The Italian Inheritance by Louise Rose-Innes Page A

grotto. It was as magnificent as Leonardo had promised. An incandescent blue glow illuminated the cave, making the water appear luminous. Anna clambered onto a rock for a better view. The rich husband did the same, sitting a bit too close to Anna for her liking.
    Just then, much to Anna’s amazement, Leonardo broke into song. His deep tenor echoed powerfully off the cavern walls.
    “The acoustics are incredible,” remarked Anna clapping. The sound seemed to reverberate around them, on and on until it faded into the gentle lapping of the water against the bordering rocks.
    Ten minutes later several more swimmers had entered the grotto so Leonardo suggested they head back to the boat. Once outside, Anna noticed that two more boats had anchored outside the cavern. One was a large luxury yacht. They had to swim past it to reach Leonardo’s vessel.
    Anna was breast-stroking past when she saw a toddler appear on the deck of the luxury yacht. The sun danced off her lovely golden curls. She was holding tightly onto a little bear.  Anna watched in horror as the toddler veered ever closer to the edge of the yacht.
    “Don’t!” she yelled, but the little girl didn’t hear her. There appeared to be no one else on deck. Where the hell were the parents?
    “Watch out!” tried Anna again, but to no avail. Then to her horror, the toddler tripped and fell straight overboard.
    “Leonardo, help!” cried Anna, swimming frantically towards the spot where the toddler had gone in. She dived and luckily the water was so clear, she managed to find the little girl straight away. Grabbing an arm she tried to pull her towards the surface. Then a pair of male arms joined her. Together they got the girl to the surface.
    “Here, pull her onto the deck,” gasped Anna, treading water. Leonardo did as requested and then Anna clamoured up the ladder of the luxurious vessel, and bent down over the little girl.
    At that moment a woman appeared from below, having just realised the little girl was missing. “Serena? Where are you Serena? Hey, who are you?”
    Then she spotted the child lying inert on the deck. “What happened,” she gasped, running towards the little girl.
    “She fell overboard,” hissed Anna, repositioning the girls head to clear her airway. Then she began mouth to mouth resuscitation.
    “Come on,” begged Anna, pumping the little chest. Eventually the girl’s eye lids fluttered and she began to wretch. Anna turned her onto her side and let her vomit until her stomach was empty. The child gasped and inhaled, then began to cry.
    “She’s okay,” whispered Anna taking the girl’s pulse. It was getting steadier by the second. Anna was filled with relief. “She’s going to be okay.”
    “Oh, thank God,” cried the woman who had been joined by her husband. They were both very pale.
    “I can’t begin to thank you enough,” said the man. “I don’t know what happened. One minute she was there and the next she was gone.”
    “You really ought to keep a closer eye on her, especially on a boat,” pointed out Anna. She was secretly fuming that the parents could be so stupid as to let the little girl wonder out onto the deck alone.
    “You are right, of course,” admitted the man. “It was very foolish of us and very nearly catastrophic, if not for you.” He looked at Anna with respect. “Your fast thinking saved our little girl.”
    Anna bit her lip. “It was nothing, really.”
    “Please, won’t you join us for dinner tomorrow night? It is the least we can do to say thank you.” The man glanced appreciatively at her breasts.
    “I’m a nurse so I’m trained in first aid. I don’t need dinner.” Anna crossed her hands over her chest.
    “Oh , please,” cried the woman, cradling her child’s head in her lap. She hadn’t noticed her husband’s blatant staring. “It would be an honour to have you over for dinner. After all , you saved our Serena’s life.”
    “If you insist,” smiled Anna giving in. The