The Venice Sketchbook(64)

Leo steered the boat towards the dock, where policemen and health brigade volunteers were waiting to haul us on shore. I let the older people go first, then Leo stopped me.

“I will take this young lady home,” he said. “I know where she lives.”

“That’s not necessary,” I said, but I was now shivering badly.

“It’s no problem,” Leo said. “You can’t walk. You need to change out of those wet clothes as quickly as possible.” He revved up the motor and threaded his way between boats, out to the end of the Zattere, past Santa Maria della Salute, then around into the Grand Canal. The storm had now subsided to a steady rain, but it was still a chaotic scene on the water, with boats trying to head in every direction—some making for home, some determined to head out to St Mark’s Basin in the hope of fireworks to come. Leo cursed a couple of times, as we were almost hit. But the Accademia Bridge finally appeared ahead of us, and he turned the boat into a narrow canal just before it.

“This is as close as I can get,” he said. “Are you able to walk?”

“I think so.” It was hard to talk as my teeth were chattering. He tied up and helped me out of the boat. I started to stagger forward, but my legs didn’t want to hold me.

“Wait until I have secured the boat,” he said, jumping up on to the fondamenta, then helping me out. He put an arm around me to steady me as he led me through an alleyway and into my street. I didn’t resist. I didn’t think I could make it alone. This was when I remembered my keys. I felt for my pocket and was relieved to find them there, although my bag of food was now lost somewhere in the Giudecca Canal. I took the keys out, but my hand was shaking so much I couldn’t put the key in the lock. Leo relieved me of it, unlocked the front door and helped me up the stairs.

“Thank you for bringing me home,” I said, trying to keep my voice formal. “Now you should probably return to your people.”

“I can’t leave you,” he said. “You’re in shock.” He went ahead of me into the kitchen. “Does your landlady have any grappa?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied.

Leo was opening cupboards and peering on shelves. Then he exclaimed, “Ah, here we are.”

“I shouldn’t drink her spirits without permission,” I said, reverting to true English fashion.

He glared. “I’ll buy her a new bottle if she makes a fuss.” And a glass was put into my hand. “Drink this, then get out of those wet clothes and have a hot bath,” he said.

I took a sip of the liquid. It was fiery, and I started coughing.

“Drink it all. Good for you,” Leo commanded. “I’ll start the bath for you.”

I was downing the rest of the grappa when I remembered the geyser.

“Leo, watch out,” I called. “When you turn on the tap—”

The rest of my sentence was cut off by an impressive whoomph. Followed by a string of Italian swear words. I rushed to the bathroom.

“I nearly lost my eyebrows,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I should have warned you. It has to be treated very carefully,” I said. “I have the knack now, but—”

“Why don’t people ever have things that work properly in their houses?” he demanded. “This must be older than Marco Polo.”

“Let me see.” I turned him towards me. His face had some soot on it. “I think your eyebrows survived,” I said. I wiped off his nose with my finger. “Only you are a little sooty. You’d better wash, or you’ll have explaining to do.”

Our eyes met, and we both started to laugh.

“Oh my God, what next?” he demanded. “At least life with you is never boring. Now take those clothes off.”

And he started to unbutton my dress. I don’t quite know exactly what happened next, but one minute we were laughing and the next we were kissing passionately while his hands fumbled with my buttons and the dress fell to the floor. Then we were stumbling together towards the bedroom, our mouths still kissing hungrily, and then we had fallen to my bed together. I tasted the salt on his lips, felt his warm body against my icy-cold one, knew he was removing my undergarments and couldn’t have stopped if I’d wanted to. But I didn’t want to. I wanted him with all of my being. It was painful and wonderful at the same time. I know I cried out, but I can’t tell whether it was from pain or pleasure.

And when we were both spent, he lay beside me, a look of such tenderness on his face that it melted my heart.

“What I’d really like to do is to lie here beside you all night and to wake up in the morning to see your sweet face and then kiss you gently like this.” And he did so.

“Leo, this was madness,” I said as the realization of what we had just done swept over me. “We can never let this happen again. Never, you understand.”

He nodded. “I know. But I’m glad it has happened, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m glad I know what it’s like now.”

“You were a virgin?”

“Of course.” I paused, then added, “I will remember it for the rest of my life.” Suddenly I shot upright. “The bath!” I shouted. We both rushed to the bathroom. The water was about half an inch from the top. Leo turned off the taps, and we looked at each other, enjoying a private joke for a moment.