta kissed the top of the child’s head, still keeping contact with the little leg in hopes of keeping the pain at bay.
The child fumbled until she managed to clutch Antonietta’s sleeve. “Am I a true Scarletti then?”
Tasha made a single sound, turned her head to glare at Franco, angry that Marita’s continual nagging made the child insecure. “You have always been a Scarletti, Margurite. You are brave and wonderful and a joy to us all. Isn’t she, Toni? Franco?”
“Margurite, you are a Scarletti through and through,” Antonietta agreed instantly.
“You have always been just like me, Margurite,” Franco said, kissing the top of the child’s head. “Hasn’t she
Nonno
?”
“You have your father’s eyes and his sunny disposition,” Don Giovanni assured.
“Signorina Scarletti, the ambulance is here,” Helena announced. “This way.” She waved the attendants through.
“
Grazie
, Helena,” Antonietta acknowledged. She trusted Justine to guide the medics around the debris and to the child. After an examination and a brief discussion with Franco, it was agreed they must move Margurite to the hospital where her leg could be properly looked after.
“Please make certain there is no pain,” Tasha pleaded, hugging the child protectively. “We’ve waited a long time for you, and she’s very frightened.”
“We will see to it that she does not hurt more than necessary,” the attendant assured. “We can give her pain medication to help while we move her.”
Antonietta waited until Margurite was settled in the ambulance with her father and Tasha and was on her way to the hospital before attempting to sort out the damages. “Justine, make certain the area is cordoned off so no one touches anything and none of the maids attempt to clean this up before the police have a chance to take a look at everything.” She knew her housekeeper was close by the faint perfume. “Helena, tell me of Enrico. What do you know of his disappearance?”
“Nothing, signorina, he was simply not in his room. Nothing has been taken, his clothes and personal belongings are there. He prepared today’s menus last night, and we discussed what we needed for the kitchen so I could send the boy this morning. We had a glass of wine together about ten, and he retired to his apartment as he always does. This morning he did not appear to prepare the morning meal, and I sent one of the maids to check on him. He was not in his room. When she told me this, I immediately went to his room myself. I did not see anything out of place.”
“Has anyone heard from him? Does he have a woman?”
“No.” Helena’s sigh was loud, and Antonietta could not turn down the volume. Everything seemed overly loud, even the sound of shoes on the highly polished floor. It was a bit distracting. She could hear insects buzzing and creaks and groans in the house. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance and outside, the rain was steadily drizzling.
“Would he just go off like that? He’s never done such a thing in all the years he’s been with us. This is his home. Surely someone knows where he would have gone. His friends? Someone outside the palazzo.”
“I’m sorry, signorina, but Enrico stayed only here. The people here are his family. This is his home. He didn’t go other places,” Helena insisted. “I know this to be true. Enrico told me often he preferred the palazzo. At night he sometimes wandered the grounds and looked up at the sculptures. He loved the architecture and felt it was a privilege to live in such a place.”
“Have the grounds been searched? He could have become ill and is lying somewhere hurt.”
“I should have thought of that, signorina,” Helena said. “I’ll have the servants search the grounds immediately.”
“One of my cousins should have thought of it,” Antonietta corrected. Sometimes she wondered what her family was thinking. That the palazzo magically ran itself? Not even Don Giovanni had thought to do a search of the grounds for poor Enrico. She could not imagine her chef had walked off leaving behind all of his possessions. “
Grazie
, Helena, as soon as you hear anything, please let me know. Meanwhile, who do we have that can help out in the kitchen? I know you’re already way too busy, and I don’t want you to fill in. Justine can hire a temporary if we don’t have an assistant that can manage.”
“I’ll move Alfredo up until Enrico returns,” Helena said. “He’s a decent chef and has worked with Enrico for the past seven years. He likes his way and is a bit difficult, taking to his bed with headaches and spasms, but I’m certain he’ll do fine until Enrico returns. And my nephew, Esteben. You remember we hired him to work in the kitchen as an apprentice chef some time ago? He has been working out well. He can step into Alfredo’s position for the time being.”
“Are you certain, Helena? Alfredo will need someone to be fast and efficient. There were one or two complaints about Esteben. I thought he didn’t care for the job.”
“Oh, no, no, signorina. Esteben is most grateful for the job. He had the big date and wanted time off, and Enrico refused him. They had words, but Esteben was only trying to impress his
amore
. He understands the importance of his work.”
Antonietta nodded. “Justine, please tell the bookkeeper to compensate them accordingly.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll make a note of that. You really must go to your grandfather. He was very agitated. I don’t know if he took his heart medication, but he was upset.”
“Very well.” Antonietta placed her hand lightly on Justine’s arm. “Thank you for all you do for me, Justine. I hope you know I consider you invaluable, both as my friend and as my assistant.”
“I know, Toni.” Justine was less formal when they were alone. “I love this job and the palazzo. I love that I can travel all over the world with you. Most of all, you’ve become the family I never had, so it is mutual.” She led with confidence, moving quickly around any object in their path, and Antonietta didn’t hesitate to follow her. “I was appalled at the rumor that you were attacked. Is it so?”
Antonietta inclined her head. “Yes. If it weren’t for Byron,