Chapter 15
15
Another boutique, another fake smile. Natalie was sure she was doing a poor job of aping Mandy Miller’s unfailingly sunny disposition. Floella had assured her she should just be herself and let her natural personality shine through, which would be perfect if the viewers wanted to see an increasingly grumpy presenter humiliating herself in a variety of just-able-to-close-the-zip outfits whilst Cate preened for the camera in a super-sleek, ice-blue all-in-one.
‘The style of Alessandro Valentino’s designs is quite different from those you tried in Simona Rinaldi’s boutique earlier but here again we see the quality, luxe fabrics and attention to detail for which the Italian fashion industry is known,’ Natalie said, trying not to sound breathy as she held her stomach in.
‘I’ve never found such a flattering jumpsuit before.’ Cate twirled like a gameshow hostess.
‘So, you will take this. A good choice. And perhaps this.’ The spaghetti-slim shop girl draped a floor-length cape fashioned from layers of acid-yellow feathers around Cate’s shoulders. Natalie coughed back a laugh she hoped could be attributed to the pungent smoke rising from the oil burner on the heavily veined, marble mantelpiece. ‘And for you, Natalie,’ the salesgirl purred, ‘this satin bomber embroidered with eagles.’
‘How unusual.’ Natalie shrugged on the cropped jacket. Three-dimensional metallic thread and sequined wings protruded above each of her breasts. Lucia’s expression was unreadable. Natalie had to hope this would be edited out but if it wasn’t cut, at least it would give her mum and dad a good laugh – if Mum hadn’t fainted at the sight of the sky-high price tags.
‘I’ll just take the jumpsuit, please. Anything for you, Natalie?’ Cate’s eyes were as innocent as the Madonnas’ in the Accademia.
‘Not for me, unfortunately.’ Natalie smiled at the camera. ‘I’m here to report on the luxury lifestyle of Venice’s elite, not to live it… Are you sure there’s nothing else for you here… This, perhaps? Furs are very much part of the Italian look.’ She picked up a strange oval bag that seemed to have been stitched together from the skins of a dozen small rodents.
‘The embroidered evening purse we found earlier will be quite sufficient,’ Cate replied smoothly.
The camera crew began packing up. Cate helped Lucia to gather up the half-dozen ribbon-tied bags from Simona Rinaldi they’d left discreetly out of camera shot.
The assistant handed Cate a single dayglo orange bag containing the gold tissue-paper-wrapped jumpsuit and wished them a formal goodbye.
The glass door swung shut behind them. Natalie breathed in a great lungful of unperfumed fresh air. ‘What a place!’
Lucia shook her head. ‘I cannot imagine what the countess buys in there. But the jumpsuit you found, Cate, it is very beautiful.’
Cate laughed. ‘It was the only wearable thing in the shop. Do you think they ordered it by mistake? I suppose we’ll need to go back to the palazzo now; we won’t be able to carry all these bags around with us.’
‘Oh, no,’ Lucia interrupted. ‘I will take these bags back; the housekeeper will have everything hung up for you. You are free to carry on shopping. I will pop my folder in with this dark jacket, if you don’t mind, Cate; it will do it no harm.’ Lucia undid the ribbon on one of the logoed carrier bags.
‘More shopping, Cate?’ Natalie couldn’t face another boutique but she thought she’d better offer.
‘Only one. Salvatore Ferragamo – I’d like to choose Phil a new tie.’
‘ Certo ! I will show you both where that is.’ Lucia set off briskly, leading them through the narrow calle until they came to a wide street of designer shops. ‘There on the end, right by the small canal.’
‘Thank you, Lucia. I will see you later.’ Cate bent to kiss Lucia’s cheeks.
‘Have a lovely day. We will not need you until tonight, Cate, when we film you and Philip arriving at La Fenice for the opera. Your husband’s flight was due to leave on time, I believe.’
‘Thank goodness,’ Natalie added.
Lucia gathered up all Cate’s purchases and set off in the direction of the vaporetto stop.
The search for Phil’s new tie took no more than ten minutes. Cate and Natalie stepped out of the air-conditioned shop. The day was getting warmer. Shorn of Lucia’s presence, Natalie felt stripped naked.
‘Well, what now?’ Cate said.
Natalie racked her brain for an idea. But how could she choose what to do today when all she could think about was the past?