The Girl With the Painted Face by Gabrielle Kimm Read Free Book Online

explanation.’ He points an accusatory forefinger at him. ‘The very moment. And where the hell is Angelo? He’s due on in a second.’

Angelo elbows past Beppe, without looking at him. ‘I know when I’m due on, thank you, Agostino,’ he says, and his voice cracks as he speaks. ‘And I’ll be on stage exactly when I’m needed, no thanks to that fucking Bergamese peasant there.’ Glaring at Beppe, he hesitates for a moment, breathing slowly though an open mouth, then he climbs the ladder up to the space behind the backcloth.

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    The large and florid merchant embraces Agostino, then Cosima, then Sofia and Lidia in turn. He bows low to the other members of the troupe, his smile so wide it distorts his voice when he finally manages to speak. ‘Oh my dears, that was a triumph! A triumph! I’m so very proud that we are the first household in the area to have succeeded in engaging such a…’ He struggles to find the apposite word. ‘… such an extraordinary group of performers so soon after their arrival in the province. You will go on to great things in Toscana, I’m quite certain. Great things. And you performed here first!’

Agostino’s smile of gratitude is equally wide and clearly heartfelt, though Sofia can see anxiety tautening his features. ‘You are too generous, signore,’ he says, bowing to the nobleman.

‘Indeed I am not. Merely honest.’ The merchant clears his throat. ‘Now, you shall have a couple of rooms here in the villa in which to stay tonight, if you want them, and as much as you wish to eat and drink.’

Agostino opens his mouth to speak, but the merchant, frowning a little now, continues, this time with a note of apology in his voice. ‘I do most earnestly beg your forgiveness, though… I shall be unable to join you for your meal this evening. I had so very much hoped to do so, but I’m afraid another – far less enjoyable – commitment has arisen and is rudely demanding my presence.’

Agostino assures him that his absence, though of course regrettable, will not diminish their pleasure in the extremely generous hospitality he has offered them, and, amidst numerous bows, and smiles and handshakes and repeated paeans of praise, the merchant takes his leave, leaving the Coraggiosi in the care of three of his servants, who immediately show the troupe through to a large room at one end of which a vast fire is merrily blazing.

‘Signori and signore, we shall return shortly with food,’ the thinnest of the servants assures the Coraggiosi, backing out of the room with his two companions. ‘Please make yourselves comfortable whilst you wait.’

As the door shuts behind the servants, Agostino turns to the troupe, and, with a frisson of anxiety, Sofia sees that the smile has quite faded from his face.

‘We have much to discuss, I think,’ he says. His voice is quiet, but it carries across the big room with ease.

Beppe puts an arm around Sofia’s shoulders; she bends her arm up and links her fingers through his.

‘Beppe,’ Agostino says. ‘Perhaps you would like to explain the changes you made to this evening’s performance. And – NO! ’ His voice is suddenly thunderous. ‘Angelo, you will not leave the room! You will stay and listen – and speak when it is time for you to do so. I think you may have much to say – and there may well be much from you that we shall want to hear.’

Looking around, Sofia sees that Angelo has frozen with one hand on the handle of the door through which the servants have just left. He releases his grip and slouches over to sit on a nearby cross-framed chair, arms folded tightly across his chest.

‘Beppe, explain!’

Vico clears his throat and interrupts. ‘Ago, it wasn’t just Beppe. He had the idea of using Fosca only because of my suspicions. I began this.’

‘Very well. But I’m waiting to hear anything – from either of you – that can begin to explain why you chose to jeopardize the success of such an important