Chapter 17
Carnevale began in an explosion of colour, music and pageantry Beth hadn’t appreciated before.
Last year, she’d seen snippets of it from her office window and on her walk home, but she’d always been up too early to see it on her way into work.
The city was bustling with activity as though it had suddenly awoken from a long sleep.
There were noticeably more tourists than there had been a week ago and the city was alive with music, song, shouting, cheering and performances that would take your breath away.
She’d already made a promise to herself to explore this evening after the barge had closed for the day and make the most of this most brilliant occasion in the Venetian calendar.
As the busy vibe of the city seemed to leak through the canals, reaching out into all the different sestieri, and she unpacked a couple of boxes of new books she’d ordered from a wholesaler, she was ready to fling open the doors and reopen La Libreria delle Parole.
The Library of Words was looking far less crowded and much more elegant while still keeping the cosy vibe Signor Balbo had created with his table lamps dotted here, there and everywhere and the wood-burning fire.
She was waiting on the artwork from the portrait painter and until then, had created some small prints of famous literary quotes and had put them in frames on the wall.
She could easily swap them over when his work arrived and until then, it wouldn’t look bare or like something was missing.
She missed Marco’s flowers and thought about buying another bouquet to give a gorgeous splash of warmth and colour too.
Beth filled the last of the books into the ‘New in!’ section and stepped back.
The rugs that had come with the barge had been hauled outside and swept and brushed, and whilst they weren’t exactly as good as new, they were at least less grubby.
She still wanted to purchase some cushions for the armchairs and give them a good polish to make the leather shine, but they were all things she could do as the season progressed.
Some were even jobs for when there were no customers around, though she hoped there would be more than enough to keep her busy.
She still felt slightly nervous at the prospect of talking to them, conscious that she might not have what they were looking for or be up to date with all the news from the book world, but she’d been reading trade papers and would just have to make do with what knowledge she did have.
She had her love of books and, for most bookworms, that was enough.
It had been before when she’d been selling Signor Balbo’s old stock on the canal side and she’d had one of her happiest days ever. Today would be even better than that.
The coffee barge was back next to her, and she planned to nip next door for a treat to start the day, something to give her lots of energy and see her through to the family dinner tonight.
Nerves swirled in her stomach as she thought of seeing Marco and meeting his enormous family.
Was it possible Elsa and Daisy were right, and Marco did like her more than she thought?
No, she couldn’t go there today and shook her head to ward off the thoughts.
She’d already bought a bunch of flowers to give to Mamma di Rienzo, knowing it would be rude to turn up empty-handed.
She’d deal with the evening when it got here; there were other things to think about right now.
Like breakfast, though she wasn’t actually sure she’d be able to eat anything but she didn’t want to feel sick.
She’d have to force herself which, given Lolanda’s amazing skills, wasn’t that much of a hardship.
‘Ciao, Lolanda; ciao, Galvano,’ she said, unzipping her purse. She continued in Italian, asking them if they were ready for a busy day. Polo, who had hopped onto their barge for a sniff and a fuss, hopped off again and went off for a wander.
‘Sì, sì!’ Lolanda replied, then switched to English. ‘Carnevale is always busy! Every street in Venice is full. I love this time of year. And it is a good time to trade.’
‘Yes, I’m glad I’ve managed to get the inside refurbished in time. I wasn’t expecting to when I first took the place over.’
Beth looked along the canal path where two performers were strolling along.
They were in huge Renaissance dresses, gorgeously made in rich colours of red and gold and detailed with lace, buttons and ribbons.
In their hands hung colombina – half-length masks that Venice was famous for.
In fact, the city was well known for its many different styles of masks.
The bauta were the plain white half-masks while the colombina were decorated on the cheeks in bright, even glittering paint.
Sometimes people added feathers, veils or lace so they became huge works of art in their own right.
The only ones she didn’t like were the medico della peste – the plague doctor masks.
She knew their history, and why they’d been made in the shape and style they had, but she’d never been able to shake the horror-movie look of them and they still sent chills down her spine.
The couple stopped next to her at the coffee barge and Galvano began to serve them, while Lolanda took her order.
Beth listened as the conversation took place in Italian between Galvano and the couple. They were going to be performing on the canal side just down from them, dancing traditional dances and acting out set pieces. Beth couldn’t wait to see it and told them so.
‘Grazie, grazie,’ they replied as they took their coffees, the takeaway cups looking entirely out of place compared to their costumes and the famous waterways of Venice.
Beth wished Lolanda and Galvano a good day and went back to the book barge. The owner on the other side of her smiled a greeting and congratulated her on the changes she’d made. She thanked them and headed inside to await her first real customers.
Though it was a slow start, it wasn’t long until the canal-side street grew crowded with early season tourists and locals enjoying Carnevale.
She sold books old and new and noticed she’d been right about the tourists wanting bestsellers and the latest, hot reads to relax with.
Her mind began to race to the upper deck and the outside of the boat.
With Cesca’s help, the Parisian-bookseller-style cabinets could hold the eye-grabbing covers and exciting titles of the romance, thriller and crime genres she loved.
Maybe she could even have a children’s section?
‘Well,’ came a deep voice, speaking in Italian. ‘I can’t believe the difference already. You young people have so much energy.’
Beth turned to see Signor Balbo stepping down into the book barge. She greeted him enthusiastically. ‘It’s so lovely to see you.’
He shuffled to the armchair and sat down, Polo having spotted him and appearing at his heels. ‘It is very different though.’
‘I know. But good different I hope?’
He peered around. ‘I think so.’
It wasn’t the resounding yes she’d hoped for but she’d take it. ‘What have you been up to?’ she asked.
His smile grew wide. ‘I’ve been seeing my family and enjoying not getting up early or moving heavy books around.’
‘Well that’s good.’ She laughed.
‘And I’m going to Padua soon to see my children.’
‘I’m so pleased.’
‘Perhaps I’ll take my daughter a book. What would she like? She loves love stories.’
Knowing his daughter was older than her, Beth went to her new releases and pulled a romance from one of her favourite authors off the shelf.
The cover was of a gorgeous café on a canal, similar to Venice, and with a swoony hero and feisty heroine, it was sure to be perfect.
‘Here. Take this one.’ He reached into his pocket and Beth held her hands out to stop him. ‘I won’t accept any payment.’
‘You can’t run a business like that!’
‘I can if it’s the man who sold the business to me.’
‘Fine,’ he grumbled, making his way back out of the barge. ‘I never got to enjoy Carnevale before, but I will this time.’ He kissed Beth on both cheeks and squeezed her hand. ‘Till next time.’
She watched him go and wished she’d thanked him for changing her life. She’d make sure to say it next time.
At around lunchtime, the crowd died down as people found restaurants and cafés to settle into for a delicious lunch. Her stomach was rumbling, and she was just about to head to Lolanda and Galvano’s when Marco’s tall frame appeared on the street outside her window.
‘Hi,’ Beth said, as she took in his pale ice-blue eyes.
The colour looked softer today, almost grey, and her nerves twitched as she thought about what Elsa and Daisy had said.
Could he be interested in her? There was no denying her feelings for him were growing the more time they spent together, the more he opened up to her and she to him.
She had to admit she certainly wouldn’t say no if he asked her out.
When he smiled warmly at her, she felt herself melting.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, tidying up some books that had been perused and then left on the side.
‘It’s Carnevale!’ He grinned. ‘The city is at its best and I thought you should see it. I didn’t want you to miss it like you said you did last year.’
‘I should really stay open,’ she said, motioning at the empty book barge and then eyeing the empty street.
Marco shook his head. ‘No, you shouldn’t. No one will be out for the next hour at least. Everyone is eating. Come and explore with me. There is so much to see.’