It was going to be a long evening. But at least he wouldn’t be thinking about Angelina for a while.
* * *
Or so he thought, until he finally returned home the next day.
It was a shock to see her. Especially this close, and here of all places. Marco didn’t know what to say when he almost bumped into Angelina Dorma. . . . Here in Caesare’s apartment—coming out of Caesare’s bedroom. Not wearing an awful lot of clothing. Also, by the slight sway, anything but sober. Marco had stammered something incoherent, and bolted for the room he and Benito shared, her somewhat guilty laughter ringing in his ears.
In the security of the room he tried to work through the confusion of his feelings. She wasn’t his. Never had been, the truth be told. He had no reason to feel torn up like this. After all, Angelina was just another daydream. She’d been nothing like his dream girl. Her face lacked the character, humor and . . . a certain something of the girl he’d seen on the Grand Canal the day he’d been brought back from the Jesolo marshes. But he had still kept Angelina on something of a pedestal . . . which she’d climbed off and into Caesare’s bed. He needed to be alone to think this lot over.
Then he realized he wasn’t even alone now. Benito was sitting on the far side of the bed, looking at him with a quizzical, slightly worried expression on his round face. For all that Benito was younger than he was, sometimes he looked older. And . . . at least there was no need to explain. “How long?”
“Quite a while now.” Benito answered, sotto voce. “Started up seeing her while you were still in bed with that knock on the head. Seems like he took the opening you had made once he realized she was interested. They don’t meet here hardly at all, though, so I was hoping you’d never find out.”
Marco shook his head, trying to clear it. “Um. So what are you doing here?”
“Same as you. Old man Ventuccio gave us a half holiday because he’s got a grandson to carry on the family name, in case you forgot. Only I didn’t come in by the door, and I didn’t drop in to see a friend at the Accademia.” Benito grinned impishly. “Thought I’d catch up on my sleep ’cause I got things to do tonight.”
“Oh.” Marco paused. “What about Maria?”
Benito look a little uncomfortable. “She’s gone on a long trip out to Murano. Got some more glassware for that ceremonial galley to fetch. You know what Maria’s like. They trust her. When she’s away is a good time for us to stay away, brother. Aldanto . . . entertains visitors.”
Marco swallowed. “More?” he asked in a small voice.
Benito nodded. “Couple or two or three. There’s Signora Selmi. Her husband is one of the captains in the galley fleet. And there’s this one I don’t know. Little prisms-and-prunes mouth with a mole on her left cheek. She’s wild. Doesn’t come often but when she does . . . we even had old Camipini coming over later to complain about the noise—when Maria was home. Lord and Saints! I thought the fat was in the fire then!”
Marco felt as if he might faint. Benito had said that Caesare played the field with women. But . . . “Do you think I should warn Angelina?” he asked quietly, his loyalties torn.
Benito snorted. “Marco, big brother, Grandpapa was right. You do need someone to look after you. Like me. Now listen good. Your precious Angelina is a wild girl. She’s trouble, Marco. That’s a bad crowd she runs with, and I don’t think Caesare is her first time either. You just leave her to Caesare. He knows how to deal with girls like that. You don’t.”
Marco stood up, biting his lip. Then, nodded. “You’re right, brother. This time, anyway. I need to go out. I’ll see you.”
Benito stood up too, stretching. “I’ll tag along for company. I think we ought to leave quietly by the window. We can go and see Claudia and Valentina. Unless you’d rather go looking for that dream girl of yours?”