She did the same, noting that the central “square” they were approaching was actually an oddly shaped park dotted with mature trees and surrounded by cobbled streets.
Toby nodded at a small but tidy-looking hotel. “That’s our billet for the night.” He steered Henry toward a nearby stable.
A wizened old man came out, and Toby spoke with him. With a nod, the man agreed to take in the horse and cart. While Toby finalized the arrangements, the rest of them climbed down and dragged their bags and cases out of the cart’s bed. By the time Toby rejoined them, they were standing on the pavement, loaded up and eager to make their way to the hotel.
Toby grinned, picked up his bags, and with the children, took the lead.
Diana ignored her aches and followed. She’d reminded the children that they were the family Caldwell, and she was pleased to see all three and Toby, too, quickly fall back into their roles.
They entered the hotel, and again, she noted how genuinely pleased the owners were to welcome Toby. Obviously, he’d stayed there before, and equally obviously, he was remembered with fondness.
Her Italian was rudimentary, but she could follow as he arranged for their now-usual adjoining rooms.
With the promise of clean water to wash and somewhere cool to rest dangling like a carrot before her, with Helga, Diana ushered the children upstairs.
Located on the first floor, their rooms proved to be well lit and airy, with windows overlooking the square.
The two young porters set their bags and cases on the floor, then, smiling hugely, left them.
A minute later, Toby came through from the room next door. “I haven’t stayed on this side before.” He walked to the window, opened it, and looked out, then around and down.
Diana, Helga, and Evelyn watched in faint bemusement.
He made a noncommittal sound, then drew back and shut and latched the window. “This should be safe enough.” He turned to face them. “But I suggest we make sure that the windows as well as the doors are locked whenever we leave the rooms.”
Realizing that he was taking precautions in case any of their pursuers managed to catch up with them—no matter how wildly remote that possibility seemed—Diana nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Toby’s gaze fixed on her face. For a second, he searched her expression, then mildly said, “What say we take a few minutes to settle in, then perhaps we could go for a walk in the park to stretch our legs and let Bruno have a run.”
She felt relief slide through her.That’s exactly what the children and I need.She nodded. “An excellent notion.”
With a tip of his head, Toby walked to the open doorway. He paused and looked at the window. “It’ll be cooler in half an hour. Let’s say about then.”
She smiled her agreement and turned to Evelyn. “Why don’t we change into fresh clothes?”
After days of travel, they were both thoroughly rumpled, and neat, clean clothes always made things better.
A little more than half an hour later, they left Helga resting in the room, and with the children skipping ahead, Diana, garbed in an only-slightly-creased cambric dress, walked beside Toby down the stairs, across the foyer, and into the street.
* * *
Nearly an hour later,feeling distinctly restored in body and temper and in her ability to cope with whatever might come their way, Diana strolled slowly beside Toby as they made their way back to the hotel.
They’d spent a pleasant interlude walking around the park, navigating the cool green spaces under the thick canopies of the large trees.
Around them, the children had circled, darting this way, then that. They’d brought out a ball to play with, and the exercise had tired Bruno out. The small dog was now trotting quietly on his leash beside Toby, but the children were still active.
Her gaze on the three gamboling ahead, she murmured, “It’s good to see them running about.”
“Hmm. They’ve been cooped up more than, I assume, they would have been used to.”
She nodded. “They’re accustomed to getting out and more or less running for at least an hour every day.” A thought struck her, and she glanced at him. “Wherever we’re going, will it be safe for them to run around outside?”
He grinned, confidence personified. “Definitely. I predict they’ll be in their element. Exploring, fishing. Even boating.”
She couldn’t resist. “So we’re going to one of the lakes?”
Smiling in relaxed fashion as he watched the children, he replied, “One of the smaller, less well-known ones.” He paused, then went on, “On this particular lake, there’s an island—a small one with a basilica, a seminary, and a handful of houses. A village of sorts. The island is far enough from shore for any approaching boat to be readily seen, and boats for the island leave from the mainland from only one town, one dock. In addition, boating on the lake is restricted to boats owned by the locals.”
