Page 12 of Once Upon a Time in Venice

‘I have to go now,’ Gina said. ‘But thank you for … everything, it’s been an unforgettable night. I don’t even know your name.’

‘I’m—’

Gina was jostled from behind by a group of revellers, her hand slipping from his. When she recovered her balance, she couldn’t see the man anywhere. She whirled around, hoping desperately for a glimpse of red and gold, and realized she was still wearing his cape. She stroked it softly, feeling unexpectedly crestfallen, a sensation which was swiftly followed by foolishness. The man had been little more than a stranger; no doubt she’d imagined a connection that wasn’t really there.

She didn’t even know his name, and would likely never see him again.

With one final, hopeful scan of the crowd, Gina turned and made her way back to the boat, finding herself smiling.

Still just a romantic dreamer, Gina. That’s what her mother would say to her now. But her mother wasn’t here.

It was only when she got back to the boat that Gina realized her bracelet was missing.

Chapter 6

‘Buongiorno, principessa.’ Marco smiled as Daniela entered the room. She sat down at the kitchen table, stealing a pastry from the plate on the table, the rich, warm smell of freshly made cappuccino drifting in the air. ‘How was the party?’

‘I had so much fun. Sofia’s mamma and papà dressed up too, and they played music and we all danced, and I ate so many sweets!’

‘It sounds wonderful,’ Marco smiled.

‘It was. And how was yours?’

‘It was … as expected. Dull. I left early.’

‘No, I don’t believe you!’ Daniela exclaimed. ‘You weren’t here when I went to bed, and that was almost ten o’clock.’

‘Well, I didn’t come straight home,’ Marco confessed. ‘I walked around the city a little to soak up the atmosphere.’

‘Did you see the flotilla, and the fireworks?’

‘I might have done,’ Marco teased, the memories of the previous evening flitting through his mind.

‘Can I come with you next year?’ Daniela begged. ‘Or maybe we can go on Sunday to see the Flight of the Colombina,’ she continued, naming the famous spectacle where a mechanical dove ‘flew’ from St Mark’s Campanile.

‘I have to work this Sunday,’ Marco said apologetically, as Daniela’s face fell. ‘Perhaps Rosina can take you? We’ll go next year, I promise.’

‘Next year is ages away,’ Daniela shrugged, pouting, pouring herself a glass of milk.

Marco grinned at his daughter as he sipped his coffee. ‘Don’t sulk, principessa. Your face may get stuck that way.’

Daniela pulled an even sulkier face before they both burst out laughing. ‘You seem very happy this morning, Papà.’

Daniela was watching him as she took a bite of cornetto.

‘Do I?’ Marco asked.

‘Yes, you keep smiling but I don’t think you realize it. Oh!’ Something across the table caught Daniela’s attention and she stood up to reach for it. ‘What’s this?’ she asked, holding it up to the light where it sparkled. It was a beaded bracelet, in shimmering blue and silver.

‘It’s … something I found last night.’

‘Can I have it? It’s beautiful,’ Daniela said, slipping it onto her wrist and stretching out her arm to admire it.

‘You can look after it,’ Marco corrected her. ‘But we must try to give it back to the person who lost it.’

Daniela frowned, looking up at him. ‘Like Cinderella and her slipper?’

‘Yes,’ Marco laughed, thinking of the woman last night, and how she had seemed to melt into the crowd at midnight. ‘Just like that. Right, come along, my princess. Take it off now and leave it somewhere safe. Rosina will be here shortly, and I have to go to a boring meeting.’