‘I thought we would use theCamera Rossa– the Red Room – for some of the filming.’ Lucia turned a handle hidden within the wooden panelling.
Natalie stepped onto a terrazzo floor shimmering with a dozen different coloured stones: shades of terracotta, caramel, cocoa and copper. Deep fringed sofas flanked a rococo fireplace, heavy, ruby-coloured damask curtains fell to the floor; the dark-red, silk-covered walls had a depth of colour only the finest cloth could bring. This room alone would have the show’s advertisers purring.Luxe Life Swapwould be a sure-fire hit, another series a foregone conclusion. As long as Natalie didn’t mess up.
‘Are you okay?’ Lucia’s eyes were concerned.
‘I’m just trying to take it all in… and hoping someone has told Cate and Phil about Mandy’s health scare.’ She didn’t want the cameras capturing the contestants’ crestfallen faces when they realised they’d be spending a fortnight with Natalie ‘Nobody’ Spencer instead of Mandy ‘National Treasure’ Miller whose blend of old-fashioned factual reporting and breezy, best-friend charm had won her a devoted following.
‘Ahh! You are a little worried because this is your first big show.’ Lucia frowned. ‘Perhaps you are thinking that I have not prepared everything. I know I am young, but I have worked on many productions.’
‘These Venice episodes are vital to the show’s success but it’s not you I’m worried about, it’s me. Mandy is so popular.’
‘Mandy, she is a star who everybody loves; even in Italy we know her. So, if you are unsure, just ask yourself: what would Mandy do?’ Lucia beamed as if her words were enough to sweep away all Natalie’s doubts. ‘And what will go wrong? Venice, this palazzo, all isperfetto, sì? Now we will go upstairs, I have a special secret to show you. And afterwards, I take you to Da Andrea near the Palazzo Fortuny: the best coffee in my city.’
Lucia led her through double doors up more stairs to a portrait-lined corridor and into a high-ceilinged room lined in a shimmering eau-de-nil damask dominated by a carved wooden bed piled high with sumptuous cushions.
‘The contestants will be sleeping in the Gold Room but this one is interesting for you to see, I think. It is similar to the other rooms except for one special trick.’
Natalie scanned the panelled walls, expecting to see another carefully concealed door, but Lucia dropped to the floor, crouching on her heels and began to roll back a patterned runner near the foot of the bed.
‘Look!’ Lucia lifted up a small, diamond-shaped floor tile, revealing a grill set into the marble floor.
Natalie knelt down, peering through the gaps in the curled metalwork. The shimmering floor, the edge of a crimson sofa: there was no doubt about what she could see. She was looking directly down into the Red Room.
‘Clever, do you not think?’ Lucia said. ‘A person can look and listen to what is going on below. The owners could overhear their guests’ private conversations before they came down to greet them. To succeed in commerce like the Vicenzi family, one had to have as many advantages as possible.’
‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’ Natalie grinned.
‘And now we will have that coffee.’ Lucia straightened up. ‘Ah, my phone, I have a call.’
‘Please, take it.’ Natalie wandered across to the wide window. She dug out her own phone and checked an app. Cate and Phil’s flight had taken off; it was due to arrive on time. She had one less thing to worry about.
‘No! This is not possible!’ Lucia’s voice was shrill.
Natalie swung around. ‘What is it?’
‘Sì, sì… she is here.’ Lucia crossed the room. She held out the phone. ‘It is Floella, Natalie. You need to speak to her. One of your contestants has gone missing.’
6
Cate stepped out of the taxi. The driver plonked their cases down on the pavement with a thump. Phil put his wallet back in his inside pocket. The cab driver pulled back into the traffic. By this evening, they’d be in Venice.
‘Departures are this way.’ Phil marched ahead.
‘Italia, here we come!’ Cate cringed at the false note of gaiety in her voice. She followed her husband towards the entrance, having to half-run to keep up with him. ‘Slow down! I know you’re keen to go back to the place we first met but the plane won’t take off any earlier,’ she joked.
‘We need to go up a level.’ Phil manoeuvred their cases into the tightly crammed lift. Cate squeezed in, her face inches from a thin man in giant headphones nodding along to a silent beat; a red bag containing some sort of sports equipment jabbed into her thigh. A little boy banged his sandals against his ride-on case.
Cate caught Phil’s eye. ‘Isn’t he just like our Oli was?’
‘Yes, he was so cute at that age.’
The doors slid open. They stepped aside to let everyone else out first.
‘This way.’ Phil set off towards the Flight Information screens, pulling his giant case, his knuckles white on the handle of his carry-on.
‘You’re worrying about something, aren’t you?’ Cate said, hurrying to keep up. ‘The business will be fine. Caspar will look after the showroom; you keep telling me he could do with some more responsibility. The Italians will take good care of the house and I’ve got an agency to send in a cleaner twice a week. This is a big opportunity for the business and think of everything you’ll see in Venice; you’ll come back bursting with fresh ideas for all those new customers who’ve seen the wonderful things you make.’
‘A real-life Italian count eating at one of my tables, hanging his linen suits in my wardrobe; that’s advertising money can’t buy.’
