“Get her,” said Ben, picking up an imaginary handbag and clutching it to his chest. “Silly moo.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Do you have to rush off?” Ben asked, so casually that Vanessa sensed at once that her answer was important to him.
She glanced over at Lydia, who was putting her violin back in its case with a doleful air.
“I should go and talk to Lydia. Take her out for a coffee or something.”
But Lydia left the room with Leonard, the pair of them deep in conference, presumably on matters Milan-related.
“I guess not,” she amended, turning to Ben with a wary smile.
“Great,” he said. “Something I want to show you.”
She raised her eyebrows, but his only elaboration was to rub his hands together and tilt his head.
“Where might this thing be?”
“Follow me and all will be revealed.”
Ben strode off ahead, grabbing the scarf he wore, regardless of the warm season, from its peg before leaving the hall.
Vanessa, trotting along at his heels, had no idea what to expect. Was this thing in the building or outside it, in a private or a public place? Excitement clutched at her heart, squeezing it into a tight ball of anticipation.
Just before the main doors, Ben took a sharp right, leading her down a staircase that went, as far as she knew, nowhere except to a basement storage area.
“Why are we going down here?”
“Patience! Courage, mon brave.”
“Is that supposed to be a French accent?”
“No.”
“Good, because it was nothing like one.”
Their good-natured teasing ended at the foot of the stairs, in an unlit and dusty corridor.
“Okay, now I’m wondering…” said Vanessa.
“Follow me. It’s a bit dark—tread carefully.”
“Ugh, there aren’t mice down here, are there?”
“Almost certainly.”
Ben led her down the brick-walled corridor until he reached a door near its end, which he pushed open. He snapped on a light then turned around before she could enter.
“Close your eyes,” he said.
“No way! There could be anything in there.”
“Oh, come on. I’ll cover them if you don’t.”
He moved up behind her and placed his hands over her eyes. The warmth and size of his hands on her skin made her want to sigh. He smelt of antibacterial soap and mints.
She made no effort to remove the welcome blinkers, stepping before him into a room so thick with dust that her throat dried out instantly.