‘So, this is how the other half lives,’ Natalie joked.
The housekeeper set down a basket of pastries, filling the air with the sweet scent of vanilla.
‘Grazie, Nunzia,’ said Cate. ‘I could get used to these breakfasts. I’m a cornflakes and apple girl back home.’
‘I’m a grab a bit of toast whilst running out the door kind of girl.’ Natalie grinned.
Cate laughed. She seemed lighter that morning, all the cares of yesterday set aside, or else she was wearing some super effective new foundation that Natalie really needed the name of.
‘You’re looking… rested.’
‘I don’t know what Nunzia sprayed on my pillow but it smelt divine; I slept like a baby. And Phil messaged me; he’s in the airport lounge already, far too early of course but it’s a weight off my mind.’
‘I’ll be excited to meet him now he’s finally arriving.’
‘Barring engine failure, a volcanic ash cloud or a hijacking.’
‘Or an air traffic controllers strike! But, seriously Cate, that’s not going to happen; you’ve had enough bad luck on this trip.’
‘And plenty of good. Look at this place.’ Cate waved a hand towards a fine marble statue of a magnificent doe and stag. ‘And, I don’t want to keep going on about it but us becoming friends again, it means a lot to me.’
‘And to me. But I’ll have to put my professional hat back on when we’re filming. So if I start bossing you about, don’t take it personally.’
‘Okay, but only if you let me take charge today before Phil gets here. It’s my last chance to do exactly what I fancy before you and Lucia take over again.’
‘So, what are we doing?’ Natalie stirred a lump of sugar into her cappuccino, disturbing the pretty leaf design etched onto the surface.
‘First stop: Eraldo’s workshop. I’ve had a good look at the suggestions he sent me so I’m ready to commission Phil’s watch.’
‘You could just send an email.’
‘I could but thenyouwouldn’t get to see him.’
‘Idon’t need to see him.’
‘But you want to. Your cheeks have gone as pink as the serving girl in that picture over the fireplace.’
Natalie rubbed the back of her neck. ‘I’m a bit warm, that’s all.’
‘It’s not exactly stuffy in here.’ Cate surveyed the huge, high-ceilinged room.
Natalie sighed. ‘Okay, I like him but what’s the point? He lives in Venice, I hardly speak a word of Italian, we’ve nothing in common…’
‘Right now, you’re also in Venice, he speaks near-perfect English, you’re both friends with Floella and you’re going to have a lot of fun finding out what you do have in common – apart from a tendency to gaze at each other when you think the other one’s not looking… If you’ve finished that coffee, we’ll get going. I can’t sit here looking at the rest of those pastries.’
Natalie stopped herself reaching for a second. ‘You’re the boss.’
‘I am.’ Cate turned to the hovering housekeeper. ‘Thank you, Nunzia,grazie mille.’
Natalie followed her out of the property’s side entrance and round to the walkway. The Grand Canal was busy, a barge loaded with brown cardboard boxes passing one way, the Number One waterbus packed with people going in the other.
Morning in Venice was a sight she could never tire of, the vista before her barely changed since Canaletto had picked up his brushes. It was a shame that almost all his paintings had left the city. Just two remained in the Ca’ Rezzonico but the count and countess were proud owners of a series of his sketches displayed in gilded frames on the second-floor landing.
‘Shall we walk?’ Cate asked. She was wearing a pair of trainers – designer, naturally – and a floaty dress more suited to strolling than the stiff pencil skirt of the day before.
‘Sure.’ Natalie was equally comfortable in denim shorts, knowing Lucia’s camera crew wouldn’t be following them. Now they were friends, it didn’t bother her as much that her stubbier legs couldn’t compete with Cate’s honeyed limbs but if she’d known they’d be heading for Eraldo’s workshop, she would have done more than slick on a bit of mascara and run a comb through her hair.
Cate strode on. ‘I feel like I’m getting to know this city, at least a little bit.’
