Peg laughed. They locked eyes, and it was familiar and there was history. Her breath felt warm on his face, slightly stale but not unattractive.
Come here, he said.
In one another’s arms now. （People watching. The elderly contessa at an upstairs window. Michele and Giulia in the doorway of the café.） You look Italian, she said.
That’ll be my trousers.
Your hair’s darker.
You reckon?
She ran her fingers through the top of it.
Suits you, she said.
And you look like you.
He held her hands and pulled away to take in the full effect. He whistled.
Hey! interrupted the kid. That’s our building there. And that’s our café. And that’s Signor Michele and Signora Giulia. Wave! And that’s our fountain.
Peg laughing. Ted was calling out to her.
I should go— she began.
And that’s our Cressy.
Peg turned. Heart sore at the sight of him.
The old fella smiled at her; he looked red-eyed and choked.
Call the police, he said. Qualcuno ha rubato tutta la bellezza. Someone’s stolen all the beauty.
Words as gold dust, Cress?
What else? he said. Here, have an orange.
He held out a Sicilian tarocco. She took it. Pierced the skin with her nail and held it to her nose. Sharp memories.
Come on, said Cress. There’s a piano, a glass of fizz and an unconscious parrot waiting for you.
Sounds about right, she said.
Ted calling out to her. Peg exasperated.
Go on, said Ulysses. You three go up. I’ll help Ted.
When they’d gone, Ulysses ran across the stones. All right, Ted? The two men shook hands, both polite. Ulysses said, Kid wanted to show Peg her room. I knew you wouldn’t mind, and he picked up one of the cases. Good journey? he said. （Ted complaining.） Yeah, well, that’s this time of year for you.
Peggy Temper walking up the stone staircase as if she was in a film. Find your light, Peg, find your light. The echo of her heels, stair after stair after stair. The bewitching line of her stocking seam, like a musical digit, da dah da dah da dah. An old woman on the first floor peeked through the door to watch. Peg smiled that smile and fuck was it catching – four years since that old bat had cracked a grin. The sweet kid up ahead, all chatty this and that with a spray of Italian loquacity. Clever little thing. All Eddie’s side, her mum would’ve said. Nothing of you. The atmosphere airless, a bit like a museum. Peg out of her comfort zone but she didn’t know where that ended any more. What? she said. Cress had stopped and was looking at her. The truth, he said. Good or bad? She knew what he meant. So-so, she said. Her thighs feeling strong from the climb, her heart thumping wild. I said I’d marry Ted. Cress shook his head and went on up.
Here we are, said Alys. My home. Two words that shouldn’t have affected Peg, but they did. In here, said the kid. Peg undid her coat. Heady smells of hot wine and spice and oranges and cloves. Smoke and mirrors in the hallway, doors leading off to exquisite embroidery and beds. The faint fug of coal from the kitchen. Into the living room she glided, and she shed her fur as if it was spring. Her new brassiere offered up a couple of heritage peaks. Classic Peg. Over to the tree where her perfume mingled with its piney grip. Pete at the piano lit by candles. Col saying something about the idiot in Milan he hit with the car. Nothing changes. And yet— Some things do. She stood at the window. The myriad of yellow lights splaying out from shutters and the bell tower and the nativity scene and the dark flit of birds across a navy and magenta marbled sky. Temps and the kid. She’d lost them to this. And in her ears came a roaring sound like waves. Cress handed her a glass of bubbles. She drank it in one and the sound disappeared. Music and laughter again. Kid handed her the parrot swaddled in a sheet. Pete saying, It’s like looking at the baby Jesus and Mary. And you’re the three wise men, are you? said Peg. Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy? Claude opened his eyes. Peg, he said quietly. What is it, sweetie? and she leant in close to him. What is it? （Her ear now at his beak.） What?
Don’t marry Ted.
Anyone seen Peg? said Ulysses.
It was Christmas Eve and they were in Michele’s, having a last-minute caffè corretto before the place shut for two days. There she is! said Cress, pointing out of the window. Ulysses noticed she was wearing sunglasses. And no Ted! said Col. There’s Ted, said Ulysses. Oh fuck it, said Col. Kid gave Giulia and Michele a present: a signed photograph of Ingrid Bergman. They were delighted. I signed it, said the kid.
A walking tour of the city had been planned, but Peg had only brought heels, so Ulysses said he’d drive everyone up to San Miniato al Monte in Betsy. Ted bowed out. Oh, that’s a shame, said Col.