An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey

Author:Martine Bailey
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781466860711
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

XXV

Villa Montechino

Being Lent, March 1773

Biddy Leigh, her journal

* * *

Viperine wine

To make a potent brew to prolong life and promote vitality drown several vipers in your wine and drink as you require.

A Receipt of Count Carlo Falconieri of Montechino, 1773

* * *

Once the villa was out of view I knocked on the ceiling and told the driver to halt. In a twinkling Mr Loveday had clambered down from his footboard and come inside to sit with me.

‘I must talk to someone,’ I said as the carriage moved off again. ‘Now I reckon Mr Pars thinks I’m plotting against him or some such tomfoolery.’

Mr Loveday nodded and said, ‘Mr Pars, he no peace inside of him.’

‘Aye, he were breathing down my neck something horrible.’

I glanced out of the window and saw we were going at a fair pace. There was no stopping my fate in its tracks now, for the carriage began to climb up a smooth road, and signs of a neat farmed estate opened up on both sides of us. I started to fuss over my fancy dress and ribbons; I felt I might never be able to catch my breath again while those stays squeezed the life right out of me. All too soon we swept around a driveway and I saw a most fancified building set on the crest of a hill, the windows seeming to watch me from scores of glass panes. Falling away before the villa were layers of stairways all garnished with twisting statues and gushing fountains and other gimcrackery. It was all very rich and very fashionable and very frightening.

‘Oh Mr Loveday, you must help me,’ I said, but the next moment we jolted to a halt and a periwigged flunkey swung back the carriage door. I managed to follow the fellow into a vast church-like hall where the sudden gloom made me giddy. Those skirt hoops were bothering me too, for I was not used to having two bloody great baskets swinging from my waist that all the time knocked into doorways and banisters. Still, I managed to get up the stairs with some trouble, and, breathing horrid shallow breaths of fear, was shown inside the count’s salon. He was waiting at the far end of the room; a lively puckered old man in a gold coat and ribboned shoes, who stood to meet me with an oily smile fixed on his face.

The footman held Mr Loveday back so I was all alone. I think those steps across that vast shining floor in that swaying gown were the worst I ever took in my life. I could see the count at the other side of the gilded room, standing with his withered arms stretched out to – what? Shake my fingers? I couldn’t think straight. At last I reached him and he lifted my hand to his lips. His kiss was as wet and snuffly as a piglet. I had a great desire to wipe the tingle of spit away on my skirts, but I did resist it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.