She blinked at the sudden change of topic.“What about them?”
“I couldn’t help but notice you weren’t limping today,” he replied.
She straightened one leg so the hem of her hunter green walking gown fell onto the top of her ankle, exposing the half-foot.The brown leather was well worn and far softer than the leather of the black half-boots she had worn the day before.“Different boots,” she stated.“I would have worn these yesterday, but my lady’s maid insisted I wear the black because the color of my gown required it.”She didn’t own any other color that would have worked with the azure blue walking gown she had worn the day before..
“Good,” he replied.
“Good?”she repeated.The barouche stopped in an area where several streets intersected.She glanced around as David stood from his seat.
“Sì,” he said.“Would you like to come along?I’ll only be a moment, but I’d rather not leave you here by yourself.”
She stood and followed him out of the barouche, gripping his hand as she took the two steps down to the pavement and glanced around.“Where are we?”
“Via Pellegrino,” he replied.He offered his arm, and she took it.Still glancing about in an effort to determine if she had ever been to this part of Rome, Vittoria finally gave up and simply followed him along a thin street.At the fourth shop on the right, he opened the door for her, and the unmistakeable scents of leather and polish assaulted her nostrils.“You ordered boots?”she guessed.
“I did,” he replied, grinning.A dimple appeared in the base of one cheek, and she had to resist the urge to poke a finger into it.
Thecalzolairecognized David immediately and bowed to Vittoria.“Benvenuti,” he said before calling out to one of his children.The daughter appeared with the half-boots, her eyes widening in delight at seeing Vittoria.“Per Lei,” she said, holding out the footwear.For you.
Vittoria inhaled softly and glanced over at David.“I think these may be too small for you,mio don,” she said.
“Oh, they are,” he agreed.“But they should fit you perfectly.”
Blinking several times, Vittoria stared at the half-boots and then at David.“For me?”
“Per Lei,” he affirmed.“Would you like to try them on?”
Thecalzolai’sdaughter was already indicating a chair for Vittoria to use.Once she was settled, the girl knelt to undo the laces and remove the pair of brown half-boots.
Vittoria let out a sigh of relief.Despite their better fit, the brown ones had grown more uncomfortable with all the walking they had done that day.She watched as the girl slid the new ones onto her feet and quickly laced them.After tying a bow, she straightened and stood aside.
David was quick to offer his hand.“Do they fit?”he asked, worry evident in his voice.
Gingerly taking first one step and then another, Vittoria allowed a tentative grin.“They feel so different.As if they are made for each foot.”
“That’s because they are.”He watched as she continued walking in a circle, her steps quickening as her smile broadened.
“But...how did you know what size to have them made?”she asked in awe.
He pantomimed holding a foot and massaging it before lifting a shoulder.“Am I to understand I got it right?”he murmured.
She nodded, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
“Well, don’t cry,” he said, his eyes widening with alarm.“Are they giving you pain?Do they pinch?Do they...”
She didn’t allow him to continue his query, lifting herself onto tiptoes to kiss his lips, her gloved hands gripping his arms for support.
Although someone gasped to her right and someone said, “Oh, mio,” to her left, Vittoria was determined she be allowed to finish the kiss before she finally pulled away.It was then she realized his hands had gone to her waist, his palms pressed against her as if he, too, needed something to hold onto.
She stared up at David, relieved when she didn’t see any sign of censure in his eyes.If anything, he seemed to be waging an internal war with himself, his brows furrowing with his questioning stare.
“Grazie,” she whispered.
David’s mouth opened and closed several times before he remembered they had an audience.“Prego.”He motioned to thecalzolai.“Be sure to keep the pattern,signore,” he said.“In fact, make another pair in...”He turned to Vittoria.“What color would you like?Blue, for the gown you wore yesterday?”
Vittoria inhaled softly, stunned he would remember the color of her walking gown.She held out the skirts of the hunter green gown she wore.“Or green?”she replied.
“A pair in hunter green and a pair in blue,” he ordered.“No hurry, though.”
