Seeking Crystal (15 page)

It was so wonderful not to feel judged and scolded by people I cared about that I felt a bit like crying.

‘He’s not that hot really,’ I mumbled, fishing for a tissue.

‘Aw, your colours are all sad ones,’ Sky said, reaching over to give me a hug. ‘Don’t get upset, Crystal. What did Steve do to you?’

I tried a laugh but it caught in my throat like a fishbone. ‘Not Steve. He was OK really, just a bit self-obsessed. Who can blame him? I mean he’s like stratospherically famous and I’m, well, I’m me.’

Phoenix topped up my coffee cup. ‘So it was one of us who gave you a hard time?’

‘Not one—everybody.’

Phoenix’s eyes misted for a moment. She was using her gift to sift my thoughts, a shortcut to finding out the events of the past few days. If she took it further, she could freeze my thought patterns so that it would seem like time stopped but that wasn’t her intention just now. ‘Xavier Benedict: you are an idiot!’

Sky narrowed her blue eyes. ‘What did that joker do now?’

I cleared my throat. ‘I don’t think he was joking at the time. He told me off for endangering the family.’

‘But I don’t get it: I can see how your family might feel they have something to say on the issue, but Xav? His link to you is distant—a brother of your not-yet brother-in-law.’

I crumbled up my croissant. ‘Well, he and I … it’s complicated.’

Sky’s face lit up with a mischievous grin. ‘Complicated? Phoenix and I like complicated.’

‘We spent last Sunday kissing … ’

‘What!’ squeaked Sky.

‘No, no, not like that; for the camera—as extras on the Steve Hughes movie.’

‘Uh-huh. Not such a distant link then.’ Phoenix smiled at me.

Confession time. ‘It was special, but weird. We sort of became friends and then he took offence about the date thing with Steve Hughes.’

‘Now we’re getting the picture.’ Sky folded her arms and exchanged a look with Phoenix. ‘Xav would not like to see his girl in a clinch with a guy who outshone him.’

‘Oh, Steve doesn’t outshine Xav; he doesn’t have Xav’s sense of humour for one.’

‘Really?’ Phoenix was struggling not to laugh. ‘Xav is better than an A list actor? Does he know you think that? It might make him calm down a bit and stop acting like an idiot over a few photos.’

‘You … you think he’s jealous?’

‘Hell, yeah, cupcake.’ She affected a Xav-like drawl, which made me smile.

‘But we’re not … you know … soulfinders or anything. I can’t do telepathy so that won’t happen for me.’

‘Oh, Crystal, that’s terrible.’ Sky looked really upset on my behalf. ‘We knew you were uncomfortable with it—that’s why we don’t use it with you around—but I had no idea it was so bad.’

‘Yeah, ’fraid so. I’m a dud Savant.’

Phoenix’s eyes snapped with anger. ‘You are not a dud, Crystal Brook! Don’t you call yourself one again!’

‘OK, OK,’ I laughed, holding up my hands to ward her off. ‘I get the message. But I’m still not firing on all cylinders. Xav thinks there’s something wrong. If he’s still talking to me after the wedding, he might have a go at sorting it out.’

Sky cheered up at that news. ‘I can tell you now that even if he is still spitting insults he’ll want to cure you. He has “healer” running through his bones like words in a stick of rock.’

‘Wow, isn’t that something to look forward to.’

Phoenix tugged the list of arrangements from my fingers. ‘Let’s get down to business. What do you want us to do?’

‘Crystal, I apologize for having any doubts about your talent for organizing a fantastic hen night.’ Diamond leant on the balcony overlooking Contessa Nicoletta’s walled garden. Tall cypress trees stood to attention either side of the path, an honour guard from the private mooring where the last of the guests were arriving, their laughter reaching us as we waited to greet them. My sister looked truly lovely dressed in a silver evening gown topped by our bridal coronet. I had made myself a sky blue silk strapless dress so I felt pretty special too—if a bit cold.

Note to self: design something with sleeves next time you do a winter party.

‘It was easy once the contessa was involved. What is her Savant gift by the way? I know very little about her.’

Diamond played with her bracelet, the stones catching fire in the torches that flared from brackets either side of the main doors. The naked flame added an old world touch that perfectly suited our venue of crumbling stone mansion. All buildings in Venice are disintegrating—it goes with the maritime climate. Owners like our hostess have always had to fight a race against time to see what would win: repairs or collapse.

‘I know she’s a powerful telepath but I get the impression she doesn’t use her gifts very often now. She has a son, I think, also a Savant, and grandchildren. She claims she’s too old for dabbling in all that stuff and leaves it to the younger generations. She once told me she enjoys holding her position in Venetian society and doesn’t need her gifts to do that, just wise investments, which, with the way the world economy is going, is a full time occupation.’

I quite liked the sound of Contessa Nicoletta’s approach to life. Later I’d ask the contessa what I could do if I didn’t ‘dabble’ in Savant powers either. Her experience that you don’t have to use Savant gifts even if you have them could be really helpful to my singular circumstance.

‘Hey, Diamond, this is just … just incredible!’ called Anna, one of Diamond’s closest friends. She hastened up the flight of steps and hugged my sister tight. ‘Congratulations!’

‘Thanks but it’s all Crystal’s hard work,’ Diamond said generously.

Anna kissed me on the cheeks. ‘Wish I had a little sister like you. Mine is still in the bugging stage.’

I handed Anna her mask and hairpiece. ‘Here: this is for you.’

‘Oh that’s amazing! This is going to be just the best party ever.’ She hurried away to the foyer to fix her costume jewellery in place.

All the guests were equally thrilled by the unusual party favours. Signora Carriera stood back to let me take the praise but I could see her casting a pleased and professional eye over our handiwork. My boss was resplendent in a sweeping emerald green gown with matching jacket. She had already struck up a friendship with the groom’s mother, Karla, who looked wonderful, if a touch over-flounced, in a red flamenco dress recalling her Latin heritage. Sky wore a darker shade of blue than my dress and Phoenix burned in a sizzling orange that she carried off really well against her creamy complexion and dark hair.

I gave myself a pat on the back: after a difficult week, this at least looked as if it was going to be a success.

A gong rang in the foyer.

‘Dinner is served,’ intoned the butler.

Diamond sighed. ‘Oh, I just love him. Wish I had one of those to announce meals. He makes them sound so important.’

‘Ah, but this is going to be important. You haven’t met Chef Luigi.’

‘You mean Luigi of the not-too-raw-but-a-bit-spicy display?’

‘That’s the one.’ I smiled at the memory of the silly conversation of a few days ago. I wished I could recapture that easy relationship with Xav but it had all gone so wrong. ‘I wonder how the boys are getting on with exotic Lola?’

Diamond took my arm to go indoors. ‘Good luck to them. They won’t beat this.’

The evening passed off just as I hoped. The meal was superb. Whatever Contessa Nicoletta paid the man to run her kitchen, he was worth every penny. The band was also surprisingly good. I had imagined the contessa would hire a group that would play a rather staid semi-classical repertoire but she understood Diamond well and had engaged musicians who played arrangements of recent pop music and jazz. Hen parties are about celebrating the years of singlehood so the band judged it just right with their noughties hits which we could all sing along to and do girl-dancing, unfettered by having no boys around to watch our fooling about. I was enjoying myself so much; I had forgotten since moving to Venice and leaving old friends behind how much fun it was to do a girls’ night out.

It seemed no time at all before the motor launch was back at midnight to start ferrying guests over to Venice. We went in reverse of our arrival: Italian friends first, family last.

Signora Carriera gave me an affectionate embrace as she got on board the second transport. ‘You did very, very well, Crystal. You should be proud of yourself.’

‘Thank you.’

‘I will see you on Monday, if not before.’ She couldn’t resist reminding me of work, but just then I really didn’t mind. I had come to look forward to the creative excitement of her shop. Seeing the things we had made looking so fabulous on the girls was immensely rewarding.

Contessa Nicoletta invited the remaining family guests to her private sitting room while we waited for the return of the launch. Her butler served us drinks and we relaxed—but not too much—on her antique furniture. Worried I was going to do a Goldilocks on one of her flimsy chairs, I wandered to the grand piano to look at her collection of family photos. As Diamond had said, the contessa had a son. There were lots of pictures of him doing all sorts of different activities: yachting, skiing, in dinner jacket outside the opera. Quite the sportsman even though he must be in his fifties.

The contessa joined me at the piano, her veined hand gripping the top of an ebony walking stick.

‘Do you recognize him?’ she asked.

‘No, but I’m guessing he’s your son.’

‘Yes, Alfonso. He is the present count of Monte Baldo, of course.’

‘Does he live in Venice?’

She sniffed. ‘He used to.’

‘Oh? Where is he now?’ I wondered if she felt upset that her only child had left her alone in her old age.

‘He is in prison.’

O-K. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘It is not your fault, Crystal.’ Her hawk-bright eyes went to the others in the room as if looking for the guilty party among them. ‘He was unlucky.’

I was intrigued that she didn’t say he was innocent, but it would be the height of bad manners to return her generous hospitality with intrusive questions. There was always Google to check up on him later. A count of Monte Baldo arrested for criminal activities was hardly going to go unnoticed no matter where the incident took place. I thought it tactful, however, to change the subject.

‘Contessa Nicoletta, I have been meaning to ask you: how have you managed without using your gift?’

‘What do you mean?’ The old lady straightened the photo frame I had moved.

‘Well, my gift is really pathetic and I can’t do telepathy.’

‘Can you not?’ She studied my face for a moment. ‘That will be a problem.’

‘Yes, it already is. I get sick when I try. Diamond says you manage really well, retired as you are from using your Savant powers. I was wondering if you have any advice for me because it looks as though I’m going to be in the same boat, so to speak, but not by choice?’

I regretted immediately asking her. The contessa’s lips thinned and her eyes glinted with what looked very like contempt. I was suddenly thrown back a couple of hundred years and knew exactly what a peasant would have felt when having incurred the wrath of a countess.

‘We share no boat, Crystal. Diamond is wrong. I use my gifts all the time—as you are about to find out. It is just that people do not remember that I have—that is the difference.’

I was finding her attitude a bit creepy. I decided to retreat to my sister’s side. ‘I’m sorry if I offended you, contessa. I see that that would explain it.’

Her claw-like hand gripped my forearm. ‘Don’t go. The best part of this charade is about to happen. You wouldn’t want to miss this party for the world.’

‘What’s going on?’ I looked up and noticed that the footmen and butler had appeared by the doors.

‘My son was arrested in London thanks to the Benedicts. A count of Monte Baldo in an Italian jail—it is not to be borne! Diamond has presented me with the perfect revenge.’

I did not hang around to hear any more.

‘Diamond!’ I shouted, pulling free from the old lady. ‘Get out of here!’

‘It is too late for that.’ The contessa signalled to a footman to restrain me.

‘Crystal, what’s the matter?’ Diamond started towards me but the butler got in her path and pushed her back into her chair, the casual violence of the movement a shock after the sophisticated evening.