from the corner.
Marietta opened the coin purse and poured the contents into her lap. “I can handle men like Signor Nico Foscari. Remember? I was married to one.”
“Still, you best be careful,” the innkeeper said. “He’s quite the charmer and as shallow as they come.”
“So you know him well?” Marietta looked up from counting the coins.
Rosina sat on the side of the bed, warming to the gossip. “He has a different woman on his arm every night and spends all his time either drinking or gaming.”
Marietta nodded impatiently. “Yes, that’s easy enough to know, but what about his eyes? Is he truly blind? How did it happen?”
Rosina frowned. “I don’t know what’s wrong with them, but my cousin’s oldest works in their kitchen. Nico started losing his sight around the age of sixteen. When the doctors couldn’t help, his father lost interest in him. Signor Raul Orlando was his tutor at the time. I think he must have taken pity on the boy because he hasn’t left Nico’s side since.”
“I assumed Raul was his servant. I didn’t know he was a learned man.” She scooped up the coins and returned them to the cloth bag. “I met his father today, and I have to say, I wasn’t impressed. He denied not paying for a fresco my father painted in their home.”
Rosina gasped. “You accused Signor Savio Foscari of cheating your father? Heavens, child, are you mad?”
Marietta pulled the contracts from her pocket and waved them in the air. “I found proof in my father’s paint supplies. Not that it mattered. I won’t see a single ducat from that man.”
“Luckily, his son has no problem spreading the family money around. Oh, goodness, I almost forgot.” Rosina pulled a small envelope from her skirt pocket. “This arrived while you were out.”
Marietta read the card inside and sighed. “The Browns have invited me to a dinner in their honor tonight. It’s being hosted by another Englishman, Consul Joseph Smith. Do you know him?”
Rosina nodded. “He’s about my age and has lived here maybe ten years now. When his wife died, he decided not to return to England.”
“It is quite short notice and I fear the Browns think I fancy their son. I’m sure they invited me to further our relationship. I will send my regrets.”
“Even if the young man isn’t to your liking, Consul Smith has the reputation for throwing wonderful parties, though without a wife, he seems to be lax in proper etiquette,” Rosina replied. “I hear his friends are all so unusual. You are sure to meet some potential patrons at his house.”
“If you can handle Signor Foscari, you can handle George,” Zeta said with a giggle.
Marietta gave in and opened the armoire where her gowns hung. A modest dress would be necessary. She couldn’t have the Brown’s thinking she was trying to attract George’s attention. She chose a simple dove-gray dress with only a bit of lace at the sleeves and the bodice and held it up to the mirror. “What do you think? Sensible but not too ugly?”
“You could wear sackcloth and still be beautiful,” Zeta said.
Rosina pushed herself off the bed. “I’ll leave you to get ready for your dinner. I have plenty of work to do before I can sit down to my own.” She kissed Marietta’s cheeks before leaving.
Marietta ran a hand over the silk fabric she still held. What would it be like to be blind? She would go insane if she couldn’t paint, but Nico showed indifference in his every move. She didn’t understand how that could be and how he could be so kind with the children at the fountain yet so insufferable at Il Ridotto.
The bag of coins he had given her was too much money to refuse, but the fluttering in her stomach affirmed her apprehension. She acted as if she had no fear of him, but Rosina was right. He was trouble. If he made more advances toward her and didn’t take no for an answer, she hoped Raul would intercede. Marietta shook her head. The man was mostly blind. It
Marietta opened the coin purse and poured the contents into her lap. “I can handle men like Signor Nico Foscari. Remember? I was married to one.”
“Still, you best be careful,” the innkeeper said. “He’s quite the charmer and as shallow as they come.”
“So you know him well?” Marietta looked up from counting the coins.
Rosina sat on the side of the bed, warming to the gossip. “He has a different woman on his arm every night and spends all his time either drinking or gaming.”
Marietta nodded impatiently. “Yes, that’s easy enough to know, but what about his eyes? Is he truly blind? How did it happen?”
Rosina frowned. “I don’t know what’s wrong with them, but my cousin’s oldest works in their kitchen. Nico started losing his sight around the age of sixteen. When the doctors couldn’t help, his father lost interest in him. Signor Raul Orlando was his tutor at the time. I think he must have taken pity on the boy because he hasn’t left Nico’s side since.”
“I assumed Raul was his servant. I didn’t know he was a learned man.” She scooped up the coins and returned them to the cloth bag. “I met his father today, and I have to say, I wasn’t impressed. He denied not paying for a fresco my father painted in their home.”
Rosina gasped. “You accused Signor Savio Foscari of cheating your father? Heavens, child, are you mad?”
Marietta pulled the contracts from her pocket and waved them in the air. “I found proof in my father’s paint supplies. Not that it mattered. I won’t see a single ducat from that man.”
“Luckily, his son has no problem spreading the family money around. Oh, goodness, I almost forgot.” Rosina pulled a small envelope from her skirt pocket. “This arrived while you were out.”
Marietta read the card inside and sighed. “The Browns have invited me to a dinner in their honor tonight. It’s being hosted by another Englishman, Consul Joseph Smith. Do you know him?”
Rosina nodded. “He’s about my age and has lived here maybe ten years now. When his wife died, he decided not to return to England.”
“It is quite short notice and I fear the Browns think I fancy their son. I’m sure they invited me to further our relationship. I will send my regrets.”
“Even if the young man isn’t to your liking, Consul Smith has the reputation for throwing wonderful parties, though without a wife, he seems to be lax in proper etiquette,” Rosina replied. “I hear his friends are all so unusual. You are sure to meet some potential patrons at his house.”
“If you can handle Signor Foscari, you can handle George,” Zeta said with a giggle.
Marietta gave in and opened the armoire where her gowns hung. A modest dress would be necessary. She couldn’t have the Brown’s thinking she was trying to attract George’s attention. She chose a simple dove-gray dress with only a bit of lace at the sleeves and the bodice and held it up to the mirror. “What do you think? Sensible but not too ugly?”
“You could wear sackcloth and still be beautiful,” Zeta said.
Rosina pushed herself off the bed. “I’ll leave you to get ready for your dinner. I have plenty of work to do before I can sit down to my own.” She kissed Marietta’s cheeks before leaving.
Marietta ran a hand over the silk fabric she still held. What would it be like to be blind? She would go insane if she couldn’t paint, but Nico showed indifference in his every move. She didn’t understand how that could be and how he could be so kind with the children at the fountain yet so insufferable at Il Ridotto.
The bag of coins he had given her was too much money to refuse, but the fluttering in her stomach affirmed her apprehension. She acted as if she had no fear of him, but Rosina was right. He was trouble. If he made more advances toward her and didn’t take no for an answer, she hoped Raul would intercede. Marietta shook her head. The man was mostly blind. It
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