The Virgins of Venice by Gina Buonaguro

Author:Gina Buonaguro
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Published: 2022-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

June passed slowly but terrifyingly as I counted the days to my assignation, and I wavered between guilt and excitement, leavened with continual worry over Venice being sacked. The pope’s army invaded Padua early in the month, and desperate people began flooding into Venice, chief among them frightened Paduans and terrorized Jews, the latter never having had permission to stay for longer than a few days in the history of the Serene City. So worried were the Great Council about imminent papal invasion that they even scaled back the Corpus Christi celebrations. The government banned women and children from participating, and armed men of all classes filled Piazza San Marco surrounded by hundreds of lion-spangled flags, ready to clash with the Warrior Pope should he storm between the columns of San Marco and San Teodor.

His Holiness didn’t, and things settled back to the new normal state of edginess, which at least allowed for some movement within the city. The day after Corpus Christi, one week into June, Mama and Papa finally visited. Papa updated us on governmental concerns over the Jewish influx as well as possible traitors in our midst. I was unsure how to feel at the sight of him. Anger certainly, and disappointment, but he was my father and thus I followed Moses’s commandment. He did not mention La Diamante, but neither could he look me in the eye. I wondered if he knew Luca had covered his debt or thought La Diamante had just waived the amount owed. Regardless, he was clearly too ashamed to talk with me about the matter. His ship still had not come in and now there was talk of it being lost or sunk, but he had just been repaid another small outstanding loan, presumably allowing him to remit Mama’s doctor’s fee. In all, we had a pleasant if slightly awkward visit. Papa’s farewell hug felt extra tender, and did I imagine him muttering a brief apology in my ear?

Mama stayed, the weight of the world clearly lifted off her shoulders since the government had blessedly released Paolo from prison the day before—in addition, perhaps, to the knowledge my honour had not been sullied. Accordingly, we had much cause for celebration, and she joined Livia and me for the midday service, followed by a meal in the refectory that she thoroughly enjoyed, giving her compliments to the cooks. She told us of her concern for Madelena’s uneven health and was clearly thrilled at the thought of her first grandchild, but mostly she smiled more than I could remember. She left only when Teodor came to escort her home in the waning light.

Paolo briefly visited the day after that, confident the government would soon entirely dismiss his case, forming plans to meet with his fraternity, saying the city could use some levity and rueful that Luca could no longer join them as a married man. I tried not to blush at the name, our clandestine visit never far from my mind. But I also was annoyed at my brother’s seeming selfishness and inability to learn a lesson.

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