Part 15 (1/2)

Claudia could not do her any harm, yet she was unable to rid herself of a feeling of fear. It persisted throughout the night, disturbing her sleep and giving her such vividly unpleasant dreams that she was glad when daylight came and she could get up and begin a new day.

Half-way through the morning Filippo telephoned to say he would not be able to take her to lunch as he had planned.

'Are you lunching with Claudia after all?' she asked before she could stop herself.

'Yes. She rang me a little while ago. It seems her affairs are in more of a mess than I had realized, and as I am one of her husband's executors I feel it is my duty to meet her accountant and talk to him.'

'She's just making an excuse to stop you from having lunch with me.'

He chuckled. 'You sound jealous, little one.'

'I am.'

'Then you know how to remedy it. Once our engagement is made public it will put paid to all the designing women who are after me.'

'You're not a bit conceited, are you?' she said sarcastically.

'I am extremely conceited,' he chuckled. 'And with good cause!'

Smiling unwillingly, she replaced the telephone and turned to go back to her work bench.

'That was the Conte Rosetti?' Signora Botelli inquired.

'Yes. He was - I was supposed to be having lunch with him, but he has to see Signora Medina's accountant.'

'Are you sure it is not an excuse? I do not wish you to be hurt, my child.'

Erica felt so guilty at causing the Signora unnecessary concern that she decided to tell her the truth. 'As a matter of fact I'd like you to-' She stopped as the door opened and a customer came in. Seeing it was going to be a long-drawn- out sale she gave a slight shrug and went back to her jeweller's bench.

She had already taken the emerald out and it lay gleaming green on a black velvet tray. Bereft of its centre stone the brooch was easy to repair and she was working on the claws when she felt someone standing behind her.

Looking round, she was surprised to see Claudia. 'Good afternoon, signora. Is there no one in the shop?'

'I came to see you,' Claudia said. 'I wondered if you had done the new designs you promised me. I meant to ask you last night, but I forgot.'

'I've sketched out a few ideas, but I'm not satisfied with them.'

'Can't you at least let me see them?'

Erica hesitated and then went over to the desk. As she did so Claudia bent to look at the brooch.

'So you have taken out the emerald. You would be wise not to let it out of your sight.'

'Don't worry,' Erica said grimly, 'I won't.' She bent over the bottom drawer and searched among her designs to find the ones she wanted. 'There you are,' she said, and held them out.

Claudia swung round from the jeweller's bench and took them. She studied them for several moments and then nodded. 'I like them very much indeed. Can you give me a price for doing the one with the diamonds and rubies?'

'You will have to ask Signora Botelli. I will work out the carats involved and the time estimated to make it up. Based on that the Signora will give you the cost.'

'Excellent.' Claudia looked at her watch. 'I must fly or else I will be late for my luncheon party.

She hurried out and Erica returned to the jeweller's bench. The brooch lay where she had left it. The claws must set harder before she replaced the emerald. She glanced at the stone on the velvet tray, then picked it up and peeped into the shop. The Signora was alone and Erica asked her to open the safe and put the emerald away in it until they returned from lunch.

'I a.s.sume you will not be making the Conte a charge for the repairs?' the woman asked casually.

'I hadn't thought about it,' Erica admitted. 'Naturally I wouldn't want to charge him. I will pay you myself for the time I spend on it.'

'Do not be silly. I merely wished to know if it was a labour of love.'

'Very much so,' Erica murmured, and seeing the twinkle in her employer's eyes, said: 'The Conte and I are engaged. It is still a secret, but I would like you to know.'

'I am delighted for you... delighted! You will live in Venice, of course. It is wonderful news. We will have a special celebration lunch together at the Gritti Palace.'

Brooking no argument, Signora Botelli took Erica to lunch on the terrace of this most elegant of all hotels. The tables were full, but this did not deter the plump matron and within a moment a table was found for them overlooking the water.

'How on earth did you manage it?' Erica asked.

'A bribe! But you, my child, will just need to mention Conte Rosetti's name!'

Erica blushed. 'I can't believe it's happening to me.'

'Neither can I,' came the honest reply. 'The Conte undoubtedly loves you.'

'Yes, he does,' said Erica, and tried not to be bitter that he was lunching with Claudia. She could imagine them sitting opposite one another in the undoubtedly elegant surroundings of the woman's home. Did she live in a palazzo too or in one of the old but elegant apartments into which many of the larger homes had been turned? Either way it made no difference, for she was sure Claudia envisaged her own future in the Rosetti Palazzo. How angry she would be when she learned that' all her scheming had come to naught. But for the moment she did not know it and still saw Erica as a shadow on her horizon rather than a positive threat.

Refusing to let thoughts of Claudia and Filippo spoil the luncheon she was being given, she forced her attention on to the well-dressed people around her. Half of them were tourists, the other half being wealthy Venetians or foreigners who lived here regularly for the summer months; not tourists in the proper sense of the word.

'Have you set the date of your wedding?' Signora Botelli asked 'Not yet,' Erica said quickly. 'Only that we're having an engagement party in about a month. A very big one.'

'Then I am sure the wedding will be small. A family affair only - and very soon.'

'I still can't believe it's happening to me.'

'You are a lucky girl, Erica.'

'I know,' she said humbly.

'And the Conte is lucky too. He will have a beautiful and talented wife and - most important of all - one who he knows will love him for himself alone.'

Erica gulped, made maudlin by the sentiment, though this soon changed to laughter as Signora Botelli regaled her with tales of her customers.

'If I were to publish all the gossip I know,' the woman chuckled, 'I could make myself a fortune - but lose a business!'

'And you'd much rather have the business,' Erica stated.

'No question of it. The gossip I learn adds spice to my work, but it is the work which I enjoy most.'

It was later than usual when they returned to the shop. The claws of the Rosetti brooch had already set properly and the Signora opened the safe and gave Erica the emerald.

Carefully she put it into position and set to work. Slowly each claw was repositioned and the emerald held firmly in place. Only then did Erica sit back with a sigh of relief, for the first time aware that her forehead was wet. She wiped her hand across and deciding she owed herself a treat, picked up the brooch and pinned it to her dress. It looked out of place on the simple cotton and she undid it and threaded it through a gold chain. She would see what it looked like as a necklet. She fastened it round her throat and pulled her dress away from her shoulders as she peered at herself in the small mirror that hung on the wall. Worn as a locket the brooch looked magnificent, the emerald glowing against her skin and its colour reflected in her eyes.