Valour and Vanity by Mary Robinette Kowal Read Free Book Online Page B

breath away.”
    Jane inclined her head to hide her expression. That was a … gracious way of viewing Vincent’s gaffe. She cleared her throat. “If there are any glamours around the palazzo that you need refreshed, I should be happy to take a look at them.”
    “Perhaps I might commission you. That would be something, eh? A glamural by such celebrated artists, favoured by the Prince Regent of Britain.” He rubbed his knee again. “Now, unfortunately I have a few more items of business I must attend to before dinner. If you will excuse me?”
    “Of course.”
    He rose and limped off the balcony. The fact that Vincent did not rise to see him out made Jane certain that his distress was greater than he would admit. She waited until Signor Sanuto had gone inside. “Vincent?”
    “You were right.”
    “Oh … love. I am sorry.” She knelt by him and felt his brow. It was not fevered, but his cheeks were still flushed.
    “Everything is spinning.” He clenched his hand into a fist and pounded his knee. “I hate this.”
    “I know.” Jane ran a hand down his back, trying to soothe him. His pride was wounded quite as much as his head, and only time would heal either.

 
    Four
    A Suitable Circumstance
     
    The next day Signor Sanuto seemed in sounder health, but his knee was clearly troubling him, so it was approaching noon before they were able to take their host’s gondola from Murano to Venice, where Banco de Giro was situated. Vincent was nearly silent the entire ride, and held the rail of the small boat as if it were tossing on a much larger sea, though Jane found the crossing to be quite easy. When she inquired if he was well, he merely said that he was thinking. She let him “think” in silence, but resolved to limit their water excursions until his head was clearer.
    At first blush, the main island of Venice was all that had been promised in travellers’ tales, with its long graceful canals, arching bridges, and sun-dappled buildings. The walks along the canals were filled with people from every continent, reminding Jane that Venice had once been the centre of an empire. Moors, Jew, Arabs, and Armenians mingled among the Venetians and gave Jane happy memories of London. Only as they walked through the town did Jane begin to note the signs of poverty everywhere. Napoleon had sacked Venice, leaving the fabled city with none of its former wealth. The magnificent palazzos often had cracked façades or empty window boxes where there once would have been flowers.
    Signor Sanuto led them across a footbridge and down a small lane that opened on to a piazza filled with the seemingly incessant pigeons. Banco de Giro faced on to this piazza and showed none of the signs of decay that were evident in other portions of Venice. A long gallery shaded the main entrance with a series of graceful arches. Inside the building, marble floors echoed with the hushed passage of men of business. Heavy wood tables glowed with polish and gave the dim impression of a library devoted exclusively to the study of money.
    This impression was broken only by the workers who were drilling into the masonry wall above the steps. A length of canvas stretched down the stairs and puddled on the floor to catch the dust. They had installed wall sconces above the first half of the stairs and were at work on a third near the first landing.
    Their host took in the mess and sighed. “Yesterday, I complained about the plaster dust on the floor when I slipped, and the canvas is apparently their solution. I shall be so happy when this is over.”
    “What is the work they are involved in?”
    “Gaslights. It is the newest thing, and should make it easier to see, but the process of having them installed has been unpleasant.”
    Jane nodded in understanding. “The Prince Regent has them in Carlton House. They are astonishingly bright.”
    “That is the chief argument in their favour. Well, I am afraid my office is upstairs, so we shall have to go by the