Beppo tried to speak pleasantly and naturally, but it was plain to Lily that something had upset him very much.
“Yes,” chimed in the Marchesa, “we hope, Miss Fairfield, that you will come upstairs. It will be quite easy to arrange a private interview between you and Count Beppo. My husband and I will leave you alone together. That is more suitable than that you should ask for a private room down here.”
“But I only wanted to see Count Beppo to give him a parcel from his mother! I would have sent it up, but Aunt Cosy made me promise I would give it to him personally,” exclaimed Lily.
The Marchesa’s face cleared as if by magic. “What stupid messages hotel people do give!” she observed. “The message we received was that Miss Fairfield was downstairs, and desired to see Count Beppo Polda alone and secretly—I feared something dreadful had happened at La Solitude!”
“I knew perfectly well that nothing had happened,” said Beppo crossly, “you might have let me come down alone, Livia!”
Lily blushed and laughed. “I said nothing about ‘secretly,’” she exclaimed. “But I did say that I must see Beppo in person; Aunt Cosy made me promise that I would.”
She handed the parcel to Beppo, and then they all shook hands.
“Do, please, Miss Fairfield, come back to luncheon with us here. It would give us great pleasure!” The Marchesa spoke with real, eager cordiality, and, as Lily hesitated, she added: “Do ask her, Beppo? She will perhaps do it if you ask her. We will send up a message to the Countess explaining that we have kept you.”
“Yes, please do!” said Beppo.
“Walk with her to the door, my friend, and put her in the way she wishes to go to do her shopping,” said the Marchesa kindly and pleasantly. “I must run up to my husband again and tell him our apprehensions were not justified.”