A ministerial Fiat 130 limousine came to a screeching halt in front of us, and a slender, well dressed man in his late thirties got out of the car in a smooth cat-like manner…
‘Uncle Salvatore’ Catharina squealed, hurling herself at him and hugging him passionately. ‘Ciao, tesorina’, he said in a low baritone, smiling his handsome smile from ear to ear. ‘Che piacere vederti!’

‘Let me introduce you to my dearest friend Angie’, Catharina said huskily, looking over her shoulder in my direction, her arms still around Uncle Salvatore’s waist. I couldn’t help but notice that there was a definite family resemblance between them, while four eyes pierced in my direction.

I approached them timidly, not sure if there would be another charged exchange of affections between uncle and niece. Uncle Salvatore seemed to feel my hesitation and walked towards me. He took my hand and bowed to kiss it, but his lips never actually touched my hand. ‘It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Signorina Angelica’, he said and subsequently went to open the door of his car, gesticulating invitingly. ‘What a charmer’, I thought, but at the same time I had the sturdy intuition that there was more to this man than meets the eye.

Minutes later we sped through the countryside, while Catharina, sitting beside me in the rear, told her uncle the story of the Corsican sisters and the confinement, probably against her will, of Lauredana in the Convent of San Bonifacio. Uncle Salvatore remained silent for a while, seemingly figuring out what to think of this situation, looking at me through his rear-view mirror from time to time.

‘I suggest you let me make some inquiries, while you two stay over for the weekend at the house’, he said. ‘Aunt Claudia will be delighted to have you over’. Catharina, apparently in a cheeky mood, kissed me furtively in my neck and settled herself against me, her head on my shoulder. Not sure whether Uncle Salvatore had noticed this affection, I looked outside, blushing vigorously.

(to be continued)

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