The Venice Sketchbook(28)

He was looking at me, and I could see the longing in his eyes. “That was one reason why I was so attracted to you. Here you were—a young girl so fresh, so unspoiled, so excited by everything. And Bianca—I give her a large gold bracelet, and she barely glances at it before she tosses it into a drawer. The only thing she shows any affection for is her dog. She has a little Pekinese, and she showers it with kisses.”

I had to smile. “You said that Venetians didn’t go for pets.”

“She is the exception. And you will be pleased to know that your kittens are now old cats with great-grandchildren of their own.”

“Perhaps your fiancée will change when she has children,” I said. I was proud of the way I kept my voice even.

“We shall see. But I have spoiled your dinner. I should not have mentioned her.”

“No, I’m glad you did. Otherwise, I might have gone away with false hopes. Not that you ever would . . .” Now I stumbled over the words, feeling my cheeks flaming.

“In another world, you and I might have made a good couple,” he said. “But you—why are you not married? You are a beautiful woman.”

“I’m not beautiful,” I said.

“You are striking. That red hair and those clear blue eyes and your perfectly English complexion. Men would certainly notice you.”

I sighed. “I don’t seem to have any way of meeting men in my life. I teach girls all day and go home to be with my mother. She is rather fragile, you know. She depends on me. I am all she has, and she still grieves for my father. My little sister, Winnie, married and went out to India with her husband last year.”

“And you are the dutiful daughter who stayed?” He nodded with sympathy.

“The dutiful daughter and the dutiful son,” I said.

“That’s right. We make a good pair.” He reached across the table and took my hand. It was all I could do not to snatch mine away. “I’m so glad we met again and had this meal together. I shall remember it.”

“So shall I.” I attempted a bright smile, impressed by my own acting ability.

“Will you come back next year?”

“I think that’s highly unlikely,” I said. “And even if I did, I couldn’t see you again. You’ll be a married man.”

“Is a married man not allowed to take an old friend to dinner?”

“Not without his wife.”

He sighed. “I do not think that Bianca would want to meet you. She seems to have a jealous streak in her nature. But I promise I would behave like a gentleman all evening.”

He looked hopeful, but I shook my head. “If word got back to my school that I was cavorting with a married man, that would be the end for me. The headmistress is a very committed Christian in the worst sense of the word. And believe me, the girls would tell her and probably embellish. In fact I shall have to be careful about tonight—reaffirm that you are an old friend of the family.”

The waiter appeared at the table. “Are you ready for dessert now?”

“Oh, I think that maybe we should just leave it . . . ,” I began, but Leo waved my protest away.

He turned to the waiter. “We’ll have the panna cotta with peaches, and coffee, limoncello.” He turned back to me. “We will not talk of the future. We will enjoy this moment, sitting in this beautiful night.”

I looked out across the lagoon. While we had been talking, night had fallen, and lights twinkled across the water. A moon had risen over the Giardini. I may never see it again, I thought. I will never have another evening like this for as long as I live.

Dessert and coffee were served. I ate mechanically, and while I admitted the flavours were delicious, I might have been eating sand. I glanced at my watch. “I should go,” I said. “I don’t know how frequently the vaporetto runs at this time of night. I can’t risk being late and getting locked out.”

“I have my boat at the private dock,” he said. “I will whisk you there in a few minutes, so don’t worry.”

“Oh, but I don’t want to inconvenience you, and we are not close to any canal.”

“Julietta, I cannot let you ride alone on a public boat at this time of night,” he said. “And do you not see that I want to make the most of this moment, just as much as you do? Come.” He held out his hand to me and helped me to my feet. We rode down in silence in the lift, then out through the grand foyer to where his launch was moored at a small side canal. He cast loose, and we moved smoothly out into the black water of the lagoon. Along the riva —the busy waterfront, past the various palaces where lights sparkled on water. It felt like a dream that was going to fade at any moment. I watched Leo as he stood up to steer, taking in his profile, his strong jaw, the way the wind blew through his hair.

Just before the bridge and the station, he turned into a narrow side canal. “I think we can reach your convent from here,” he said. “Let me see if I can find a place to tie up.”

“You shouldn’t come with me,” I said. “Someone might see.”

“What could be more suitable than a man making sure that a woman gets home safely?” He eased the boat to the side of the canal where there were some seaweed-covered steps and tied a rope to the railing before jumping out. He took my hand and helped me up. Then we walked into the darkness of a narrow alleyway. Only one street lamp shone at the far end. Leo still held firmly on to my hand.