In the third bedroom I said:
“Angelina? This could be your study room. The house has full fibre internet and there is an ethernet point in here and in all the other rooms as well — except the bathrooms.”
“Full fibre? Is that very fast?”
“About ten times faster than standard internet.”
“That would be even better than at the university. They have full fibre to the campus but with so many users it slows down. I like this house but…”
“But?”
“Tony, what are your conditions for letting me stay here?”
“Let’s go to the kitchen, have a cup of tea, and I’ll tell you.”
+++
“Angelina? I’m offering you your own bedroom, another room for your study, and a share of the house. In exchange?”
“In exchange?”
“Only two things. First, you come with me to our operatic society meeting on Friday evening and take an audition for the part of La Cenerentola…”
“I’m OK with that. Second?”
“If you pass the audition, which I’m sure you will, you take the role in our production. That’s it. Nothing else.”
“Nothing else? What about rent?”
“None. You stay here rent-free.”
“Rent free? For how long?”
“Until you find somewhere else, or to the end of your final year.”
“To the end of my final year? I’ve got two and a half terms to go. Won’t there be increased costs for you?”
“Not really. I could claim a quarter of my council tax for being a single occupant, but I have already paid this year in full. For such a small house on a busy road I’m in the lowest band. A quarter of a small amount isn’t much, and I’ve already paid. I would be a hassle to get a rebate.”
“OK, Tony. Provisionally I accept but I have a condition for you too.”
“Which is?”
“The university are staging La Cenerentola again in the Spring term. But we are short of a Dandini. Could you audition for that?”
“With you as La Cenerentola?”
Angelina nodded.
“Yes. I will.”
Angelina kissed me on the cheek.
“Tony, on those conditions I’m your tenant. Can I unpack now?”
Half an hour later we were sitting in the kitchen discussing what to eat this evening. Eventually I persuaded Angelia to go with me to a restaurant. I booked a table for two online.
Over the meal we talked about La Cenerentola and the difficulties of my role and hers. She asked if we could use the piano before Friday evening for practice. Of course, I agreed.
+++
We had coffee back at the house and then spent too long singing. I was enjoying Angelia’s voice. It was exquisite. She seemed to like my voice too. We finally went to bed about midnight with arias from La Cenerentola still as earworms.
Over breakfast we had a discussion about food. I didn’t have enough for two of us. She had lectures until two o’clock and then she would be back at the house within five minutes, and I would drive to a large supermarket. We could have walked but I thought we would have too much shopping to carry.
We went out of the back garden gate into a council car park. I was renting a double garage that opened on to the car park. Angelina gasped when I opened the garage door.
“What is it, Tony? She asked.
“It was my grandfather’s car. It is a 1960s Bentley. It is totally impractical, but I love the comfort and its presence.”
I drove the car out of the garage, got out and opened the door for Angelina. I get back into the driver’s seat and drove off. Angelina wriggled herself into a comfortable position.
“It is very quiet and comfortable,” Angelina said.
“Quiet? It should be. At the time Bentleys were made by Rolls-Royce. It is almost the same as a Rolls of the same period. There were a few differences — the radiator grill, and the car is slightly faster, not that it matters to me. Rolls-Royces were intended to be driven by a chauffeur with the owner in the back. Bentleys were intended for people who would drive themselves.”
“Seat belts?”
“Yes, there wouldn’t have been seat belts when new. My grandfather had them added after he was in an accident with a previous car. He wasn’t hurt but felt that seat belts would be good.”
Angelina was almost purring beside me.
“The car doesn’t seem to go with the house. It ought to have a mansion to go with it…”
I nearly said something then. Perhaps I should have done, but I kept quiet.
We had our first argument in the supermarket, or really a discussion. I wanted to buy what I usually did — frozen and chilled ready meals. Angelina insisted that we should buy proper food that required preparation and cooking. She ended the discussion by saying:
“Tony? You are giving a lot. In exchange you’re going to have a resident cook and housekeeper, so shut up.”
I did, but Angelina carried on.
“You’ve been eating poorly. I’m not a food fanatic, but ready meals all the time? What do you have for lunch?”
“Usually sandwiches from the shop a few doors away.”
“Not anymore. You’re getting a packed lunch, and every evening at 6.30 you will get a proper meal.”
“Yes Ma’am,” I replied.
Angelina laughed.
“Seriously, Tony, your eating was disastrous. I can feed you far better than that.”
“OK, Angelina, if that’s what you want to do. But I have one proviso. Once a week we will eat out at a restaurant, not on Friday or Saturday when they are crowded. I think this Sunday should be the first. I’ll choose. Next week, and alternate weeks, you can choose. Is that acceptable?”
“Can you afford it, Tony?”
“Yes.”
“Then I agree. But tonight, and tomorrow night before the Operatic Society’s meeting, you are having an Angelina cooked meal.”
It took some time to put all the supermarket purchase away and then Angelina started cooking. While she was doing that, I was online dealing with a number of business emails.
I was astonished at the meal that Angelina had produced. It seems as if she can cook as well as she can sing. If all her meals are going to be like this, I was very pleased I had taken her in.
After the meal we went to the piano for Angelina to practise some of the arias from La Cenerentola. Her voice was amazing. I had shiver down my spine after some of her arias. After an hour she wanted me to sing some of Dandini’s pieces. She wasn’t impressed. She said I was adequate for an amateur but could do much better. After an hour even I could tell I had improved. It seems as if as well as a cook I now have a music tutor as well.
+++
On Friday evening we went to the Operatic Society’s meeting. There were about sixty people present. I told the Chairman that I thought Angelina could take the role as La Cenerentola. We went into a side room which had a piano, accompanied by the five major committee members. I played the piano accompaniment. Angelina started with Nacqui all’affanno.
The Chairman and committee members were stunned. After Angelina had finished, they sat in silence until the Chairman said:
“That was fantastic. Yes, we would love to have you. Can you perform for all of us, please, Angelina?”
We went out in the main hall. I sat at the grand piano and played whatever Angelina wanted.
After a quarter of an hour the room erupted in applause and a standing ovation. Angelina was far above the best of our singers. Angelina asked me to sing a couple of Dandini’s arias, the ones we had practised on Thursday evening. I surprised myself, and my fellow members. I was applauded, mainly because the members could recognise that I was better than usual, but I didn’t get the standing ovation. I didn’t deserve it, not after Angelina.