I shrugged. ‘I’m only part Italian—a quarter. I went to school in England, which is where my mum and one sister still live. The rest of us are scattered all over.’
‘I wasn’t talking about your nationality. I meant someone with your looks. Have you ever been approached by anyone? You obviously have the height and there is just something about your face that screams to be photographed.’ Thumbs and index fingers together, Lily mimed capturing me in a frame.
‘Oh, um, well, no. You’re only the second person to say that and the other was the signora earlier today. Must be my day for being talent-spotted.’ I chuckled at the irony. ‘Funny because I always thought I looked, well, odd compared to other girls.’
‘You do.’
Caught mid-sip, I almost spat out my mouthful of water. I swallowed and managed a wry ‘Thanks.’
‘No, I mean it. You have an unusual face, but the eyes now—what colour would you call them?’
‘Light brown?’
‘Uh-uh.’ She shook her head. ‘They’re really striking—gold flecks, a hint of hazel and green. You’ve got the colouring of a chameleon; you’ll photograph differently depending on the shade you are wearing.’
Our hostess returned and sailed on through to the kitchen. ‘Does anyone have room for ice cream?’
‘Yes, please,’ replied Lily. ‘I was just telling Crystal that she should think about modelling as a career.’
From the kitchen came the sound of the freezer compartment being tugged open. The signora came back bearing a tub of locally made ice cream. ‘I tell the girl she has the looks but does she believe me?’
I helped get out the dessert dishes, lovely antique ones with gold leaf edging. ‘You’re beginning to persuade me, but I always thought my features were too large.’
‘Ah, but that is why they work,’ said Lily. ‘Think of Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway—mouths the size of aircraft carriers but it didn’t do their careers any harm.’ Lily accepted a large serving of strawberry ice cream while I sketched the outline of my lips self-consciously with a fingertip. Aircraft carrier? ‘I know people in the industry. If you’re interested, get some studio portraits taken and I’ll send them around. In fact, I insist. I’ll get one of the photographers on set to do it free. I have this hunch about you and I want to crow that I discovered you when you are rich and famous.’
The signora gave a huff. ‘I discovered her, Lily.’
Now they were fighting over the right to claim responsibility for my non-existent fame.
‘OK, Maria, we discovered her.’
The two women smiled at me expectantly.
What could I say? ‘Um, thank you.’
‘James said there was a lot of standing around on set; now we know what to do with the spare time, don’t we?’ Lily dug in her spoon. ‘Excellent ice cream, Maria.’
By the time I had helped clear up and let myself into my own flat, it was nearly midnight. I felt ridiculously happy and took Barozzi for a little waltz round the kitchen, much to his disgust. He scrambled out of my arms and disappeared through the window. Ever since Xav had raised the idea that there was something wrong with me, I’d felt as if I’d had no future, not as a Savant at least. Now Lily and Signora Carriera had helped me see that my path did not have to follow the rest of my family’s; the vast majority of the population lived happy fulfilled lives in the normal, ungifted world. I could make a name for myself there that would mean my lack of Savant proficiency was entirely overshadowed. All I needed to do was push on the doors they were pointing me towards. Maybe modelling wouldn’t be the thing for me in the end, but it was a place to start.
I was just about to switch off my bedside light when my phone flashed that it had a message waiting from Diamond. I quickly tapped on the screen.
Arriving back tomorrow. If you get time, please make up spare beds for two. Love.
Two? Trace plus one. My guess would be that Androcles might well be coming to find out why the lion had not sent him a paw report. Damn. And it had been such a good day.
In no hurry to make my explanations to Xav Benedict, I left Diamond a note on the kitchen counter saying I would have to stay late at work. When Signora Carriera hinted in the afternoon that Rocco might benefit from a jog, I did not leap at the chance as I normally would, but busied myself pasting sequins on the last of the masks we were making for the film. She let the subject drop, occupied as she was showing her costume ideas for the next Carnival to Contessa Nicoletta. The old lady had come to the shop as she had promised; her ever-present pilot left on the street outside like a bouncer manning our door. The two Venetians were cackling together like witches over a cauldron, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Each threw in snippets of themes, touches of colour, to the palette of designs Signora Carriera was going to make for the old lady’s guests.
My phone rang. ‘Hey, Crystal, I’m home.’ Diamond’s voice sounded crackly on the line.
‘Diamond! Good flight?’ I flicked a sequin off my nail but it kept getting stuck to another finger. I moved to the window overlooking the little bridge and canal in the back street. Light rippled across the ceiling like a veil of billowing watered silk.
‘Very good. No delays, thank the gods of air travel. I’ve brought Trace with me. He’s decided to hold his stag party here as I’ve roped his brothers’ soulfinders in to mine. They’re all going to fly over next week. His employers have been great; they’ve given him a whole month off—can you believe it?’
I imagined that the Denver police department were clever enough to realize the benefit of having one of their top cops married to a first class peacemaker. ‘That’s really nice for you both.’
‘Only two weeks to go till the big day! So we thought parties next Friday. Will that be OK?’
‘Sure. What do you want to do for yours?’
There was a brief pause. ‘I thought you were organizing it for me.’ Diamond sounded a little aggrieved that I hadn’t made any preparations. Should I have done? I’d imagined we would book a table nearer the time.
‘Of course I will; it’s just that we’ve been really busy. I’ve had some ideas though.’ Or I was going to make sure that I had by the time I got home.
‘Humph.’ I could hear Diamond thinking that it was just as well that she hadn’t asked me to do anything more serious towards the wedding. I hadn’t meant to disappoint, but again I had been proved a waste of space in our family of high achievers. My beautiful dreams of success and new hope took on a little tarnish. Who was I fooling? I couldn’t even manage to arrange a party for my lovely sister without making a muck of the whole thing.
‘Well, if you need any help, just ask Xav.’ Diamond couldn’t hide the tone of reprimand. ‘He’s here to organize Trace’s night out and is full of really amazing ideas. He was telling me on the flight—a champagne cruise, the casino, water skiing down the Grand Canal.’
‘Oh really? Xav’s arranging water skiing for his brothers?’ Crumbs, I had been thinking more on the lines of a meal out and all of us going to a club wearing those daft hen night outfits. I’d have to up my game.
‘He should be with you any moment. I sent him over with Rocco—that dog needs to get out more—you should’ve heard the racket he was making when we got in. Anyway, I gave him a map and the dog-lead so hopefully he and Rocco should be with you in about half an hour if they only get lost once or twice.’
Xav hot footing it to see me the moment he arrived? ‘Why’s he coming all the way over here?’
‘Oh, he said he wanted to see where you worked. Trace and I will cook supper. See you soon. Love you.’
‘Love you too.’
I put my phone in my pocket and noticed that the two signoras were watching me with interest. ‘Diamond’s back,’ I explained.
‘So we heard. You are arranging her chicken night, yes?’ asked Contessa Nicoletta.
‘Hen night,’ corrected Signora Carriera.
I nodded glumly.
The old lady clucked at my expre
ssion. ‘Do not worry, Crystal, I will help. We will make sure she has a night to remember. Better than the water skiing arranged by this Xav Benedict, I promise.’
She had heard that, had she? ‘Better than that?’
‘Oh yes. These Americans can do action but only we Venetians know how to do true sophistication.’ She tapped the side of her nose. ‘Your sister will adore it.’
‘Thank you. You might just be a lifesaver—at least as far as Diamond not killing me for messing up.’
My boss looked surprised to hear that we were on such close terms with Contessa Nicoletta. ‘I didn’t know you knew Diamond so well, Contessa.’
‘Oh, we have ties.’ The old lady waved her hand vaguely in the air. She meant through the Savant network but it allowed Signora Carriera to infer that we were some kind of distant cousins.
The old lady picked up her heavy black handbag, vintage Chanel if I knew anything about accessories. ‘I will be in touch early next week with my suggestions. It is too long since I have held a party at my house.’
Her house! Wow and double-wow! Take that, Xav Benedict: you might bid water sports; I’m going to raise the stakes with an invitation to the most exclusive estate in Venice!
I beamed at her. ‘Grazie mille, that is so kind of you. I know that Diamond will be over the moon.’
Contessa Nicoletta gathered up her scarf and handbag. ‘Ladies only, naturally. Maria, I hope you will be there.’
Signora Carriera glanced at me. ‘Oh, I’m not sure. These young girls won’t want an old bird like me.’
‘Nonsense. Who else will supply the costumes?’
Costumes too? Diamond was just going to die when she heard all this. I hurried to secure the deal. ‘Of course you must come—my sister wouldn’t dream of having a party without you. Besides, her fiancé’s mother will be there. I’m sure Karla will love to meet you.’
My boss smiled, genuinely pleased to receive the invitation. ‘Then I’d be delighted.’
Contessa Nicoletta reached the door. I hastened to open it for her. She paused to admire the display of masks we had in the window, her face taking on a keen expression. ‘Such skill,’ she sighed in appreciation. ‘I do love those who use their gifts as God intended. Goodbye, Crystal.’ She tottered off on the arm of her manservant and over one of the little hump-backed bridges that spanned the canal outside.
‘Hey, Cupcake of Complete Equality. We found you.’
I turned round. ‘Hello, Xav.’
‘Missed me?’ Xav let Rocco pull him over the threshold into the shop.
‘Yeah, like I miss having toothache.’
He grinned, let the dog off the lead and began rummaging through the masks on display. Everywhere you looked in this shop you were met with the blank-eyed gaze of carnival masks—feathered, plumed, and sequinned. They had not lost their sinister air even though I’d worked here a few weeks. I preferred not to be the last person to lock up. Xav picked up one with a big curved beak—the plague doctor theme. ‘What do you think?’ His brown eyes twinkled through the holes.
‘Huge improvement.’
He passed me a lacy affair with diamanté and pearl fringe. ‘Go on.’
‘I can’t—I work here, remember.’
‘Aw, you’ve no sense of fun.’
I slapped the mask over my eyes. ‘Satisfied?’
He pulled my hand away then put it back, head to one side like an expert judging a painting. ‘Nope, I like the original better.’
Was that a compliment? I began to soften a little towards him.
‘With a mask on, you seem all fairylike, none of the lion Crystal swatting me away with a few cutting words. Rr-rarr.’ He aped slashing the air with curved claws.
I dropped the mask back in the basket he had taken it from. ‘Well, thanks, kind sir.’
He bumped my forehead with his beak. ‘Don’t mention it.’
Rocco had unearthed Signora Carriera from her workroom and she emerged to find out who had brought him.
‘Ah, so this must be one of Diamond’s new family!’ she exclaimed in Italian. She held out her hand and switched into English. ‘Please to meet you.’
Xav whipped off the mask and bent to kiss her wrist. ‘I’m Xavier Benedict—or Xav if you prefer. You must be Signora Carriera; I have heard so much about you from Diamond.’
My boss positively melted under the warmth of his smile. Was I the only one who felt like spitting when Xav turned on his charm? ‘How sweet of her! And thank you for bringing Rocco over for his walk. I hope he behaved?’
‘Not at all: he was extremely ungentlemanly, chasing all the lady dogs with no discrimination in the slightest.’ He leaned closer. ‘I fear he is a rogue and a heartbreaker.’
Rocco cocked his head, gazing up at Xav with eyes of pure innocence. Even the dog was besotted.
The signora gave a lovely liquid laugh, one I rarely heard from her, and patted her beagle on the head. ‘You little terror, you!’
The bell over the entrance rang. Lily George whirled in, wearing an eye-catching patchwork coat. ‘I hope you are ready for me, Maria!’ she called. ‘I need those last masks to show make-up.’ She stopped when she saw we had a customer. I took the plague doctor mask out of Xav’s hand and placed it carefully back on the rack.
‘Yes, I’ve everything boxed up for you.’ Signora Carriera reached beneath the counter to find the order. Xav gave me a wink and wandered to the other side of the shop to look at the cloaks on the rack of costumes. ‘I have some last minute ones in the workroom. Give me a moment, Lily.’
Taking a good look at our visitor, Lily sidled over to me. ‘Crystal, why did you not tell me you meet such gorgeous Italian men working in this shop? I’d like to take that one home with me, wrapped in a bow.’
I blushed and cleared my throat. ‘Erm … Lily … ’
Xav turned round and arched a brow at us.
Lily gripped my arm. ‘Don’t tell me: he understands English. Just kill me.’
Xav laughed. ‘Now that would be a shame.’
‘Oh my gosh, and he’s American! I am totally, totally mortified. Crystal, find a cloak and throw it over my head. I need to hide.’
I shook her back to her senses. ‘Don’t worry, it’s only Xav. My sister is marrying his brother in a couple of weeks. Xav, this is Lily George; she’s doing the costumes for the new Steve Hughes movie that they’re filming in Venice this week.’
‘Nice to meet you.’ Xav offered Lily his hand. She gave it a quick shake before clapping her hands to her blushing cheeks.
‘And you too. Ignore me: I have this terrible thing where I go like a beetroot even when I shouldn’t be embarrassed. I thought age would cure me of it.’ She flapped at her face.
Signora Carriera returned from her search for the various boxes she had packed for Lily and placed them on the counter. ‘That is everything, I think, Lily. Do you want to check them?’
‘I’ll take a quick peek.’ Lily went through the boxes, humming her approval. Xav loitered at her shoulder to get a preview. She held one up to his face. ‘Fabulous.’
Did she mean the mask or Xav? I wondered.
Lily put the mask back in its box. ‘You know, Xav, you could come along with Crystal on Sunday if you like. Casting are having difficulty finding enough extras who are tall enough for what the director wants. They’d love to have you, I’m sure. You might find it interesting.’
Selfishly, I had thought of the film as my special experience; I rather hoped Xav would turn down the chance, but no.
He rubbed his hands. ‘Hey, I’ve only been in this country a few hours and I’m already starring in the movies—I love this place.’ He addressed the last remark to Signora Carriera, cementing his reputation as her favourite.
‘I take that as a “yes”?’ Lily put the boxes in one of the shop’s large bags decorated with Carnival masks. ‘Crystal knows where we’ll be. Early start, I’m afraid. Make-up call at six.’
Xav beat me to the door and opened it
for her. ‘We’ll be there.’
‘Thank you for these, Maria. See you two on Sunday then.’ Lily swept out, the bag swinging jauntily in her grip.
Rocco scampered out of the workroom, fighting a long piece of gold braid. Signora Carriera gave a cluck and untangled him with difficulty.
‘It is high time this dog had his supper,’ she said in Italian. ‘Will you take him home and feed him for me, Crystal? I’d better see what mess he has made in there before shutting up the shop.’
‘Of course, signora. C’mon, Xav. Home time.’ I fetched my coat and clipped the lead back on Rocco’s collar.
‘Goodnight, signora!’ Xav called as we left the shop.
‘Arrivederci, Xav!’ The door locked behind us and the shutters snapped closed.
‘That’s an amazing place to work.’ Xav turned to go in completely the wrong direction. Rocco and I headed towards home, the beagle looking mournfully over his shoulder until Xav realized we weren’t with him.
‘I’m sure we came that way,’ he said, catching up with me and pointing to the other side of the bridge.
‘Maybe you did, but that isn’t the quickest way back. Follow me.’
My gift had proved useful in Venice in the first few months here, as the network of streets was bewildering. Still, it didn’t help with the sudden blind alleys or streets ending at a canal, which thwarted you from carrying on in a straight line; only local knowledge could solve that problem. Many streets here are so narrow you have to proceed single file, but on the maps they are drawn as main routes. Tourists can be forgiven for hesitating before marching along a path that in any other city would only lead into someone’s backyard or wheelie bins. I was rather pleased to be able to display my expertise to Xav, threading our way without making a single mistake, until we reached the Accademia Bridge, the southern-most of the three over the Grand Canal.
We paused at the top of the arch to admire the view. Even after more than a year in Venice I always stopped to remind myself of the incredible city that had become my home.