Murder in Venice by Martha Bond

Author:Martha Bond [Bond, Martha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Lottie couldn’t bear the scrutiny of the plague doctor’s gaze. She left the ballroom and made her way to the ladies’ powder room.

Inside, ladies preened themselves in front of large mirrors. Lottie adjusted her headband and her gaze caught the black-edged eyes of someone familiar.

‘Madame Lapointe. How are you?’

‘I’ve been better.’ The French writer was dressed in red silk and sequins. She gazed sadly at something in her hands. ‘My mask is broken.’

‘Oh no. What a shame!’

It was a Gatto cat mask with two small ears and was beautifully decorated in black, red, and gold. Made of papier mâché, like many masks, it was cracked in the centre and had almost separated in two. ‘The ribbon came undone,’ said Madame Lapointe. ‘It fell off and, before I could pick it up again, that oversized Bavarian prince stepped on it.’

‘I hope he apologised!’

‘Yes, he did. It was an accident. But it also means I have no mask for the rest of the evening, I shall have to go back to the hotel.’

‘No! Surely you can enjoy the ball without a mask?’

‘But it’s a masked ball! Everyone must look mysterious. I don’t want to be the only person without a mask.’

Lottie noticed their masks were similar colours and that hers would match Madame Lapointe’s dress. ‘Take mine,’ she said, untying it.

‘No, I couldn’t possibly.’

‘Please.’ Lottie held it out to her. ‘I’ve just had a dance and I won’t be doing another, I’ve got two left feet.’

‘Really?’

‘It was a joke.’

‘Oh, of course.’ Madame Lapointe gave an embarrassed smile at her mistake.

‘Please take it,’ said Lottie. ‘You’ve lent me two dresses, so this is my return favour. And besides, Colonel Pickering says you’ve promised him a dance.’

She smiled. ‘I have indeed. He’s a charming gentleman, isn’t he? Quite an English eccentric. This is very kind of you. I shall wear it for just a few dances and then I can return it to you.’

‘Wear it for the rest of the evening if you like, I don’t mind.’

Madame Lapointe dropped her broken mask into the wastepaper basket and tied on the new one. Then she admired herself in the mirror.

‘Beautiful,’ said Lottie.

As Lottie left the powder room, she caught sight of the plague doctor hurrying across the entrance hall to the main door. It stood open after admitting the evening’s guests. Lottie tucked herself behind a column and watched him leave.

He paused at the top of the steps, his cloak billowing in the evening breeze. Then he descended the steps and disappeared into the night. Lottie skipped to the entrance and peeked out from behind one of the large heavy doors. The steps led down to the jetty and the canal. The only way the man could leave was by boat. Perhaps he would take off his mask after leaving the building and Lottie could see who he was?

But all she could see outside were the lights of Venice reflected in the canal. Cautiously, Lottie moved out to the top of the steps. There was no one else around.

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