I showered and dried myself slowly savoring the luxury of my surroundings, knowing that I could have been happy here if things would have worked out differently seven years ago.   I shifted my focus from my dampened mood a little to where the direction of my thoughts was flowing and flicked quickly through my small wardrobe through the few dresses that I had brought with me. I had actually wanted to accompany Marc in the morning but going to his room was a total waste of time and my peace of mind was gone.I looked at myself in the mirror thrusting away the destructive thoughts and forcing myself to concentrate on the task at hand. Finally, I selected a simple sleeveless dress that was blue in color. Then I slipped it over my slim figure. With the addition of a light coating of mascara and lipstick and my hair in a quickly assembled knot. I felt ready to face the world. It was after all much more sensible to be going to Naviglio with Mathias and Ria. I reassured myself that it would give me the added opportunity of being able to buy a present for Tio.The dining room was empty, although my relief of not seeing Marc was combined with a certain amount of regret. At least in his presence, I felt fully alive, even though he caused me such distress.I was finishing my second Cup of coffee when Mathias entered the room with a sullen expression marking his attractive features. “What is it, Mathias? Has something happened? Is Carl causing more trouble? I felt my heart plunder, as I considered the possibilities of Carl's action. Exchange of personalities with Marc had served to put it out of my mind now Mathias’s presence had renewed all my worries.“No Carmen, you need not have to worry about Carl.” Mathias said with a dismissive gesture.“The way I feel at the moment, it would be no more than Marc deserves .” Mathias interposed.“Why? What happened? I asked urgently. “Tell me Mathias please !” “My brother has forbidden me to take you to Naviglio today. He does not think it is appropriate .” He rose from the chair in which he had been lounging and poured himself a Cup of coffee draining it in one shot and turning to stare out into the inner courtyard.“But why Mathias? Ria is accompanying us right? what possible objection can he have ?” I said with a confused expression.“That's just it! Ria won't be becoming. She is having stomach upset since morning and will have to visit the doctor.”“ I am so sorry, Ria is not well, I had no idea.” I said with genuine regret.” But I still don't see why we shouldn't go to Naviglio,” I added feeling a growing sense of anger at Marc’s highhanded behavior. “We are not his servants after all and we don't have to do everything he tells us !”“You will have the chance to tell him in a moment, he's on his way across the Hall now,” Mathias said. “I am willing to stick out for this trip to Naviglio if you will back me up.”“Don't worry! I don't care to have my decisions made for me,” I said with false bravado and tried to muster the flood of warmth that flooded my body at the sight of Marc's familiar figure as it came towards us.“Mathias has told you that your visit to Naviglio must be canceled for today?” He said abruptly, regarding me arrogantly from his heavily lidded eyes. “I'll make arrangements to take you later in the week,” he continued obviously not expecting any opposition to his decision.“That won't be necessary, thank you Marc,” I said quietly. “ I know you are very weak at the moment and you need to take a rest. I don't want you to exert any pressure on yourself. I don't mind going to Naviglio without Ria neither does Mathias ..”“But I do!” Marc grounded out harshly. “There will be no more talk of this visit. You can accompany me to the vineyard instead,” he told me with arrogance.” I can postpone my business commitments on one occasion without difficulty.”“Like I said that won't be necessary.” I said stubbornly. How dare he speak to me as though I was a toddler without sensible thought in my head? I had made my own decision for the last seven years and I was not going to stop now.I wiped my mouth on the napkin provided and rose steadily from the table gathering my strength to regain the composure of my face and face the angry figure in front of me. Whatever his business plans were for that day they wouldn't be very important ones, I concluded serving his overpowering figure from beneath my lower lids. In the black business suit and cream open-neck shirt, I wished he looked less attractive. I shivered inwardly and said.“Mathias and I have decided to go and nothing you can say will change our mind or stop us.” My voice was deceptively steady, although I felt a tremor of fear run through my body when I saw Marc’s face dark with anger. But I looked at him fiercely trying to hide my inner fears of what will he do if he loses him temper.“Mathias you will leave us alone for some time, please. I have things to discuss with my wife.” Marc said all of a sudden.Marc sent his warning glance towards Mathias and for a moment I thought the younger man would obey his brother's command. “As Carmen said we are going to Naviglio,” Mathias said flatly.“There's no harm in it Marc, after all, we are brother and sister,” he added deliberately.“Nevertheless I do not wish it! If you persist in taking this action, you must be prepared to take the consequences! Nothing should happen to my wife.” Marc was speaking to him in a threatening voice. I thought the two men had never looked so alike as Mathias glared at Marc his face tight with fury.“We are going, Marc! As I've said there can be no harm in the visit. Come, Carmen,” he added, holding his protecting hand under my elbow. “We had better make a start before the day gets too warm. Get your things.”“One moment Mathias!” Marc restrained his brother’s hand as he was about to follow me from the room,” I want to speak to your further.” “As you wish!” Mathias replied angrily and gave a significant glance at Marc's restraining hand on his arm. “I'll meet you in ten minutes in the Hall Carmen.” He said and followed his brother.“Okay, I will wait for you there,” I said quietly glancing reluctantly at the still figure of my husband in the open doorway of the dining room feeling a surge of sympathy for the silent figure. It's totally ridiculous to feel sorry for Marc I told myself firmly, as I made my way to my room. The haggard look on his face was merely the result of the shadows in the doorway plus when had Marc read ever need anyone’s sympathy? Quickly I collected my cardigan and checked the contents of my handbag. After checking my final appearance in the full-length mirror, I moved safely down the steps beginning to wonder whether perhaps Marc had persuaded Mathias to cancel that outing after all.I licked my dry lips and looked tentatively towards the dining room door, expecting Marc’s brooding figure to appear. The Hall remained reassuring the empty, I pushed open the outdoors and stood hesitantly on the upper steps only to smile with relief as Mathias brought a Bentley at the bottom of the step.As Mathias climbed out I descended the steps quickly glancing nervously towards the house, half expecting an angry figure to appear at any moment. I smiled at Mathias who held the door for me to get inside and walked quickly around the car and slid silently into the driver’s seat.He slammed the door with an ear-piercing bang, released the handbrake and rode away from the parking area with a powerful squeal of tires. He raced the car and I was horrified and clutched onto the seat. “Calm down Mathias! I'm not tired of my life just yet, you know. I glanced at his angry expression and added. “You better tell me what did Marc say to you! Maybe it will relieve your tension a little.”“I am sorry Carmen! “He pulled the car to a slower pace, giving me an apologetic glance as he added. “You are correct in your assumption of course. It was Marc who made me angry, just like always. He treats me as though I am stupid!” He said harshly, with an angry shrug of his broad shoulders.“Well, that's nothing new about it.” I said bitterly. “Your brother is very arrogant and bossy and always will be! He can't bear to think that anyone is capable of making a decision without consulting him.”“He seemed to believe that I am not capable of looking after you! Do I seem like a child to you Carmen?” Mathias gives an angry shrug obviously not expecting an answer to his question. “I told him that we will have dinner at Naviglio as there are many good restaurants. But he said no as it is not safe to drive back after dark. I have done these very things many times without any incident? However, he will not listen to the reason. Will you please light me a cigarette, Carmen? I really need one.” he said jerkily handing me the packet from inside of his jacket pocket and indicating the lighter on the dashboard.“Maybe this will help me to cool my temper.” he said drawing deeply and inhaling with obvious pleasure.” But Marc sent that,” and pointed at the broad-brimmed straw had to lie on the luggage space store. “ he borrowed from Ria for you and it's true,” he added reluctantly, “ I had not thought of this and you would find shopping very uncomfortable without it as it is very hot.”“It's kind of him, to think of it”, I said in a restricted voice. I was forced to acknowledge Marc for his chauvinistic character. I dragged my thoughts away from him and said. “Look can we just forget about Marc right now Mathias? Otherwise, it'll just spoil our mood for the rest of the day and that would be playing into his hands don't you think?”“Yes we will not mention him again. Have you decided where you would like to go in Naviglio or would you like to leave the details to me?” “Well I would like to buy a few gifts, while we're there and definitely we must go for a boat ride in Gondola and then stop at Darsens and grab a drink,” I said excitedly. “Shopping!” Mathias rolled his eyes in horror. “Why did I not follow Marc’s advice and stay at home or we could have gone to some other place instead. Where there are no shops there,” he added with a wicked twinkle in my direction.“You can stop worrying Mathias,” I said with love. “I shall not spend much time shopping. I want to see as much of Naviglio as I there may not be another opportunity again.” If things would have been different then maybe I would have visited but now no way !I smiled at him determined not to mention Marc again. There would not be a great deal of pleasure to be gained from such a visit with an uninterested companion. It would have been pleasant under different circumstances to go with Marc I concluded. But right now I rather not.The journey to Naviglio passed quickly in Mathias’s undemanding company and he parked with casual expertise in the busy city, steering me towards the most suitable shop without difficulty.I was really impressed and wondered whether Mathias had the habit of bringing his girlfriend out for shopping too often.He agreed to wait for me in a café nearby with a refreshing drink for company so that I was able to look around the shops without too many Qualms. I had already decided what I had to buy for Tio. But a local gift for Ria and Marc would be foolish. I would send them something from London perhaps a painting of the beautiful northern Hills. As for Marc I somehow doubted whether he would appreciate a gift from me, so I had only Tio and Don to consider.