‘Eraldo!’ Pietro boomed. The pink feathers quivered on a mask hanging on the wall just behind his head. ‘Two ladies to see you!’
‘Avanti!’ Eraldo called from above.
‘After you.’ Natalie followed Cate up the spiral staircase, trying not to dwell on the strange thrill she got from the sound of Eraldo’s voice, deep and warm as a sheepskin rug.
Eraldo emerged from behind his workbench. ‘Natalie, Cate, so nice to see you. I am glad you have found the time to come by. Please, take a seat over there.’ He waved a hand towards the couch where Natalie had previously sat. Her cheeks heated at the memory of her untimely departure.
Cate popped her handbag on the seat beside her. Eraldo cleared a space on the table with a sweep of his hand.
Natalie sat down gingerly.
‘I tidied earlier. I can assure you there will be no unwelcome surprises under the cushions.’ Eraldo smiled.
‘Sounds intriguing.’ Cate crossed her slender ankles.
‘Pietro has a habit of leaving things lying around when he comes up here. Last time, poor Natalie was almost sitting on the mask of the Plague doctor. It was not such a warm welcome.’
‘She must have been terrified!’ Cate exclaimed.
Natalie shot her a look.
‘Terrified? That would be a rather extreme reaction, though they are a little creepy and…’ Eraldo stopped mid-sentence, frowning as though something was beginning to make a little more sense. He stroked his hand across his dark stubble. ‘Allora, you have come to discuss a possible commission.’
His question was addressed to Cate but his eyes swept Natalie’s face. She glanced at the floor.
‘Yes, I have come to discuss a watch, something special.’
‘Of course. You have a strong idea? Or perhaps a theme, a mood we can explore.’
Cate twisted her diamond-studded wedding ring. ‘Something traditional. Roman numerals, a second hand of course, perhaps the date. Understated but different, unique.’
Eraldo removed the lid from his fountain pen and jotted a few words in a leather-bound notebook. ‘Traditional but different. You are looking for – how we say – classic with a twist.’
‘Exactly.’ Cate smiled expectantly.
‘I will show you something I have recently completed. I am just waiting for the customer to come and pick it up.’ He rose from the couch. Natalie couldn’t help noticing the snug fit of his dark jeans as he crossed the room, his muscular arms, the way the sun from the small attic windows picked out silver streaks in his black, curly hair.
Cate nudged her gently. ‘Like what you see?’ she mouthed. Natalie tried to look cross but judging by Cate’s wry smile, she hadn’t succeeded.
‘Here.’ Eraldo returned holding out a small, velvet-lined tray. ‘I make this for a well-known actor – I cannot say who – created from an old watch he remembers hisnonnowearing when he was a small boy. I have restored it, identical in every way except this blue face.’
‘It’s gorgeous.’ Natalie admired the contrast of the steel numerals against the rich blue.
‘I am pleased with it. The depth of colour, it really is something and of course, if I tried to reproduce this exactly – which I assure you I would not – it would never be exactly the same.’
‘It’s stunning,’ Cate said.
‘Yet I feel that you hesitate. This shade is particularly bold but a coloured dial need not be quite such a statement. A softer tone would work as well: a pearl grey, lavender, perhaps. And we would personalise it further, engraving a name, perhaps a special date upon the back… I can work up a few sketches, email you some costings.’
Cate fished a Duty-Free leaflet out of her handbag and jotted her email address on the back of it. ‘Thank you, that would be perfect. I am so glad we could come to see you today before my husband arrives. I can’t wait to show him the palazzo where we’re staying, and we’re off to the opera tonight.’
‘La Traviataat La Fenice?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘That should be marvellous. I hope you enjoy it very much, and you too, Natalie.’
‘Oh, Natalie isn’t coming; it’s just my husband and me – well, apart from the camera crew.’ Cate laughed. ‘I’m afraid Natalie is spending the evening alone.’
