Page 12 of A Chance in a Million
They sat down at a nearby table and chatted. He told her more about the Mantua Costume Museum while she told him about her aspirations of becoming a writer. She didn’t mention the army, nor the name of her employer, and neither of them made reference to any partners. She enjoyed being with him more than she could possibly have expected and it appeared that he was enjoying her company just as much. Of course, she reminded herself, this could just be because she was wearing a dress belonging to one of the most famous actresses of all time and the fact that he had built a career among such things, but she had her doubts. Finally, as ten o’clock approached, she swallowed the last of her wine and stood up.
‘I’m afraid I have to leave. I’m being picked up by launch at ten and I don’t want to keep the driver waiting. Or should that be the “captain”?’
He stood up as well. ‘I’m going home by more pedestrian means, but let me walk you to the boat.’
‘There’s no need for that, really.’
‘I’d like to. Humour me, please.’
Emerging from the building, they walked down the staircase to the water’s edge and Jane was relieved to see Alvise already moored at the end of the jetty. Although Paolo was very polite and very nice, she had been dreading finding herself alone in the dark with a man for the first time in two long years. She turned towards him and held out her hand formally.
‘Thank you for your company and for the drink. Sorry, once again, for depriving you of the Sophia Loren dress. No hard feelings, I hope?’
He took her hand and held onto it for a second or two longer than necessary before releasing it. ‘No hard feelings. I’ve enjoyed this evening and I was wondering if maybe we could meet up again. I don’t suppose you might feel like letting me have your phone number by any chance?’
Jane hesitated for a few moments before agreeing. She knew she wasn’t ready for a relationship with any man, but when all was said and done, it was just a phone number. She didn’t need to agree to see him again even if he did call her. They exchanged numbers and he gave her a broader smile.
‘Thanks for that. I was afraid you might disappear into the night like Cinderella and I’d just be left with a glass slipper.’
She smiled back. ‘I shudder to think how uncomfortable glass slippers could be. I’m wearing new high heels and I feel as if my calves are about to explode. Thanks again and good night, Paolo.’
‘Arrivederci, Jane.’
He offered her his hand to help her step into the launch and then stood on the jetty and watched while Alvise reversed away and turned for home. Before they disappeared into the night, she gave him a little wave and he waved back.Arrivederci, till we meet again, was what he had said – if that was what she wanted.
She sat back and relaxed as the launch took her down this most romantic of waterways, passing wonderful historic buildings on both sides, and she reflected on the unexpected turn her life had now taken. Only a month ago she had been marking time in her parents’ house, wandering around in old jeans, still deep in a slough of despair, with little hope and little joy. Now here she was in this dreamy setting, dressed as a diva with a two-hundred-euro hairstyle, travelling down the Grand Canal from one magnificent palazzo to another, and with a handsome man standing on a jetty receding into the distance behind her. Captain J. V. Reed, Royal Engineers, had never in her wildest dreams envisioned such a spectacularly different career path as this. Could it really be that this was what her life was going to be like from now on?
Chapter 7
‘So you see, I’m very sorry but I disobeyed your orders and paid five hundred euros more for it, but if I did wrong please take that out of my pay. I just got the impression you really wanted to have it.’
Miss Leonard looked up from the Sophie Loren dress which had been delivered earlier that morning and smiled – a broad smile that didn’t look in the least bit forced. ‘No apology needed and thank you for the kind offer, but it’s perfectly all right. I’m delighted you decided to go the extra mile. This will make a wonderful addition to my collection.’ Her smile broadened even more. ‘Now, do tell me about the handsome man I hear you were with last night.’
‘The handsome man?’ Jane did her best to affect an air of insouciance. ‘I presume you mean the director of the Mantua Costume Museum. His name’s Paolo Padovan. He was the other bidder who pushed the price of the dress up.’ She returned her employer’s smile. ‘The bush telegraph really does work well here, just like you said.’
‘Padovan – that’s a good local name. I used to know a Paolo Padovan years ago. As for the bush telegraph, I got a call from the duchess a little while ago, telling me all about it. It appears you made quite an impression last night.’
‘Agoodimpression, I hope. But, did you say, “duchess”? You mean Lavinia di Pontegrande is a duchess? I had no idea. Good lord, should I have been addressing them as milord and milady?’
‘Of course not. There’s no such thing as the aristocracy here in Italy any more. Those titles are all just hang backs to a bygone age. That’s partly why I never use mine either – although I’m powerless to make Maria and Alvise call me anything but “your ladyship”. Anyway, Lavinia and Alessandro were most impressed by you – and I’m not just talking about your looks, so no need for you to get sniffy again.’
Jane shot her employer a smile. ‘I promise I’ll never ever be sniffy in front of you. Well, I’m glad they thought I did all right. I felt like a fish out of water in the midst of all that opulence.’
To her surprise, Miss Leonard actually clasped her hand for a few seconds before releasing it again. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I spent years feeling like that, but you get used to it after a while. Don’t worry. Most of them are good people underneath the bling.’
‘Well, I have to say that the signora… the duchess and her husband were charming and very supportive.’
‘So, tell me about this man.’ Miss Leonard sounded genuinely interested and Jane registered this as a good sign that she might be cheering up – at least a bit.
‘Paolo Padovan? He’s a nice guy and I had a drink with him before Alvise came to collect me.’
‘And are you going to see him again?’
‘I’m not sure. We exchanged phone numbers but I don’t think I’ll be saying yes if he asks me out.’
‘Why’s that, if you don’t mind me being nosey? Is there someone else? I told Gordon to say there would be room for two in the flat upstairs if needed when he placed the advert.’
‘Yes, Mr Russell did ask me, thank you, but there’s nobody else… now.’
