Chapter14
The Spanish Steps Lead to a Sinking Ship
Meanwhile, in Piazza Trinità dei Monti
For all of five minutes, neither David nor Vittoria said a word.The air between them crackled with a sort of energy that could only be described as invigorating in the worst possible way.
Vittoria glanced up at theObelisco Sallustiano, a Roman obelisk made to imitate those in Egypt and erected directly in front of the doors to the Chiesa della Santissima Trinità dei Monti.Even its hieroglyphic inscription was copied from another obelisk.
“I can only imagine what you’d like to do with that should you be able to lift it,” David commented dryly.
Blinking in confusion, Vittoria allowed her gaze to go from the bottom to the peak of the structure, her attention lingering on the cross that crowned a fleur-de-lis at the very top.“I do not know of what you speak,” she claimed.
“Impale me with it?”he hinted, remembering what the statue of Apollo had done toDonLuciano the night before.
She gave him a quelling glance.“I would not do so with a cross,” she countered.Her eyes narrowed.“Are you quite sure you don’t require a confessional?”she added.She and David followed the others in their party into the Catholic church for which the plaza was named.
David countered her quelling glance with one of his own.“I am happy to wait outside should you wish to unburden yourself,” he countered, his gaze taking in the interior of the late Renaissance church.Knowing the structure had been home to Minim Friars for most of its existence, he expected to see more of a French influence in its interior.He also knew Napoleon had it looted of its original decorations, though.The Bourbons had restored it nearly a quarter of a century ago, and although it was quite beautiful, it struck him odd that the ceiling was entirely white.
When Vittoria didn’t provide a reply to his last comment about waiting while she went to a confessional, he glanced in her direction.He suddenly regretted his words, for she appeared to be on the verge of tears.“Apologies.That was unkind of me,” he said.
“I thought it rather knightly,” she countered.
Blinking, David struggled to sort her meaning.“Knightly?”he repeated.
She nodded.“Chivalrous,” she stated, pronouncing the word slowly in her Italian-accented English.
“Oh,” he replied.“Then...I will wait for you.There is certainly much to see in here, if we’re allowed to linger,” he added.
She shrugged and lifted a handkerchief to the edge of one eye.“I am not sure why, but I always have the urge to cry when I come here.”
“Well, it is beautiful,” he said.As far as churches were concerned, he had been in a number of them during their Grand Tour.None stood out as particularly jaw-dropping, although he was looking forward to the Church of St.John on Malta.They planned to stop in Valletta on the way back to England to see the co-cathedral’s art and its exquisite Baroque interior.
“But it is not the most beautiful of all the churches in Rome,” she said in a whisper.“Wait until you see St.Peter’s Basilica.”
The two gave a start when they realized someone was directly behind them.
“Are we ready to descend the steps?”Donald asked in a hoarse whisper.
David glanced over his shoulder at his brother, surprised to discover the rest of their party were already making their way out of the church and down its double staircase.“The Spanish Steps?”he asked.
“Indeed,” Nicoletta said happily.“But first allow me to show you where your English poet John Keats lived,” she added, pointing to a house to her left.“He died there, too, when I was a young girl.”
“I admit I am not terribly familiar with his works,” Barbara said.
“That’s because you and I were recently married and busy with two boys and the farm,” Will reminded her.
“How many steps are there?”Barbara asked as they made their way across the piazza.She stopped short upon seeing the terraced stairs leading down to a fountain.“Oh!”The steep decline from the double staircase in front of the church to the terraced steps below resulted in momentary vertigo.
“One-hundred-and-thirty-five,” Donald stated.
“My knees are already causing me pain,” Will quipped, but he led Barbara down the first set of stairs, pausing at the landing to allow the others to join them.
“The view from here is quite spectacular,” Diana breathed.
“Because you want to dig it up?”Randy asked, grinning.
She directed a grimace at him and shook her head.“It feels as if it’s already been dug up and is on display,” she said happily, bouncing down the stairs as she held onto her husband’s arm.
