Starling (141 page)

with Luca and me. But if you’d prefer to return to the Alionis in Florence, I can arrange passage for you.”
Impulsively, Feliciana threw her arms around Cass’s neck.
“Agnese and Siena raised you well,” she said, her voice wet with
tears. “You’ve grown into an impressive young woman.” Pulling
back, she blotted her eyes on her sleeve. “I feel as if my life is in Venice, though. Perhaps I shall seek employment at Palazzo Dolce.”
“I’ll put in a good word for you, if that’s what you want.” Cass
gave her hand a squeeze. “I bet Flavia would enjoy helping you learn
to read.”
“Is this a ladies-only gathering?” Luca’s voice was light. He loitered in the hallway until Cass waved him in.
“I was just leaving.” Feliciana curtsied and then headed for the
door.
“I needed a moment,” Cass said. “A break from all of the planning.”
“Will you share it with me?” Luca closed the door behind him.
“Narissa has just inquired as to what color ribbons I mean to wear on
my hat and shoes so she can make certain your jewelry is properly
coordinated.”
“
Santo cielo.
What do you suppose she’ll say if I tell her I’m not
planning to wear any jewelry?”
He chuckled. “I think that would be completely unacceptable.”
Luca leaned over the dressing table. “What are these?” He pointed
at a ribbon-wrapped bundle of parchment that Cass had fished out
from beneath her bed a couple of days ago but hadn’t been able to
bring herself to review.
“Letters my mother sent me when she and my father were traveling.” Her face crumpled as she imagined how much her mother
would have wanted to be there for her wedding. “They’re all I have
left of her,” she added.
“No,” Luca said. “Your mother is inside of you, Cass. Your aunt
was always saying you reminded her of your mother. That wasn’t just
about your appearance.”
Cass nodded. She wanted Luca to be right. Her mother had been
adventurous. Her mother had been brave. Suddenly Cass was desperate to talk to her. She turned to Luca. “I’m going to get a bit of
fresh air, if that’s all right.”
Luca nodded. “I came to tell you’ve I’ve arranged a surprise for us
later today, but go on. I’ll find you when it’s time.”
“Luca.” Cass shook her head. “You have already given me so
much. What is it?”
His brown eyes glowed like copper coins as they reflected the
scattered daylight. “If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise,
would it?”
Smiling to herself, Cass shook her head. She’d had more than
enough surprises for the rest of her life, but she supposed she could
handle one more, especially if it made Luca so happy.
She sneaked out the kitchen door and cut across the side lawn
toward the cemetery. Cass desperately needed to speak to her mother,
and this was the best that she could do. As she passed through the
wrought-iron gate, she found herself walking the same path she had
walked the night she went to bid good-bye to Liviana. The night she
had found Mariabella’s body and met Falco. The night her whole life
had changed forever.
She passed through the shadow of the looming angel that stood on