Love, Luck, Lust and Loss
Title: Love, Luck, Lust and Loss
Author: apostrophe_ess
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR, I merely gain from playing these games in her playground.
Pairing/Character: Minerva McGonagall (aged 21), Tonio Veula (tall, dark, handsome and Minerva's working partner in Italy) as well as a number of other minor characters
Word Count: 2,804
Rating: PG-13 (I think)
Summary: In Italy, on secondment from the British Ministry of Magic, life is a little different than Minerva is used to. Now in the warmer south of Italy, Minerva and Tonio are having to play the part of lovers.
Author's Notes: A second story for millieweasley's history challenge **here**. If you fancy writing something historical involving our HP friends then there's still until the 18th March - plenty of time! Splendid icon for Love, Lust, Luck and Loss from the wonderful nimerha - Thank you!
Part One: here
Part Two: here
Part Three: here
Part Four: here
Part Five: here
Part Six: here
Part Seven: here
Link to part nine
Part Eight: Chapter Six, Part II - out Late
3rd November 1946
Back in the security of one half of their joint bedrooms, Minerva and Tonio examined the piece of porcelain that she’d taken from the embers of the small fire up in the hills. A little smaller than a galleon it posed a puzzle. Newly broken porcelain usually had sharp edges in at least some places. Older pieces which had had the chance to smooth the sharpness would show signs of scratches on the surfaces. This piece was a strange combination of both. Rounded, smoothed edges, though obviously broken, and smooth scratch free surfaces.
“We’ll go to Vieti sul Mer tomorrow”, Tonio announced as he traced his fingers around the edge, withdrawing one quickly and rubbing away a tiny drop of blood that formed.
An apparent romantically involved couple, Vieti sul Mer was an ideal place to visit. Set into the hillside and noted for its stunning views, the small town was the home of ceramics workshops and showrooms.
“Aye, okay.”
There was little to go on with the piece of porcelain as it stood. It was obviously from their world as it had withstood time in the fire with no damage. Minerva had studied the small amount of pattern on one of the corners of the fragment, but it meant nothing to her. She’d not seen it before.
“Aye,” she repeated thoughtfully considering once again the porcelain.
They were sitting on the edge of the double bed which had been the subject of a suggestive wink between the manager and Tonio on their arrival, in Tonio’s room. Minerva was relieved she’d already moved her bags behind the interlinking doors and claimed the other room with its single bed She wished they could have had rooms on totally different floors, rather than a reasonably large opening breached only by relatively thin pieces of wood. Her restlessness at night was less now, and wasn’t a daily occurrence but it still happened form time to time.
Soon they’d be leaving for an evening meal, to the restaurant where another squibb, Jovanna Innocenzo, was as their waitress going to send information back for them. In conversation they would mention the areas where they’d visited each day, and in code they would keep Dora updated on any information they’d gathered, or uncovered, since the last report.
Minerva planned to retire after dinner each day with her book and read and read until she was so tired there was no chance she’d not be able to sleep. If she could get through seven nights without disturbance, then she would let sleep tease her as much as it wanted in the following weeks. Over the last weeks she had got used to living her day with less rest, it was less of a problem than it had been. With the rooms laid out as they were it was possible, if a little unlikely, that Tonio might hear her restless tossing and turning and she’d not even want to think about how she would explain that to him.
Twenty five minutes after Tonio had said they should leave in half an hour, Minerva was bathed and dressed ready to go. Twenty six minutes afterwards she was discarding the dress she’d chosen in favour of something quite different. Whichever whim it was that overtook her she had no idea, but suddenly she wanted to wear the clothes she’d worn on her last day with Kiely. Smiling she pulled on the full skirt and smoothed it over her hips before reaching for the top.
In front of the mirror Minerva watched herself slip her arms into the fine fabric before pulling the front together. She’d still not become fully used to the view of herself in her underwear. For so many years she’d slipped on the liberty bodice as her mother had worn and supplied, but now in the brassiere she looked quite different. If it wasn’t immodest then she had to admit she liked her breasts. Full and pert the garment showed them to their best advantage. Lost in the mirror’s image as she stroked her fingertips into the valley made by her cleavage she didn’t hear the door open behind her.
Dreamily she started to fasten the many small buttons, starting at the bottom and only pulling the sides together as she worked. If only Kiely was here tonight.
“You are ready?”
With a start Minerva focused on the form in the mirror standing back in the doorway. Her fingers fumbled as she attempted to fasten the rest of her buttons. How long had he been there? What had he seen?
As she felt her face flush horribly she turned away, blocking Tonio’s view. She knew he didn’t knock, that he assumed if the arrangement was to be ready at half past that she, or anyone else, would be. How could she have been so stupid?
“I will see you in the lobby,” Tonio offered, with a loud sigh as he turned and walked away.
That they couldn’t use magic in the hotel was annoying. If they could, then of course she’d have protected the doorway, fastened her buttons with a charm. Of course.
“Damn that man,” Minerva hissed between her teeth as she stamped her foot. “Damn him.”
Which man she meant right then she had no idea. Was it Kiely for not being here? The irritating and lecherous, drooling, man in the hotel’s reception who put them in the adjoining rooms? Or was it Tonio himself? Tonio who was there to do a job. Tonio who was there doing his job? Tonio who had arranged to meet her at a certain time, and a time when she wasn’t ready?
In the lobby Minerva walked past Tonio and pushed open the door, looking over her shoulder towards him while carefully not catching his eye, though she felt the colour rise in her cheeks once more.
“Minerva,” Tonio called to her softly. “Minerva.”
She pursed her lips as Tonio quickened his footsteps to fall into step beside her.
“It is not good to appear as we have rowed. We should be enjoying ourselves.”
“Well, weren’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if you were enjoying yourself before.”
Tonio froze. He had been enjoying himself. The girl beside him was a puzzle, an enigma. When they’d been introduced at the office in Incantevole Sibillini he’d been initially surprised. He’d expected a wizard, rather than a witch. The name Minerva wasn’t known to him, although he understood now that it should have been, and as a female. He’d looked towards her and held back a smile. The smile had been duel fold. Firstly it would have served in greeting, but it became quite clear that she had no wish for such things. Secondly it would have been in approval after the initial surprise at her gender. Since then he’d quietly watched her, tried to reach out to her, and given up. Just as he’d become resigned to the fact they would always work with an edge between them, a tension, she had seemed to soften. This very afternoon in fact, it had happened. And then, he had happened upon her touching herself and instead of standing back and letting her know he would approach again by a cough, or some audible footsteps, he had taken pleasure in watching and being caught. Could he have stood back though? His breathing had slowed, and the slow rush to his groin had begun. No, the chances were that he’d have not moved without being caught. With a sigh he admonished himself for even thinking he could have done.
“Why are you sighing?” Minerva asked crossly. This man really was the limit. He was the voyeur, the one taking what wasn’t his to have. And he was sighing?
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Oh but I think it does.”
“Drop it Minerva.”
About to ask why, Minerva stalled. It would not be professional to arrive at their first debriefing session at the restaurant in the middle of an argument.
The restaurant was busy tonight and so when Jovanna showed them to the small table in an alcove out of the view of the majority of the other diners; they still had to maintain their act of being lovers on holiday to the area. There was no moment to relax from the façade, to discuss what had happened.
As they ordered they passed information about where they’d spent their day, the walk to Pozzuoli Lago D'Averno and beyond, as well as the find in the embers. Minerva listened as Tonio gave the information to the waitress, his Italian much more able to deal with a cryptic to outsiders, but clear to those involved, explanation that Jovanna could pass on.
“I’ll leave you to enjoy your food,” Jovanna muttered as she backed away. “I will be back soon.”
The meal was delicious, although the air was a little strained between them again. The position of the table meant that they weren’t constantly on show, and could relax a little from the need to present a picture of being lovers, though they were unable to completely drop their guard or pretence.
Jovanna tended to them carefully, making sure it was she who served each course, and presented the bill at the end of the evening. “Your message is on it’s way,” she’d whispered as Tonio passed over a tip. “I will see you tomorrow.” Raising the dynamic of her voice she wished them well for the next day. “Enjoy Vieti sul Mer. It’s truly lovely.”
Back in the night air Minerva felt uncomfortable again. In a short while they’d be back in the rooms and she would need to sleep in order to be alert the next day. It suited her to walk in silence, and that Tonio didn’t feel it necessary to walk right next to her, that there was space between them. It was a clear night, the stars seemed close enough to almost touch. Deon had been right when he’d sold the trip to her, or attempted to. It was a lovely part of the world, and in years to come she was sure she’d look back on it warmly, forgetting the detail that irked her now.
A road or two away from the restaurant, Minerva became aware of something.
There were people in the distance, walking towards them. Tonio had obviously noticed just before her as his arm snaked around her waist and he moved as if to kiss her cheek, stopping short but catching her gaze.
“You are lovely, you know,” he suggested.
“Tonio. They cannot hear us yet.”
“I know.”
A few feet ahead of them was an archway into the stone wall of the garden of a local house. Together Minerva and Tonio stepped into it and positioned themselves for the best view of the two men who were walking towards them. So soon after catching sight of her chest it was cruel for it to be pressed into him. Tonio found himself aware of the square cut and low neckline, knew that if he dipped his head a little he would see the cleft between her breasts, and if he moved his hand he would feel the silky warm skin.
“I am sorry about earlier,” he whispered into her ear, his arms rigid as he held her in a mock embrace.
“As you should be,” Minerva answered, her voice a little more forgiving now. She was still annoyed, though the focus of the annoyance was as much to herself as to Tonio. He was doing his job, as she should be too. The original dress was fine for an evening to a local restaurant, there had been no need to change. Why had she?
“They are local Muggles,” Tonio suggested, his mouth still close to her ear. “I am sure of it.”
As he finished speaking Minerva could feel them draw close to her, that feeling along her spine she’d noticed in the Piazza back at Stegonia back once more. “Are you sure?”
“Muggles,” he whispered.
“I don’t think so Tonio,” Minerva insisted, moving her head slightly to see them as they became level. A glance to the side caught the gaze of one of the men. “Tonio,” she gasped immediately keeping cover by brushing her lips against his as the men stood and watched.
She could feel danger all around them now. Whoever these men were, they were not just Muggles, out for a leisurely stroll. What was it that people wanted to watch tonight? First of all it had been Tonio as she dressed, now the two men as they kissed. The mere brushing of lips had not lasted long enough to fill the needs, they were now kissing properly. Minerva’s hands were moving over Tonio’s back as one of his had settled itself against her bum.
“I’m sorry, Minerva,” Tonio offered when the footsteps of the men had finally disappeared.
“I’m not sure they were Muggles, Tonio.” The two of them were still in the archway, though they had released their hold on each other.
Tonio looked over his shoulder, where the men had gone. “Why do you say that?”
“It was a feeling. I don’t know. I could almost feel the danger.”
“Come,” Tonio suggested, slipping his hand into hers. “We can talk as we walk.”
Truthfully he wanted a moment or two to think. There was no reason from his point of view to think of the men as anything but locals, out for a stroll to the pub for a drink or two. Minerva seemed firmly insistent however. Had the evening not started as it had, he’d have teased her about the situation overtaking her senses, but he’d not dare to do that now.
“Did you recognise them?” he settled for, lightly squeezing their hands together.
“No. The first one, he caught my eye. Just as we -. “ Minerva stopped, talking about them kissing was impossible. They were working, not anything else. “Do you think we should send a message? “
This was the dilemma. One that had already passed through Tonio’s thoughts. If they sent message to Dora that they had perhaps met with someone who should be followed up, then there was no evidence to put forward other than Minerva’s feeling. Dora wasn’t one who was keen to act on feelings, what she would see as a whim. But if they didn’t and Minerva had been right?
“What do you think?”
“I think we should wait and see. Maybe in a day or two. We’re going to find out more about the porcelain tomorrow, perhaps after then?”
Tonio nodded. Whatever else this British girl was, she was excellent at her job. Intuitive, and thorough. She left no stone unturned. Already, in the few weeks they had worked together he had come to trust her judgement, and that was much of the reason he couldn’t pass by her feeling. “And for now we’ll forget, yes?”
There were only a few minutes walk left until they were back at their hotel. It would be nice to spend them in a more relaxed manner, to wind down a little before bed.
“How do you prepare for sleep?” Tonio asked, aware of his fingers brushing against the tips of Minerva’s.
That wasn’t a question she’d expected to hear, or prepared to answer. “Read usually,” she answered a little limply, she felt.
Tonio nodded. He tended to get into bed when he was tired and sleep instantly, with little preparation. Unless, of course, he was not sleeping alone and that was a totally different matter. On those occasions he expected little, if any sleep. Right now he was hardly tired at all, and the thought of sharing his bed was extremely welcome. Seeing Minerva stroking herself earlier had stirred things within him, things that would need resolving in one manner or another. “What are you reading?”
“In the guise of a romance, a text book.”
A text book might be just what he needed now. Slipping into the comfortable double bed that the hotel clerk seemed to think he’d be sharing with Minerva, and knowing that she was only the other side of a small wooden partition was going to be like torture. “Do you have a spare?”
Minerva looked sideways, and smiled under her eyelashes. “I’m afraid not. Though you’re welcome to read it after me, if it’s your thing.”
“I don’t know?” Tonio teased softly, desperately wanting to reach just a little further and take her hand once more. Why couldn’t someone come around the corner? “What is the subject?”
“I’ll show you later,” Minerva chuckled. They were close to the hotel now; it would not do to be overheard should anyone be sitting inside an open window. “We’re here.”
“Minerva?”
“Tonio?” Minerva looked at her work partner quizzically.
“Nothing.”
Author: apostrophe_ess
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR, I merely gain from playing these games in her playground.
Pairing/Character: Minerva McGonagall (aged 21), Tonio Veula (tall, dark, handsome and Minerva's working partner in Italy) as well as a number of other minor characters
Word Count: 2,804
Rating: PG-13 (I think)
Summary: In Italy, on secondment from the British Ministry of Magic, life is a little different than Minerva is used to. Now in the warmer south of Italy, Minerva and Tonio are having to play the part of lovers.
Author's Notes: A second story for millieweasley's history challenge **here**. If you fancy writing something historical involving our HP friends then there's still until the 18th March - plenty of time! Splendid icon for Love, Lust, Luck and Loss from the wonderful nimerha - Thank you!
Part One: here
Part Two: here
Part Three: here
Part Four: here
Part Five: here
Part Six: here
Part Seven: here
Link to part nine
Part Eight: Chapter Six, Part II - out Late
3rd November 1946
Back in the security of one half of their joint bedrooms, Minerva and Tonio examined the piece of porcelain that she’d taken from the embers of the small fire up in the hills. A little smaller than a galleon it posed a puzzle. Newly broken porcelain usually had sharp edges in at least some places. Older pieces which had had the chance to smooth the sharpness would show signs of scratches on the surfaces. This piece was a strange combination of both. Rounded, smoothed edges, though obviously broken, and smooth scratch free surfaces.
“We’ll go to Vieti sul Mer tomorrow”, Tonio announced as he traced his fingers around the edge, withdrawing one quickly and rubbing away a tiny drop of blood that formed.
An apparent romantically involved couple, Vieti sul Mer was an ideal place to visit. Set into the hillside and noted for its stunning views, the small town was the home of ceramics workshops and showrooms.
“Aye, okay.”
There was little to go on with the piece of porcelain as it stood. It was obviously from their world as it had withstood time in the fire with no damage. Minerva had studied the small amount of pattern on one of the corners of the fragment, but it meant nothing to her. She’d not seen it before.
“Aye,” she repeated thoughtfully considering once again the porcelain.
They were sitting on the edge of the double bed which had been the subject of a suggestive wink between the manager and Tonio on their arrival, in Tonio’s room. Minerva was relieved she’d already moved her bags behind the interlinking doors and claimed the other room with its single bed She wished they could have had rooms on totally different floors, rather than a reasonably large opening breached only by relatively thin pieces of wood. Her restlessness at night was less now, and wasn’t a daily occurrence but it still happened form time to time.
Soon they’d be leaving for an evening meal, to the restaurant where another squibb, Jovanna Innocenzo, was as their waitress going to send information back for them. In conversation they would mention the areas where they’d visited each day, and in code they would keep Dora updated on any information they’d gathered, or uncovered, since the last report.
Minerva planned to retire after dinner each day with her book and read and read until she was so tired there was no chance she’d not be able to sleep. If she could get through seven nights without disturbance, then she would let sleep tease her as much as it wanted in the following weeks. Over the last weeks she had got used to living her day with less rest, it was less of a problem than it had been. With the rooms laid out as they were it was possible, if a little unlikely, that Tonio might hear her restless tossing and turning and she’d not even want to think about how she would explain that to him.
Twenty five minutes after Tonio had said they should leave in half an hour, Minerva was bathed and dressed ready to go. Twenty six minutes afterwards she was discarding the dress she’d chosen in favour of something quite different. Whichever whim it was that overtook her she had no idea, but suddenly she wanted to wear the clothes she’d worn on her last day with Kiely. Smiling she pulled on the full skirt and smoothed it over her hips before reaching for the top.
In front of the mirror Minerva watched herself slip her arms into the fine fabric before pulling the front together. She’d still not become fully used to the view of herself in her underwear. For so many years she’d slipped on the liberty bodice as her mother had worn and supplied, but now in the brassiere she looked quite different. If it wasn’t immodest then she had to admit she liked her breasts. Full and pert the garment showed them to their best advantage. Lost in the mirror’s image as she stroked her fingertips into the valley made by her cleavage she didn’t hear the door open behind her.
Dreamily she started to fasten the many small buttons, starting at the bottom and only pulling the sides together as she worked. If only Kiely was here tonight.
“You are ready?”
With a start Minerva focused on the form in the mirror standing back in the doorway. Her fingers fumbled as she attempted to fasten the rest of her buttons. How long had he been there? What had he seen?
As she felt her face flush horribly she turned away, blocking Tonio’s view. She knew he didn’t knock, that he assumed if the arrangement was to be ready at half past that she, or anyone else, would be. How could she have been so stupid?
“I will see you in the lobby,” Tonio offered, with a loud sigh as he turned and walked away.
That they couldn’t use magic in the hotel was annoying. If they could, then of course she’d have protected the doorway, fastened her buttons with a charm. Of course.
“Damn that man,” Minerva hissed between her teeth as she stamped her foot. “Damn him.”
Which man she meant right then she had no idea. Was it Kiely for not being here? The irritating and lecherous, drooling, man in the hotel’s reception who put them in the adjoining rooms? Or was it Tonio himself? Tonio who was there to do a job. Tonio who was there doing his job? Tonio who had arranged to meet her at a certain time, and a time when she wasn’t ready?
In the lobby Minerva walked past Tonio and pushed open the door, looking over her shoulder towards him while carefully not catching his eye, though she felt the colour rise in her cheeks once more.
“Minerva,” Tonio called to her softly. “Minerva.”
She pursed her lips as Tonio quickened his footsteps to fall into step beside her.
“It is not good to appear as we have rowed. We should be enjoying ourselves.”
“Well, weren’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if you were enjoying yourself before.”
Tonio froze. He had been enjoying himself. The girl beside him was a puzzle, an enigma. When they’d been introduced at the office in Incantevole Sibillini he’d been initially surprised. He’d expected a wizard, rather than a witch. The name Minerva wasn’t known to him, although he understood now that it should have been, and as a female. He’d looked towards her and held back a smile. The smile had been duel fold. Firstly it would have served in greeting, but it became quite clear that she had no wish for such things. Secondly it would have been in approval after the initial surprise at her gender. Since then he’d quietly watched her, tried to reach out to her, and given up. Just as he’d become resigned to the fact they would always work with an edge between them, a tension, she had seemed to soften. This very afternoon in fact, it had happened. And then, he had happened upon her touching herself and instead of standing back and letting her know he would approach again by a cough, or some audible footsteps, he had taken pleasure in watching and being caught. Could he have stood back though? His breathing had slowed, and the slow rush to his groin had begun. No, the chances were that he’d have not moved without being caught. With a sigh he admonished himself for even thinking he could have done.
“Why are you sighing?” Minerva asked crossly. This man really was the limit. He was the voyeur, the one taking what wasn’t his to have. And he was sighing?
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Oh but I think it does.”
“Drop it Minerva.”
About to ask why, Minerva stalled. It would not be professional to arrive at their first debriefing session at the restaurant in the middle of an argument.
The restaurant was busy tonight and so when Jovanna showed them to the small table in an alcove out of the view of the majority of the other diners; they still had to maintain their act of being lovers on holiday to the area. There was no moment to relax from the façade, to discuss what had happened.
As they ordered they passed information about where they’d spent their day, the walk to Pozzuoli Lago D'Averno and beyond, as well as the find in the embers. Minerva listened as Tonio gave the information to the waitress, his Italian much more able to deal with a cryptic to outsiders, but clear to those involved, explanation that Jovanna could pass on.
“I’ll leave you to enjoy your food,” Jovanna muttered as she backed away. “I will be back soon.”
The meal was delicious, although the air was a little strained between them again. The position of the table meant that they weren’t constantly on show, and could relax a little from the need to present a picture of being lovers, though they were unable to completely drop their guard or pretence.
Jovanna tended to them carefully, making sure it was she who served each course, and presented the bill at the end of the evening. “Your message is on it’s way,” she’d whispered as Tonio passed over a tip. “I will see you tomorrow.” Raising the dynamic of her voice she wished them well for the next day. “Enjoy Vieti sul Mer. It’s truly lovely.”
Back in the night air Minerva felt uncomfortable again. In a short while they’d be back in the rooms and she would need to sleep in order to be alert the next day. It suited her to walk in silence, and that Tonio didn’t feel it necessary to walk right next to her, that there was space between them. It was a clear night, the stars seemed close enough to almost touch. Deon had been right when he’d sold the trip to her, or attempted to. It was a lovely part of the world, and in years to come she was sure she’d look back on it warmly, forgetting the detail that irked her now.
A road or two away from the restaurant, Minerva became aware of something.
There were people in the distance, walking towards them. Tonio had obviously noticed just before her as his arm snaked around her waist and he moved as if to kiss her cheek, stopping short but catching her gaze.
“You are lovely, you know,” he suggested.
“Tonio. They cannot hear us yet.”
“I know.”
A few feet ahead of them was an archway into the stone wall of the garden of a local house. Together Minerva and Tonio stepped into it and positioned themselves for the best view of the two men who were walking towards them. So soon after catching sight of her chest it was cruel for it to be pressed into him. Tonio found himself aware of the square cut and low neckline, knew that if he dipped his head a little he would see the cleft between her breasts, and if he moved his hand he would feel the silky warm skin.
“I am sorry about earlier,” he whispered into her ear, his arms rigid as he held her in a mock embrace.
“As you should be,” Minerva answered, her voice a little more forgiving now. She was still annoyed, though the focus of the annoyance was as much to herself as to Tonio. He was doing his job, as she should be too. The original dress was fine for an evening to a local restaurant, there had been no need to change. Why had she?
“They are local Muggles,” Tonio suggested, his mouth still close to her ear. “I am sure of it.”
As he finished speaking Minerva could feel them draw close to her, that feeling along her spine she’d noticed in the Piazza back at Stegonia back once more. “Are you sure?”
“Muggles,” he whispered.
“I don’t think so Tonio,” Minerva insisted, moving her head slightly to see them as they became level. A glance to the side caught the gaze of one of the men. “Tonio,” she gasped immediately keeping cover by brushing her lips against his as the men stood and watched.
She could feel danger all around them now. Whoever these men were, they were not just Muggles, out for a leisurely stroll. What was it that people wanted to watch tonight? First of all it had been Tonio as she dressed, now the two men as they kissed. The mere brushing of lips had not lasted long enough to fill the needs, they were now kissing properly. Minerva’s hands were moving over Tonio’s back as one of his had settled itself against her bum.
“I’m sorry, Minerva,” Tonio offered when the footsteps of the men had finally disappeared.
“I’m not sure they were Muggles, Tonio.” The two of them were still in the archway, though they had released their hold on each other.
Tonio looked over his shoulder, where the men had gone. “Why do you say that?”
“It was a feeling. I don’t know. I could almost feel the danger.”
“Come,” Tonio suggested, slipping his hand into hers. “We can talk as we walk.”
Truthfully he wanted a moment or two to think. There was no reason from his point of view to think of the men as anything but locals, out for a stroll to the pub for a drink or two. Minerva seemed firmly insistent however. Had the evening not started as it had, he’d have teased her about the situation overtaking her senses, but he’d not dare to do that now.
“Did you recognise them?” he settled for, lightly squeezing their hands together.
“No. The first one, he caught my eye. Just as we -. “ Minerva stopped, talking about them kissing was impossible. They were working, not anything else. “Do you think we should send a message? “
This was the dilemma. One that had already passed through Tonio’s thoughts. If they sent message to Dora that they had perhaps met with someone who should be followed up, then there was no evidence to put forward other than Minerva’s feeling. Dora wasn’t one who was keen to act on feelings, what she would see as a whim. But if they didn’t and Minerva had been right?
“What do you think?”
“I think we should wait and see. Maybe in a day or two. We’re going to find out more about the porcelain tomorrow, perhaps after then?”
Tonio nodded. Whatever else this British girl was, she was excellent at her job. Intuitive, and thorough. She left no stone unturned. Already, in the few weeks they had worked together he had come to trust her judgement, and that was much of the reason he couldn’t pass by her feeling. “And for now we’ll forget, yes?”
There were only a few minutes walk left until they were back at their hotel. It would be nice to spend them in a more relaxed manner, to wind down a little before bed.
“How do you prepare for sleep?” Tonio asked, aware of his fingers brushing against the tips of Minerva’s.
That wasn’t a question she’d expected to hear, or prepared to answer. “Read usually,” she answered a little limply, she felt.
Tonio nodded. He tended to get into bed when he was tired and sleep instantly, with little preparation. Unless, of course, he was not sleeping alone and that was a totally different matter. On those occasions he expected little, if any sleep. Right now he was hardly tired at all, and the thought of sharing his bed was extremely welcome. Seeing Minerva stroking herself earlier had stirred things within him, things that would need resolving in one manner or another. “What are you reading?”
“In the guise of a romance, a text book.”
A text book might be just what he needed now. Slipping into the comfortable double bed that the hotel clerk seemed to think he’d be sharing with Minerva, and knowing that she was only the other side of a small wooden partition was going to be like torture. “Do you have a spare?”
Minerva looked sideways, and smiled under her eyelashes. “I’m afraid not. Though you’re welcome to read it after me, if it’s your thing.”
“I don’t know?” Tonio teased softly, desperately wanting to reach just a little further and take her hand once more. Why couldn’t someone come around the corner? “What is the subject?”
“I’ll show you later,” Minerva chuckled. They were close to the hotel now; it would not do to be overheard should anyone be sitting inside an open window. “We’re here.”
“Minerva?”
“Tonio?” Minerva looked at her work partner quizzically.
“Nothing.”