As she sipped the wine, her gaze drifted past the table, lost in thought. She was in Rome on a day that seemed to have sprung from a painting, accompanied by a dear friend. Soon, she wouldbe married to the love of her life. But for the next three months, she was living in a palazzo, her whims catered to at the press of a button, and her job was so financially rewarding that it seemed ludicrous to think she would soon resign.
“I have you to thank for it. And I already have a new idea for a research project,” Aida said, her eyes alight with excitement.
Felix grinned. “Now that is music to my ears. Okay, tell me about it.”
Aida took a sip of wine and a deep breath. “I’ve been so inspired by Goethe’sItalian Journey. I want to explore the overlooked connections between early botanical studies and cultural life in Italy during the eighteenth century. Goethe was fascinated by the natural world and often wrote about the flora he encountered and even wrote a book about botany. I’m thinking of investigating how the study of native plants influenced the art and literature of the period. There’s an intriguing intersection between science and the arts that hasn’t been fully explored.”
Felix leaned in. “That does sound like a fresh angle. How scientific discovery and cultural expression influenced each other...”
“Exactly,” Aida replied. “For instance, I could examine how certain Italian artists incorporated botanical elements into their works, possibly inspired by the botanical explorations of their time, or how literary depictions of nature reflected contemporary scientific understanding. There’s a wealth of untapped primary sources, like letters and personal diaries, that could offer new insights. Goethe is a great start because he corresponded with so many people.”
“Damn! You’ve already thought it through that much? In barely a week?”
“Your fault for getting me to come here. I needed something new to pursue. Thanks for inspiring me.”
He put a hand to his heart, beaming. “That makes me immeasurably happy.”
She lifted her glass to toast. “To happiness.”
Felix grinned. “To happiness!”
Aida spent that afternoon in the depths of Goethe’s writings, her voice giving life to his reflections as she recorded passages for her research. The room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of pages and her measured tones.
Just as the light started to fade and Aida’s throat became a bit hoarse, Trista appeared in the doorway to the library. Aida shut the recording off.
“How is the research going?” Trista asked as she sat down and smoothed out her skirt.
“Good. Although there is a lot to record. Italy made Goethe quite ecstatic.”
She gave the slightest nod. “Yes, I suppose that is so.”
Aida waited for Trista to tell her why she was there.
The woman pulled herself upward out of her slouch. “Well, Miss Reale...”
“Please, call me Aida.”
Trista’s expression was a blank mask. “I’ve arranged for your first visit to the Casa di Goethe. They will receive you next Monday for the entire week. The whole staff will be at your disposal, and the museum will be closed, so you have no interruptions.”
Aida’s jaw dropped. “They’re closing the museum for me?”
“Yes, this is standard for many projects you will have in smaller locations.”
“Don’t they need that revenue?” The words were out of her mouth before she realized that Lady Ozie was paying the museum for any lost revenue.
“Miss Reale, you will become accustomed to all doors being opened without any worry about money.”
Aida wasn’t sure she would ever be accustomed to that, just like she didn’t think she’d ever feel comfortable with Trista refusing to use her first name.
“I have a lot of paperwork to sort through, so I’ll leave you to finish up your work.” She stood and drew in a deep breath. After a long pause, she said, “I trust your time with Mr. Goodman went well today. I must remind you that although he has signed an NDA for his work with us, that does not mean he is privy to the true nature of the projects you are working on. Please be thoughtful of that when you are visiting with friends. And make sure to leave your phone on.”
She turned on a heel and hurried out of the room and into her office, leaving Aida stunned at what was clearly a stark warning.
When Aida wasn’t recording Goethe or correlating information between his various works, she explored the palazzo, the entirety of which was open save the quarters where the staff lived. Walking through the rooms filled Aida with wonder, and every pass through one, she delighted in finding something new, whether it was a detail on one of the palazzo’s many frescoes, a previously unnoticed tile pattern, or an antique of exquisite quality. She was exploring the grand ballroom when her phone buzzed. It was Graham. Settling onto a velvet-covered bench, the plush fabric brushing against her palms, Aida answered.
She smiled when she saw his bed-head hair. “I see you just got up. Oh, I miss waking up with you.”
He gave her a sleepy grin. “But it won’t be long until I’m there.”
