‘Oh that,’ said Venetia airily, ‘I’m a stickler for routine. Very boring, I know. But when you’re as ancient as I am, it’s important to keep moving.’
‘If you ever fancy some company, you only have to ask.’
‘Thank you, Cassie, I’ll bear that in mind.’
‘Permission to cut in here?’
Turning to her left, Venetia encountered an exceptionally tanned man in navy chinos and a lemon-coloured Ralph Lauren polo shirt. Silver-haired and with a face as craggy as a rockface, she put him in his early seventies. He held out a large hand to her.
‘Ronnie Sharp at your service, Venetia Randall-Jones,’ he said with a flourish and instead of shaking hands with her, he smoothly lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
‘I presume you’re sharp by name and sharp by nature,’ Venetia said mischievously.
He laughed. ‘Now that’s not on, that’s my line!’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, ‘it was just too tempting.’
‘Watch out for this one,’ said Cassie with a smile, ‘he’s a regular Casanova!’
Ronnie chuckled. ‘I don’t know where people get this idea about me.’
‘How’s tricks then, Ronnie?’ asked Ben. ‘We haven’t seen you around in quite a while.’
‘It’s been a hectic time with the hotel, peak season and all that.’
‘Ronnie divides his time between here and Majorca where he’s part-owner of a boutique hotel,’ Cassie explained for Venetia’s benefit. ‘We once stayed there and had a fabulous time.’
‘So if you’re ever tired of the peace and quiet here,’ Ronnie said to Venetia, ‘let me know and I’ll make sure there’s a room at El Castilo available for you.’
Ben laughed. ‘Don’t say we haven’t warned you.’
‘Warning noted,’ she said good-humouredly.
‘Ignore them, Venetia, I’m always a perfect gentleman. Now, how are we all fixed for drinks? Who needs a top-up? I know I do! I’ll hunt down a couple of bottles, shall I? Back in a jiffy!’
‘He seems fun,’ Venetia said when he’d gone to fetch more wine.
‘He is,’ agreed Cassie, ‘and his hotel really is beautiful.’
‘And all the roguish charm,’ enquired Venetia, ‘is that what I suspect it is, an act?’
‘How very astute of you,’ replied Ben. ‘We think he rather enjoys playing the part. It probably works well in the hospitality business.’
‘In turn,’ said Cassie, ‘we enjoy our role of playing up to his so-called reputation of charming ladies’ man.’
‘He certainly has an abundance of charm,’ said Venetia.
‘Here we go then, chaps,’ said the man himself, ‘red or white? Venetia, what’s your tipple?’
‘The white will do nicely,’ she said, holding out her glass and hoping he hadn’t heard her observation about him. ‘Thank you.’
Their glasses topped up and the bottles returned to the tables, Ronnie made a toast. ‘To our honoured guest and lovely new neighbour,’ he said, raising his glass to Venetia. ‘I hope you’ll be very happy here.’
‘I’m sure I will be,’ she said, raising her own glass. ‘Here’s to everyone who has made me feel so welcome.’
And here’s to all those I’ve loved and lost and who were such a big part of my life here,she silently added.
Chapter Eight
