Lucy Gordon - The Venetian Playboy’s Bride

He had it at last, the thing he’d been seeking through wretched days and sleepless nights: an explanation that would put Dulcie back on her pedestal.

‘That must be it. But it’s a bit late in the day to say it. My guess is that you’ve been hard on her. She’s been judged by a man who understood nothing. And that came as a shock to her, because he’d deceived her into thinking he was kind and gentle. How could she know it was just a delusion and he wasn’t really like that at all?’

‘It wasn’t a-OK, OK, I get the point.’

‘So you thought she was perfect! Are you perfect? But like all men, you say one thing and do another.’

‘When do I do that?’

‘I’ve heard you talk about women when you thought I wasn’t listening. No milksops for you, you said. You wanted a woman who’d be a challenge, you said. One who would keep you guessing, you said!’

There was a silence.

‘I didn’t exactly live up to that, did I?’ he asked wryly.

‘The first time you met a real woman with guts enough to play you at your own game you took fright.’ Liza addressed the heavens in exasperation. ‘And these are our lords and masters!’

If Guido had been less bemused he might have noticed that Liza was speaking to him with far less than her usual respect. It wouldn’t have bothered him, but he would have wondered about it. Now his attention was fully occupied trying to keep up with her.

‘She’s too good for you,’ Liza went on. ‘And she was quite right to leave you. Such a pity that she’ll come back.’

‘You think so?’ Guido asked hopefully.

‘You two are fated to get married. And serve you right.’

‘What?’

‘Oh, she’ll lead you a merry dance,’ Liza said with relish. ‘You won’t know whether it’s today or tomorrow.’

Guido gave her a strange look. ‘I won’t, will I?’

‘It’ll never be peaceful.’

‘It’ll never be dull,’ he murmured.

‘Whatever you expect her to do, she’ll do the opposite.’

‘She’ll keep me guessing.’

‘And you’ll come by your just deserts.’

‘Yes,’ he breathed. ‘I will.’ The next moment he’d leapt up, planted a huge kiss on her cheek and headed out of the garden at a run.

‘Signore, where are you going?’

‘To get my just deserts,’ he yelled over his shoulder. ‘Thanks, Liza.’

He tore down to the landing stage, yelling for the boatman, who came running. Marco and Leo were in the garden. Seeing Guido speed past they exchanged puzzled glances and immediately went after him, catching up by the water.

‘Where’s the fire?’ Marco demanded.

‘No time to explain. Claudio-’ this to the boatman ‘-the Hotel Vittorio.’

He got in and the other two joined him.

‘You’re not leaving our sight,’ Marco said. ‘You’ve dragged us into this stunt you’re pulling tonight, and you’re not vanishing, leaving us holding the baby.’

As the engine roared into life they took up position each side of him like a pair of guard dogs.

Guido slapped his back pocket. ‘I’ve left my phone behind!’

‘Use mine,’ said Marco, who was never careless about these things.

Guido hurriedly dialled the hotel and was put through to the suite, but it was Jenny who answered.

‘I need to speak to Dulcie urgently,’ he said.

‘But, Guido, she’s gone.’

‘Gone how? Where?’

‘Left Venice. Just packed her bags and went. At least, she didn’t pack all her bags because she said that stuff didn’t really belong to her.’

‘Didn’t she leave any word for me?’

‘No, she said you wouldn’t want to hear anything from her.’

‘The silly woman!’ he yelled. ‘Of course I want to hear from her. I love her.’

‘Well, don’t blame me. I’m not the one who’s been pig-headed.’

‘No, I have. But Jenny, help me put it right. What flight is she getting?’

‘She’s not. The flights were all booked so she’s going by train. Twelve o’clock.’

‘But that’s only five minutes away.’ He clapped Claudio on the shoulder. ‘The railway station, fast.’

Soon the broad steps came into sight. The boat was still a foot away when Guido leapt out. The platform for the noon train was straight ahead and he ran as though his life depended on it. He could see the train still there. Another few feet…

It began to move.

In despair he urged his legs faster and just made it onto the platform, but he couldn’t catch up.

‘Dulcie!’ he roared. It was a wonder that his lungs still had any breath, but he managed to send the sound echoing down the length of the moving train.

Somewhere in the distance a head appeared through a window of one of the carriages. He couldn’t see clearly but he would have known her at any distance.

‘I love you,’ he yelled. ‘Don’t leave me.’

But then the head withdrew. The train was gathering speed. She was going away, and he couldn’t tell if she’d heard him. Then the last carriage clattered out of sight and he was left alone on the platform, gasping and in despair.

‘Let her go,’ Marco advised, catching up with him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

‘No way,’ Guido said at once. ‘I’ve got to get her back.’

‘Phone her,’ Leo said.

‘Great idea.’

He called Dulcie’s mobile. The train’s first stop was just a few minutes away in Mestre, on the other side of the causeway. She could be back with him in half an hour.

The next moment there came the click of an answer.

‘Carissima,’ he said urgently, ‘I love you. I can’t live without you. I’ve been a pig-headed idiot but don’t hold that against me. Let me spend my life making it up to you. Get off the train in Mestre, and take the next one back to Venice. I’ll be waiting right here on the platform. Just say that you forgive me and come back. Please, please darling, come back. Ti prego mia dolcissima Dulcie.’

There was a silence.

‘Hello?’ said Jenny’s voice.

‘What?’ Guido whispered, in shock. ‘Jenny?’

‘Yes. Dulcie forgot her phone. I found it under a cushion.’

Guido managed a polite thank you, and hung up. ‘She’s gone,’ he groaned. ‘I’ve lost her. There’s got to be a flight, if not from here then from Milan-’

‘No!’ Leo and Marco spoke as one man.

‘Think of Fede and Jenny, depending on you,’ Leo pointed out.

‘Besides,’ Marco added practically, ‘the train to England takes twenty-four hours. You can do what you have to at the ball tonight, catch the first flight tomorrow, and still get there ahead of her. You can even meet her at the station.’

‘That’s right,’ Guido said, calming down. Then he clutched his head in despair. ‘But how am I going to get through the next few hours?’

‘Because we’re going to be there to make sure you do,’ Leo said firmly.

AS ALWAYS Count Calvani made sure nobody outshone him at his own ball. His long flowing robes glittered with gold thread, and on his head he wore the distinctive cap, plain at the front, raised at the rear, that said he was a Doge, one of the great men who had ruled Venice in the old days. His mask was an elaborate creation in scarlet satin, sporting tiny red and gold feathers.

He made a grand entrance into Guido’s room, where his three nephews had congregated, and stood, tall and splendid, for them to admire him. When they had done so to his satisfaction he gave his opinion of their attire.

‘Why are you all Harlequins?’ he complained. ‘The place will be crawling with Harlequins. Do you want to be mistaken for other men?’

They presented a handsome sight in their identical skin-tight costumes of coloured diamond shapes, alternating with white. Only a young man with a flat stomach and taut muscles could risk the revealing garb, and while Marco might be a fraction taller, and Leo slightly heavier, what would really distinguish them from other Harlequins was their ability to dress like this without looking ridiculous.

The costume was topped off by a small white ruff around the neck. On his head each wore a black tricorne hat, and beneath it the mask, the eyebrows raised to give a quizzical look. Francesco snorted.

‘I suppose you’re planning something disgraceful, like making inroads among the female guests and leaving them wondering which one of you it was.’ He then spoiled his righteous indignation by adding, ‘That’s what we did in my day.’

‘I don’t think our chaste ears are ready to hear about your youth, Uncle,’ Leo said, grinning.

‘You’d get a few surprises,’ Francesco agreed. ‘But now I’m a reformed character. Guido, you’ll be glad to hear that I’m going to do what you’ve always wanted.’

‘Get married?’ Guido gasped.

Marco coughed. ‘But Uncle, isn’t it a little late for you to be thinking-I mean-’

‘I’m in my prime,’ the count declared firmly.

‘Of course he is,’ Guido said. ‘The nursery will be full in no time.’ An agreeable vista of freedom was opening before him. ‘Will we meet her tonight, Uncle?’

‘No, she won’t be at the ball.’

‘But surely-?’

‘Any more than Lady Dulcie will be at the ball,’ Francesco said, glaring at him. By now he knew that they’d met, but Guido hadn’t burdened him with too many precise details. ‘I won’t ask what you’ve done to offend her, but I’m sure it’s something unforgivable.’

‘She seems to think so,’ Guido grunted. ‘I aim to put it right soon, but now that my marriage will no longer matter to the family line, since you’re marrying yourself, I’d rather discuss it no further.’

When Guido spoke in that firm tone nobody argued with him. A few minutes later they were all on their way downstairs to meet the torchlit procession that was coming along the Grand Canal. Gondola after gondola approached the landing stage to be greeted by their hosts, and a stream of masked figures passed into the glittering palazzo.

Music was already playing. Lights shone from every door and window. A line of footmen stood bearing trays on which stood glasses of the finest crystal, filled with the best champagne.

‘If only they’d show a little originality,’ Francesco growled as he stood waiting, a smile fixed on his face. ‘So many Columbines, Pantelones, Pulcinellas.’

‘They can’t all be the Doge of Venice,’ Guido muttered. ‘Not many men could carry it off.’

‘That’s true,’ Francesco agreed, mollified.

‘And if you want something unusual,’ Leo said, ‘how about Henry VIII?’

The Vittorio motor launch was just drawing up, with Roscoe standing in the rear.

‘Roscoe Harrison,’ Guido said. ‘You are delighted to see him.’

‘Am I?’

‘For my sake, yes. The Columbine in the back is his daughter Jenny.’

‘Another Columbine! How many is that?’

Guido need not have feared. The count gloried in his skills as a host, and the next few minutes went smoothly. Francesco bowed low over Jenny’s hand murmuring, ‘How charming!’ and he and Roscoe eyed each other’s attire with respect.

Guido took charge of the new arrivals, feeling Jenny cling nervously to his arm, and led them into the house. He would have been glad to skip this evening which was going to be so different from his hopes. Dulcie should have been around, helping him out, and then, while they were working together-here his invention failed, but surely something would have happened. He scowled. When Harlequin ran out of ideas Columbine was supposed to come to his rescue.

He’d managed to get a seat on an early flight next morning. In the meantime he had work to do. He studied Jenny, noting with approval that she’d dressed to his instructions, with a black silk cap concealing her hair, a small black tricorne hat and a crimson satin mask, so heavily trimmed with lace that it covered most of the lower part of her face as well.

Her dress was a mass of white tulle, with a tight waist, puff sleeves and a huge ballerina skirt that ended just below the knee. She looked delicate and enchanting.

‘Fede won’t be able to resist you,’ he said when he’d swept her away into the dance.

‘Oh, Guido, is he really here? I’m so nervous.’

‘He’s outside in the boathouse. We’ll wait until it’s a bit more crowded and your Poppa can’t see you so well, and then my brother Leo will ask you to dance. Your father will think it’s me, but I’ll be dancing with another Columbine and so we’ll keep him confused.’ His gaze fell on a detail that troubled him. ‘I wish you weren’t wearing that diamond necklace. It looks like it cost a fortune.’

‘Ten thousand,’ she said with a sigh. ‘Dad insisted on giving it to me just before we came out. He said it was to “console me” for losing Fede.’

‘That figures. But you can bet he’ll keep his eyes on it, and it’ll complicate the switch over to the other Columbine. I’ve persuaded one of the maids to help out.’