Page 16 of The Wedding Proposal

‘Welcome.’ Maria took Elle’s hands and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘We are pleased you are here, someone who understands the computers, because when they do not work . . .’ She pulled a comical face of frustration.

Her English wasn’t quite as effortless as Joseph’s. Silver was beginning to shoot an occasional strand in her hair, but her eyes were dark and sultry. Like Lucas’s.

Elle shoved the thought away. ‘I know that feeling.’ She felt an instant liking for Maria. They hadn’t conversed via e-mail, as Elle and Joseph had, because Maria didn’t write English well enough to enjoy doing so, but her smile was warm.

They left Maria unpacking and returned to the broad staircase, walled on either side.

On the first floor was an activity room with tables and chairs, paintings on the walls and sewing in trays. ‘You’ll usually find Axel up here and Oscar down in the games room and gym, making a noise with the energetic children.’

Joseph showed Elle where to find the clean but antiquated toilets. And then, with an air of ceremony, threw open double doors at the end of the landing. ‘The big salon. At first, I thought I would divide this room. But it’s useful for parties or carols at Christmas. Sometimes, entertainers will come. So the big salon remains big.’

‘Wow.’ Elle gazed down a room lined with windows at one side and two chandeliers dangling from the high ceiling. ‘The building is quite a place.’

‘It belonged to my Great Uncle Nicholas. He was a kind man and used to try to find little jobs for local children so they could earn pocket money.’ He smiled, reminiscently. ‘He had compassion. When he made me the beneficiary of his will, I decided to use the house in a way he would have liked.’

‘That’s beautiful,’ said Elle, softly.

They retraced their steps along the landing to a door at the top of the staircase. ‘I’ve left the computer room till last. I don’t think you’ll say “wow” to it.’ He thrust open a door labelled: Internet Cafe. And, underneath: Ikel u xorb projbit. No food or drink.

Inside were eight computers ranging from what Elle would have tossed away five or six years ago, with deep monitors and dingy mismatched keyboards, to one that might actually have come out of its box this year. Two printer/scanners squatted on a cupboard. The tables and desks were a motley selection, and wires were gaffer-taped to the carpet.

‘Right,’ Elle murmured, hit forcibly by what it would mean to be ‘responsible for the Internet Cafe’, as she’d proudly told Lucas she was. It was a far cry from ranks of up-to-date machines gracing matching desks.

Joseph chuckled. ‘The equipment isn’t pretty, but it works. I have a tiny budget put aside to improve things, but I have waited for you to tell me how to spend it.’ He unlocked a pair of cupboard doors to display more monitors and computer towers, keyboards and a straggle of wires. ‘The equipment that doesn’t work is in here.’

Weakly, Elle laughed. ‘Well, OK. I have plenty to go at.’

Joseph passed her a bunch of three keys. ‘Room key, big cupboard and small cupboard, where the printer paper’s kept. You know where the kitchen is — get yourself a drink when you want one. I’ll be in my office—’ He paused, took a step towards the open door and peered around it. ‘Carmelo?’

After a moment, a young Maltese boy stepped out of the shadows with a shy smile. His eyes were wide and bright, his hair unkempt. His sand-coloured shorts were too well washed and too big, and his once-white shirt was too small. His bare feet were in sandals, also too big. He looked to be about eight years old and his face was alive with intelligence.

‘Hello,’ said Elle encouragingly. And then, remembering her phrase book, ‘Bongu.’

‘Hello.’ His smile widened. ‘I am Carmelo.’

‘I’m Elle.’

‘I like computers.’

‘So do I.’

Joseph broke in. ‘Carmelo is usually at school at this time.’ He cocked a quizzical eye at the young boy, who instantly gazed down at his worn sandals. ‘Carmelo, you know that I must not let you come here during the hours you should be at school.’

Carmelo stepped on the bare toes of one foot with the heel of the other and pressed down, as if punishing himself.

Elle’s heart went out to him. ‘I need somebody to help me in the computer room this morning.’ Then, as Carmelo looked up, hopefully, ‘But I’m not happy about children missing school.’

The boy looked down again. ‘I help today. I go to school tomorrow.’

Over Carmelo’s head, Joseph glanced at Elle and nodded slightly.

‘Thank you,’ she said, to Carmelo. ‘Just this one time, OK? And after that you need to go to school when you should.’

Carmelo peeped through his hair at her with an expression that suggested he wasn’t overly fond of the idea.

She decided to take it as acquiescence. She’d requested his co-operation; now she could only await the result. ‘Let’s go and ask Maria for cleaning things.’

Soon, they were back in the computer room armed with cloths and hot soapy water, cola for Carmelo and water for Elle.

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