“Bella.” He said as he pointed to the lapel of his coat. Pinned to it was a small red rose bud. Then he pointed to mine and said, “I am glad you wore it. The flower of amore.”
I gasped. It was my mysterious admirer from the garden party.
He had found me.
9
“I went to every gathering tonight looking for you. And here you are. My bella.” His Italian accent was thick but not too heavy. I understood every word.
I looked through the eye slits of his mask and recognised the same piercing green eyes I saw earlier in the day. Excitement and lust rushed through my body. Who was my Italian mystery man? What did he look like without the mask? He obviously knew I was American because he was talking to me in English.
He stood up from the chaise and bowed in front of me, extending his hand.
“May I have this dance, bella?”
I placed my hand in his. He swiftly moved me around the dance floor. I felt light as air. We didn’t talk. We only locked eyes as we danced. After two dances he led me to the side of the room. He bowed in front of me. I didn’t want him to go. I needed to know who he was. He pulled a white card out of the inside pocket of his coat and handed it to me.
“Please join me for dinner tomorrow. Eight o’clock.” He kissed the top of my hand and disappeared into the crowd.
I looked down at the card. There was only an address in gold ink.
I looked up to see if I could get another glimpse of the mysterious stranger, but he was gone. I smiled and knew that I certainly would be going to dinner.
Venice was turning out to be even more amazing than I could imagine.
I placed the card in my bag, and made my way to the refreshments. I needed something to cool me down.
I was drinking a glass of water when across the room a figure stood motionless. It was tall man dressed in all black. His mask covered his entire face. He wore a white wig that was tied in a low ponytail with a ribbon.
His black cape concealed most of his body. This was not at all unusual, but it was the way he stood motionless that seemed like he was staring directly at me. Though I couldn’t really tell for sure. It was just a feeling.
Then suddenly, as though he knew I was thinking about him, he crossed the room in a direct line. He was coming straight for me.
I couldn’t look away. The way he was gliding toward me filled me with anticipation. Now he stood inches in front of me. His chest heaved up and down as though he was controlling some kind of emotion, or had just run a few laps. I nodded my head in a faint bow;. something I had learned in the last two days. He nodded back. Then his hands went right to my chest and ripped the red rose off my dress. I gasped in shock.
Then he held up a small white rose bud in his hands. He pinned it to my dress where the red rose had been, then simply nodded and walked away.
I was dumbfounded. Though the way things had been going in Venice so far, it was not that shocking.
Things were not like the normal outside world. This was completely different, where people acted strangely and did unusual things.
The next morning I woke up with a hangover and an appetite. I ate breakfast in bed. I didn’t have much work to do for the day, so I allowed myself to stay in bed as long as possible.
Slowly I started to piece together all the events that happened last night though it seemed like blurry memories, a product of too much wine.
I jumped out of bed as soon as I remembered the card my Italian mystery man gave me with an invitation for dinner. I pulled it out of my purse and was very happy that I did not lose it. Going to dinner with a stranger whose face I had not seen was not something I would normally do, but this was Venice and it was Carnivale, so I would do it.
Then I remembered the other stranger. I would almost think that I had imagined that if not for the white rose still pinned to my dress. I unpinned it and placed it in a small glass of water. What a strange and aggressive exchange. Maybe the guy was just drunk too.
I stayed in my room for most of the day and did a few hours of work from my bed. I took a nap and ate a light lunch, then I headed out the door in a day gown and no mask. I was going on a Casanova walking tour. I was really excited to hear about the legend and the man.
Our guide was very theatrical in his delivery and I was caught up the stories and excitement. The groups of people on the tour were also dressed in costume and everyone was in good spirits. As we walked around I had the distinct feeling that I was being watched. I found myself looking over my shoulder constantly.
Then I saw him.
It was a man whose build matched that of the mysterious man from last night with the white rose. He stood on a bridge overlooking a canal while I stood below on the street. He seemed to be staring directly at me. Again he wore a mask, cape, and white wig so I could not tell. However, I could see a small white flower pinned to his cape. I was not wearing mine. I had completely forgotten about it. He turned and walked out of sight. I wanted to go after him and confront him.
But that would take all the fun out of it.
After the tour I went back to the palazzo. As soon as I walked in Sofia was waiting with a bundle of white roses.
“These just came for you, Eva.”
I knew who they were from immediately. The stranger from last night and possibly earlier today, but how did he know where I was staying? Did he know who I was?
“Thank you Sofia.”
“I will put them in water. Yes?”
“Yes, grazie.”
I was baffled by the number of admirers I suddenly had. Were all women at Carnivale going through the same thing? Was giving out roses the same as giving out Valentine cards and hearts on Valentine’s Day? Was I just one of many getting roses?
I needed to remind myself to look for the flowers on women’s dresses next time I was at a ball.
For now I only needed to concentrate on my blind date tonight with the red rose stranger.
10
When five o’clock came around it was time to start getting dressed for my mystery dinner date. I took a long hot bath and lounged around taking my time getting dressed.
At half past seven I was ready. I wore a light pale pink day gown that was not too fancy with a pink half porcelain mask to match. I left my hair down and wore delicate pink satin heels and a hooded cloak. I was really getting used to dressing like this.
I gave Ernetto the address card and he gave me a strange look.
“What? What is it? You do know where that is?”
“Yes, everyone knows where that is. It is the palazzo of the Count de Prepolli.”
“Count?”
“Yes, from a very old Venetian family. They own half of the city.”
A count? This was just getting better and better. I laughed at the drama that my life had become. However, I couldn't deny that I was enjoying every second.
We arrived at the waterside staircase where there were stewards waiting. They helped me out of the gondola and in through the gates of a large garden wall. I walked into a massive courtyard, lit with hundreds of red candles. There was an elegant dinner setting for two on a large table and a string quartet playing softly in the background.
“Bella! I am happy you came. I was not sure you would,” my Italian suitor said upon seeing me.
The man, supposedly a real-life Count, wore a mask that looked like it was made of pure gold. It covered half of his face and ended just above his full lips. He wore a fitted white long sleeved shirt and tight black trousers with knee high boots. His hair was loose and unruly.