City of Flowers (43 page)

He frowned slightly at his reflection. What would Alice think about that idea? Or Sky? He realised it could make things awkward for them. But he brushed the thought aside. He liked Sky and hoped the feeling was mutual. It would be interesting to have a son, thought Paul. Then he smiled at himself, knowing he was letting his imagination run away with him.

Rosalind was making coffee in the kitchen when she noticed the time. She went and knocked on Sky's door.

‘Wake up, sleepyheads,' she called. ‘You'll be late for school.'

Sky came round the door very carefully, closing it behind him. He put his finger to his lips.

‘Nick's not well,' he said. ‘He's had a terrible night. I don't think he should go to school.'

‘What's wrong?' asked Rosalind. ‘Shall I go and talk to him?'

‘No, Mum, he's sleeping. I'll ring Vicky.'

‘But you have to go to school. I'll ring her, but I need to know what's wrong with him.'

Sky was saved by Paul coming out of the bathroom.

‘Morning, Sky,' he said cheerfully. ‘Mmm. That coffee smells good.'

‘Better than my mother's,' said Rosalind. ‘Well, look – you go and get showered, Sky, if you're going to get any breakfast.'

When he'd gone, Paul kissed her. ‘You're looking particularly pretty this morning,' he said.

‘Thank you,' she said, smiling. Then, ‘Sky says Nicholas is sick and can't go to school this morning. But he wouldn't say what was wrong. I know Vicky's been very worried about him.'

They went into the kitchen. ‘You don't think it could be drugs, do you?' said Rosalind, lowering her voice. ‘I know they can get hold of them in school. But I'm sure Sky's never taken anything.'

‘You're worrying about nothing,' said Paul. ‘Nick's much too much of an athlete to mess around with drugs.'

‘That's not logical,' said Rosalind. ‘Athletes are always in the news for taking drugs.'

‘Not that kind,' said Paul, smiling.

Georgia could hear them talking from where she stood behind Sky's door. Nick was at last in a deep sleep and it was safe to leave him. But she didn't know how she was going to get herself out of the flat and to school without being seen. She had left Maura a note saying she was going for an early run and might not see her before she went to work, so that end was sorted. But she hadn't reckoned on Paul being here for a leisurely breakfast with Rosalind. Only she was going to have to get out of Sky's room soon; she was busting for the loo.

Sky came back from the shower, damp and wrapped in a towel, so Georgia saw her chance. It was just her bad luck that the doorbell rang at that moment and Rosalind came out of the kitchen to answer it.

Sky and Georgia froze in the doorway. There was nothing they could think of as an explanation for why she was coming out of his room at that hour. In the end she just said, ‘I'm sorry, Rosalind.' And bolted for the bathroom.

‘Get dressed, Sky,' said Rosalind, more calmly than she felt. ‘I must see who's at the door.'

It was the Warrior.

Georgia wondered whether to go straight to school. But she couldn't leave Sky to face the music on his own. She went into the kitchen and found Rosalind and Paul sitting with the man whose image stared from thousands of teenage bedroom walls. Sky's father.

‘Who's this?' he said. Then, when Sky joined them, ‘Oh, I see. You're taking after your old man at last.'

‘No I'm not,' said Sky rudely. ‘I'm nothing like you. Georgia's just a friend.'

‘Call round for you early, did she?' asked the Warrior.

‘They're both over the age of consent,' said Paul. ‘They can do what they like.' But he didn't look very happy; he was disappointed in Sky.

‘It's not what it looks like,' said Sky. ‘I didn't spend the night with Georgia – not in the way you mean, anyway.'

‘She spent it with me,' said Nicholas. He came into the kitchen, looking like a ghost.

The Warrior clapped his hands. ‘Even better – a threesome!' he said.

‘Will you stop being such a – sleazebag!' said Sky, furious.

Anything less like an orgy than the ghastly night they had passed was impossible to imagine. Georgia had held Nicholas in her arms while he had raved and wept and Sky had lain on the floor unable to sleep.

‘I'm going out with Paul's daughter, Alice, if you must know,' he told his father.

‘Coz-ee,' said the Warrior.

‘I don't know exactly what has been going on,' said Rosalind. ‘But I really don't think it's any business of yours, Colin.'

‘Colin?' said Georgia. She started to giggle. It was like finding out that P. Diddy was really called Sean.

Nicholas sat down suddenly. ‘Can I have some coffee?' he asked. ‘There's nothing going on,' he said as Rosalind poured him some. ‘Nothing you'd understand, anyway, and nothing to do with sex. And it's over now – sorted.'

‘That's all right then, isn't it?' said the Warrior. ‘Everybody's happy. Look, Sky, I came to say goodbye. Me and Loretta are going back to the States. It's been nice meeting you.'

Sky couldn't answer. He felt hugely relieved that his father was going and wasn't insisting on being a part of his life.

‘It's a bit awkward saying this in front of an audience,' said the Warrior. ‘But if ever you want to come and visit, you know you're welcome. Just let me know and I'll send you a ticket. And I've told your mum I'll stump up for your university. She says you want to do sculpting or something.'

Sky looked at Rosalind in amazement. Then he felt rather rotten; his father could certainly afford it but he didn't have to. And he was holding out this peace offering in front of quite a roomful of people. Sky looked at Nick, who had just watched his own father die in agony.

He swallowed hard.

‘Thanks,' he said. ‘That's very good of you. I'll think about coming on that visit.'

.

Acknowledgements

.

Franco Cesati's book
La Grande Guida delle Strade di Firenze
and Franco Cardini's
Breve Storia di Firenze
were indispensable, as were Christopher Hibbert's
The Medici
and
Florence
. My thanks to Carla Poesio and, as always, Edgardo Zaghini, for reading the first draft, and other invaluable support. Ralph and Elizabeth Lovegrove advised on fencing and other matters. My long-suffering family endured a month of my absence in Florence, shouldering my share of the domestic load, particularly Stevie. Matteo Cristini told me wonderful things about the history of Florentine art. Santa Maria Novella and its Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica were as magical as always and an obvious destination for a Stravagante. Thanks to my editor, Emma Matthewson, who has always liked this book best, and to all the many fans who email me on the Stravaganza website, urging me to make things happen between Luciano andArianna; I have done my best.

Epilogue:
One More Wedding

In the black and white church attached to the friary of Saint-Mary-among-the-Vines, Brother Sulien was performing a wedding ceremony. It was the day after the duel and there were not many guests – Brother Tino, Brother Sandro, Giuditta Miele and Doctor Dethridge were the only people gathered in the Lady Chapel when the principals and their two attendants arrived.

‘This has to be the strangest wedding that ever was,' said Luciano.

‘Stranger for me,' said Arianna, smiling at him through her white lace mask. ‘They are my parents, after all.'

‘And married already, don't forget,' said Luciano. ‘What will Sulien do about that?'

‘I'm sure he has thought of something,' said Arianna.

‘Dearly beloved,' began Brother Sulien.

And married Rodolfo Rossi, Regent of Bellezza, to Silvia Bellini, a widow from Padavia. Sulien knew their history and knew how important it was to find a way for them to live together publicly. Signor Rossi would return from Giglia with a new wife, and if she looked rather like the first, well, Bellezzans knew that men often ran true to type. He was a great favourite with citizens, known as a fair man with a tragic personal history, and they would be happy for him.

The little party afterwards was a low-key affair, held in the refectory of the friary, with no di Chimici present. The city was officially in mourning for a period of thirty days, in honour of its Grand Duke. Giglia had suffered many devastating blows, with the Nucci slaughter followed by the flood and the fatal duel.

But the wet weather, followed by a period of intense sun, had brought on all the late spring flowers early and the city was filled with the scents of lily-of-the-valley, sweet peas and stocks. Silvia had carried a spray of early white roses, from a tree carefully nurtured by Brother Tullio over the kitchen door of the friary.

Two brightly dressed figures joined the company. They made obeisance to the bride and groom and then Aurelio raised the Duchessa's hand to his lips. ‘I am honoured to make music for you and your parents,' he said.

Aurelio played his harp, accompanied by Raffaella on the recorder he had made. The first tune was achingly sad, more suited to a wake than a wedding, and the guests listened to it, remembering the dead of the last week. But then the music became lively and Rodolfo led Silvia into a dance.

‘It will be odd for me to live in the Palazzo Ducale again,' she said to him.

‘It will be bliss,' he said, smiling. ‘Just think, we never had the chance to live together as man and wife and we have been together more than twenty years and have a grown-up daughter.'

‘Don't,' said Silvia. ‘You'll make me feel old.'

‘You are as beautiful now as when I first met you,' said Rodolfo, tightening his hold on her. ‘And this time all the world will know that we are married and nothing shall ever separate us again.'

There were few women at that party, but Dethridge led Giuditta on to the floor and Raffaella stopped playing to dance with Sky. She was vividly beautiful and danced with the flamboyance of her people, which rather embarrassed him.

The friars found it highly amusing that one of their novices should have such an exotic dancing partner, even though most of them knew by now that Sky was not a real friar, but an important visitor in disguise. The liveliness of the music caused even Brother Tullio to take to the floor. He grabbed Brother Sandro by both hands and whirled him round, Brother Dog barking excitedly as they twirled round the refectory.

‘They look happy, don't they?' said Luciano.

‘Sandro and Tullio?' asked Arianna.

‘Rodolfo and Silvia, silly,' he said, smiling down at her.

‘Is it wrong to be so happy after so many people have died?' she asked. ‘You and I have both killed someone and yet I feel better than I have for a long time.'

But before Luciano had time to answer, Gaetano burst into the refectory.

‘I'm sorry,' he said. ‘I don't want to break up the party, but Fabrizio has just issued his first arrest warrant. And it's for Luciano.'

*

Franco the apprentice was driving a cart out of the city gate that opened on the road to Bellezza. He had a flagon of wine at his feet and a pretty girl beside him on the box. The guards had orders to stop all those leaving the city and search their vehicles for any signs of the traitorous Cavaliere Luciano of Bellezza who had killed the Grand Duke by foul means.

‘Good evening,' said Franco politely to the largest of them, a man he recognised. Franco was well known for his exploits within and without the walls of the city and had a night territory the size of a tomcat's.

‘Ah, Franco,' said the guard. ‘What might your business be on the road so late?'

‘I am transporting a statue for my mistress,
Maestra Miele,' said Franco honestly. ‘It is the statue she made of the beautiful young Duchessa of Bellezza. Perhaps word of it has reached you? Another masterpiece.'

‘Are you taking it to Bellezza?' asked the guard.

‘Indeed,' said Franco. ‘And you see I have found another little masterpiece to accompany me on the road.'

‘A masterpiece of the street, certainly,' said the man, and his companions all joined in the coarse laughter. ‘You won't mind if I take a look at the load?'

Franco jumped down and untied the canvas cover that had been roped over the cart. There was a massive packing case of light wood, packed in by blankets to stop it from being jolted.

‘Big girl, that Duchessa,' joked one of the guards.

‘Like the woman who made her,' said another. ‘Did you ever see the size of her? Keep a whole company of us warm, that one would.'

Franco wanted to punch him on the nose; he adored Giuditta. But he kept quiet. He was a man on a mission and had no desire to cause trouble.

‘I should get you to open her up,' said the guard Franco knew. There was a crowbar in the cart for when the statue reached its destination.

Franco sighed. ‘You can't believe how long it took us to pack her up,' he said in the grumbling tones of apprentices the world over. ‘Sacking, straw, more sacking. That's why I'm setting off so late. It took three hours to get the Duchessa in her box. Everything has to be done just so for Giuditta Miele.'

‘Otherwise you're for it, I suppose?' said one of the guards.

‘I wouldn't mind if she wanted to spank me,' said another.

More laughter. Franco had an idiotic grin fixed on his face.

‘Oh well, let be,' said the chief guard. ‘I trust you. Look at that face,' he told his men. ‘Can't imagine an angel like that lying, can you?'

‘Can't imagine an angel doing lots of things that one gets up to,' said one of them, setting them off again.

Franco gritted his teeth behind his angelic smile.

‘I appreciate it,' he said. ‘It's a long way to Bellezza.'

At last the cart was through the gate and Franco was on his way.

Inside the wooden crate, Luciano sighed with relief. He had his arms round Arianna and, if she was cold and unresponsive, it was because she was only a statue.

*

After Gaetano had broken up the wedding party and the Bellezzans had all left, Sky had a long talk with Sulien before stravagating home. Georgia and Nicholas had been true to their new pact and not stravagated back to Giglia again. And Sky felt that his mission in the city was over. There was a sad autumnal feeling in the air, even though summer had not yet begun.

‘My father turned up,' he said to Sulien, as they walked slowly round the Great Cloister.

The friar looked at him closely. ‘And how do you find him?' he asked.

Sky shrugged. ‘He's OK, I suppose. Generous with his money, anyway, trying to make up for lost time. But I don't know him. I feel I know you better than I do him.'

‘But you have made a start,' said Sulien. ‘Surely that is better than wondering about him?'

‘He wants me to visit him in America, where he lives,' explained Sky. ‘And I've said I'll go. It looks as if everything is going to be different from what I thought. My mother is getting together with my girlfriend's father and it looks as if I'll be able to study sculpture after all.'

‘Then you will be an apprentice of Giuditta's, in a manner of speaking,' said Sulien.

‘Maybe,' said Sky. ‘But I won't be able to come here and do it properly. I think perhaps I should stop visiting Giglia. I've felt torn in half for too long. At first I had no father and now I seem to have acquired two.'

Brother Sulien put his arm round Sky's shoulder. ‘There will always be a third here for you if you need one,' he said. ‘You have done whatever was asked of you here and we should do whatever we can for you.'

In the school cafeteria four friends sat together. Sky was telling the others about the wedding and the party after it. Alice was enjoying it; this was much more the sort of thing she liked – not duels and murders.

‘At least you got through one wedding in Talia without anyone getting stabbed then,' she said.

Sky had just been going to tell them about Gaetano and the news of Luciano's escape from the city hidden in Giuditta Miele's cart. Then he noticed that Georgia and Nicholas were holding hands under the table. He decided not to mention Luciano.

Sky turned to Alice. ‘What do you think about your dad and my mum?'

‘It's weird,' said Alice. ‘Weird for us, I mean. But I think they make a great couple. She's nice, your mum.'

‘Yes,' said Sky. ‘She is, isn't she?'

‘You're supposed to say – “he's nice, too”, Sky,' said Alice.

‘Well, he is,' said Sky. ‘I like him. But it would be a bit peculiar having him as a stepdad.'

‘Do you think it will come to that?' said Georgia, seeing that Alice was dumbstruck.

‘What would that make you two?' asked Nicholas. In spite of all that had happened he was feeling light-headed with happiness. He had accepted his fate. And Georgia was holding his hand.

‘Close relations,' said Sky.

‘That doesn't sound so bad,' said Alice shakily. ‘I think I could handle that.'

‘I don't think it will happen till we've gone to university, anyway,' said Sky. ‘I think they'll wait till then to make it easier on us.'

‘Are you definitely going to take up your dad's offer, then?' asked Georgia.

‘Yes,' said Sky. ‘And I'm going to do part of my degree in California and live with him and Loretta for a year. He's offered to pay for that too and I think I owe him that much.'

‘You won't be able to stravagate from there,' said Nicholas.

‘Well, I've been thinking about that,' said Sky. ‘And I think I'm going to give it up. Hang up my talisman and my friar's robes. I'd better concentrate on my exams if I want to get into university.'