shook her head. ‘They’re really striking—gold flecks, a hint of hazel and green. You’ve got the colouring of a chameleon; you’ll photograph differently depending on the shade you are wearing.’
Our hostess returned and sailed on through to the kitchen. ‘Does anyone have room for ice cream?’
‘Yes, please,’ replied Lily. ‘I was just telling Crystal that she should think about modelling as a career.’
From the kitchen came the sound of the freezer compartment being tugged open. The signora came back bearing a tub of locally made ice cream. ‘I tell the girl she has the looks but does she believe me?’
I helped get out the dessert dishes, lovely antique ones with gold leaf edging. ‘You’re beginning to persuade me, but I always thought my features were too large.’
‘Ah, but that is why they work,’ said Lily. ‘Think of Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway—mouths the size of aircraft carriers but it didn’t do their careers any harm.’ Lily accepted a large serving of strawberry ice cream while I sketched the outline of my lips self-consciously with a fingertip. Aircraft carrier? ‘I know people in the industry. If you’re interested, get some studio portraits taken and I’ll send them around. In fact, I insist. I’ll get one of the photographers on set to do it free. I have this hunch about you and I want to crow that I discovered you when you are rich and famous.’
The signora gave a huff. ‘ I discovered her, Lily.’
Now they were fighting over the right to claim responsibility for my non-existent fame.
‘OK, Maria, we discovered her.’
The two women smiled at me expectantly.
What could I say? ‘Um, thank you.’
‘James said there was a lot of standing around on set; now we know what to do with the spare time, don’t we?’ Lily dug in her spoon. ‘Excellent ice cream, Maria.’
By the time I had helped clear up and let myself into my own flat, it was nearly midnight. I felt ridiculously happy and took Barozzi for a little waltz round the kitchen, much to his disgust. He scrambled out of my arms and disappeared through the window. Ever since Xav had raised the idea that there was something wrong with me, I’d felt as if I’d had no future, not as a Savant at least. Now Lily and Signora Carriera had helped me see that my path did not have to follow the rest of my family’s; the vast majority of the population lived happy fulfilled lives in the normal, ungifted world. I could make a name for myself there that would mean my lack of Savant proficiency was entirely overshadowed. All I needed to do was push on the doors they were pointing me towards. Maybe modelling wouldn’t be the thing for me in the end, but it was a place to start.
I was just about to switch off my bedside light when my phone flashed that it had a message waiting from Diamond. I quickly tapped on the screen.
Arriving back tomorrow. If you get time, please make up spare beds for two. Love .
Two? Trace plus one. My guess would be that Androcles might well be coming to find out why the lion had not sent him a paw report. Damn. And it had been such a good day.
In no hurry to make my explanations to Xav Benedict, I left Diamond a note on the kitchen counter saying I would have to stay late at work. When Signora Carriera hinted in the afternoon that Rocco might benefit from a jog, I did not leap at the chance as I normally would, but busied myself pasting sequins on the last of the masks we were making for the film. She let the subject drop, occupied as she was showing her costume ideas for the next Carnival to Contessa Nicoletta. The old lady had come to the shop as she had promised; her ever-present pilot left on the street outside like a bouncer manning our door. The two Venetians were cackling together like witches over a cauldron, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Each threw in snippets of themes, touches of colour, to the palette of designs Signora Carriera was going to make for the old
Our hostess returned and sailed on through to the kitchen. ‘Does anyone have room for ice cream?’
‘Yes, please,’ replied Lily. ‘I was just telling Crystal that she should think about modelling as a career.’
From the kitchen came the sound of the freezer compartment being tugged open. The signora came back bearing a tub of locally made ice cream. ‘I tell the girl she has the looks but does she believe me?’
I helped get out the dessert dishes, lovely antique ones with gold leaf edging. ‘You’re beginning to persuade me, but I always thought my features were too large.’
‘Ah, but that is why they work,’ said Lily. ‘Think of Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway—mouths the size of aircraft carriers but it didn’t do their careers any harm.’ Lily accepted a large serving of strawberry ice cream while I sketched the outline of my lips self-consciously with a fingertip. Aircraft carrier? ‘I know people in the industry. If you’re interested, get some studio portraits taken and I’ll send them around. In fact, I insist. I’ll get one of the photographers on set to do it free. I have this hunch about you and I want to crow that I discovered you when you are rich and famous.’
The signora gave a huff. ‘ I discovered her, Lily.’
Now they were fighting over the right to claim responsibility for my non-existent fame.
‘OK, Maria, we discovered her.’
The two women smiled at me expectantly.
What could I say? ‘Um, thank you.’
‘James said there was a lot of standing around on set; now we know what to do with the spare time, don’t we?’ Lily dug in her spoon. ‘Excellent ice cream, Maria.’
By the time I had helped clear up and let myself into my own flat, it was nearly midnight. I felt ridiculously happy and took Barozzi for a little waltz round the kitchen, much to his disgust. He scrambled out of my arms and disappeared through the window. Ever since Xav had raised the idea that there was something wrong with me, I’d felt as if I’d had no future, not as a Savant at least. Now Lily and Signora Carriera had helped me see that my path did not have to follow the rest of my family’s; the vast majority of the population lived happy fulfilled lives in the normal, ungifted world. I could make a name for myself there that would mean my lack of Savant proficiency was entirely overshadowed. All I needed to do was push on the doors they were pointing me towards. Maybe modelling wouldn’t be the thing for me in the end, but it was a place to start.
I was just about to switch off my bedside light when my phone flashed that it had a message waiting from Diamond. I quickly tapped on the screen.
Arriving back tomorrow. If you get time, please make up spare beds for two. Love .
Two? Trace plus one. My guess would be that Androcles might well be coming to find out why the lion had not sent him a paw report. Damn. And it had been such a good day.
In no hurry to make my explanations to Xav Benedict, I left Diamond a note on the kitchen counter saying I would have to stay late at work. When Signora Carriera hinted in the afternoon that Rocco might benefit from a jog, I did not leap at the chance as I normally would, but busied myself pasting sequins on the last of the masks we were making for the film. She let the subject drop, occupied as she was showing her costume ideas for the next Carnival to Contessa Nicoletta. The old lady had come to the shop as she had promised; her ever-present pilot left on the street outside like a bouncer manning our door. The two Venetians were cackling together like witches over a cauldron, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Each threw in snippets of themes, touches of colour, to the palette of designs Signora Carriera was going to make for the old
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