Page 84 of Royally Matched

“Actually, we’re here to find someone,” I begin. “Professor Esposito.”

Both women give me a surprised look. “Do you meanFelix? What do you want with him?” asks Erma, her tan, weathered hands on her hips.

It’s a good start that they know him.

“We have something we need to get translated, and we understood that Professor Esposito might be able to help,” Sofia says.

Erma narrows her eyes at Sofia, then shares a look with Constance before turning on her heel and marching back up the hill as quickly as her eighty-something-year-old bowed legs will take her.

We watch her leave, surprised. “I’m sorry. Did we say something to upset your friend?” Sofia asks.

Erma stops and turns. “Well, are you two coming or not?” she asks gruffly.

Sofia and I exchange a look.

“We’re coming,” I reply.

We follow Erma, with Constance trailing behind us. We walk only five doors up the hill, directly opposite where we parked the car only moments ago. Erma gestures at a door with peeling orange paint. “If he’s not there, he’s down at the festival.”

“Thank you so much, Mrs…?” Sofia asks.

“Call me Erma. Everyone else does.”

She smiles at her. “Erma.”

Erma raps on the door, and we wait. And wait. Knowing the professor is elderly, it could be that he’s slowly making his way to the door?

“He must be at the festival,” Erma says after a few minutes. “Come with me. You’ll find my brother there.”

Sofia raises her brows. “Brother?”

Erma shoots us a smile. “That’s right. Come along.”

“It’s a good job you’re not in your high heels today,” I observe as we make our way down the hill with the two elderly ladies, aka the silly old duck and goose.

“Sneakers are surprisingly comfortable. I might start wearing them to all my official events,” she quips.

We turn onto the street we just drove up, and Constance and Erma pepper us with questions as we head toward the festival.

“What are your names?” Erma asks.

“I’m Marco, and this is?—”

“Hadley,” Sofia quickly says.

I raise my brows at her.

“Marco and Hadley. Both lovely names. Aren’t they, Constance?” Erma says.

“Oh, lovely,” Constance agrees. “Where have you come from today?”

“Villadorata,” Sofia says.

“That’s a long way to come to see our Felix,” Erma says.

“I suppose it is,” Sofia replies.

“But the roads were good, and we got here in no time, didn’t we, Hadley?” I add with a small smirk.