Thank you.” This Falcone fellow certainly seemed to be on the ball. She found herself wondering about the man. She’d have a better idea of who she was dealing with after dinner.
The concierge rang for a hotel employee and Anna followed the small man who arrived to gather her luggage onto the elevator. On the fifth floor, he ushered her into her room...and what a room it was. Decorated in the old style with exquisite antique furniture, the place looked fit for royalty. A tall bed nestled in a niche dominated one side of the room, its wooden headboard hand-painted with a floral design. The back wall of the niche was covered in pale green wallpaper, and from the large window next to the bed hung brocade drapes of a darker shade of green. Two armchairs flanked a green-tinged marble-topped table, on which a vase of white flowers had been placed. A hand-woven carpet covered the center of the marble floor. Above it, suspended from the high ceiling hung a chandelier of Murano glass. On the other side of the room, a settee, two heavy side chairs and a delicate-looking table fronted a bank of tall windows overlooking the canal.
Anna went directly to the wall of windows and gasped at the incredible view of the Grand Canal and the distinctive structure on the other side, the famous Santa Maria della Salute church. The view even offered a glimpse of St. Mark’s in the distance. Then she remembered the attendant and grabbed her purse to tip the man.
After he thanked her and left, Anna kicked off her shoes and plopped down on the cushiony bed. A nap, followed by a shower to perk up, would be just the ticket before her dinner meeting with Falcone.
* * * *
At five minutes to eight that evening, Anna sat at a table on the Bellavista Terrace, the hotel’s outdoor dining area overlooking the Grand Canal. The muggy evening air hung still and heavy, and Anna was glad she’d chosen the sleeveless black dress—sophisticated but comfortable—to wear for her dinner meeting with Falcone. Her fingers ran up and down the stem of the wine glass she’d been sipping from as she studied the octagonal exterior of the domed Basilica across the canal, admiring its classical Byzantine design.
She adored the timeless feeling of this city. No matter that the world had moved on, this place seemed rooted in the past, and she could easily imagine what life must have been like for people centuries ago, could almost picture the peasants and courtesans traveling along the canal. She was in the middle of wondering why her grandmother had never felt the desire to return to this jewel of a city when someone spoke beside her.
“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?”
She looked up to see a tall man, his black hair tinged with silver at the temples, and impeccably attired in a lightweight navy suit, crisp white shirt and silk tie. Anna guessed his age to be near her own.
“Yes,” she replied. “You must be Mr. Falcone.” She rose and extended her hand. Her thighs brushed against the white tablecloth, pulling it with her. The glass of wine toppled, spilling burgundy liquid across the pristine white linen.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said quickly. Anna moved to mop up the mess with a napkin.
“Please, don’t distress yourself.” Falcone gestured to a waiter and immediately the man arrived to retrieve the soiled tablecloth and replace it with a fresh one. Anna felt her cheeks burn at the bad first impression she must be making.
Falcone ordered another glass of wine for her and one for himself, then shook her hand. “It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Ms. LaServa,” he said, his voice low and sinuous.
“Please, call me Anna, and I apologize for my clumsiness.”
“Nonsense. A woman as beautiful as you must never apologize. And you must call me Paolo.”
Anna felt herself blush again at Falcone’s words, but they also had the effect of putting her at ease. When the wine arrived, Falcone tipped his glass in her direction. “Here’s to new associations.”
Anna acknowledged the toast, took a sip of wine and got down to business. “I’m anxious to learn your expectations for the hotel on Poveglia. What do you envision for it?”
Paolo delved right into what the firm was hoping to achieve, a structure that would combine classic design with state-of-the-art amenities, a place that would appeal to both seasoned and first-time tourists.
“I’m curious,” Anna said, “about what prompted your firm to enlist an American company to design the hotel with so many outstanding design firms in Italy.” The question her grandmother had raised the other day was one she had wondered about herself.
Paolo’s smile did not quite reach his eyes. “As with everything else, it came down to a question of money,” he said. “Your firm’s bid was economically feasible. And besides, we have hired an Italian. LaServa is not an American name, is it?”
“I’m second generation,” Anna explained. “I don’t even speak the language, except for what I remember from my grandmother.”
“Ah. But you are still Italian, Anna. It’s in the blood.”
All through the sumptuous dinner—angel hair pasta, a large platter of seafood served with fresh vegetables, and a scrumptious selection of tiny pastries for dessert, Anna listened as Falcone set out his company’s vision for the hotel, interjecting a question here and there and growing more excited by the minute at the prospect of designing the building.
Before she knew it, they had finished their espresso. Only a few people remained on the elegant terrace. Glancing at her watch, she was surprised to discover it was nearly midnight.
“Well,” Paolo said, “I’m afraid I’ve talked your ear off. You must be tired from your long flight. Perhaps we could meet tomorrow at my office. I’ll have a package ready for you to review then. Would nine o’clock suit you?”
“Yes, of course, I’ll look forward to it. And I meant to thank you earlier for the wonderful accommodations—and for dinner tonight. I enjoyed it very much.”
Falcone rose. “You are most welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow then, Anna.”
Anna noticed his hazel eyes roamed briefly up and down her body as she rose to shake his hand. Thankfully, she managed not to spill anything this time. “Yes, goodnight.”
She watched him leave, noticing his strong shoulders and the confident way he carried himself. She had to admit, Falcone was extremely attractive, and it had been a long while since Anna had taken a man to her bed. The last time had been Ed, more than a year ago. She shuddered, remembering what a disaster that had turned out to be. She had no intention of making a mistake like that again. Brushing her erotic notions aside, she reminded herself that, for all intents and purposes, Falcone was her employer. She was here on business, and intended to keep things that way.
Chapter 6
Venice, Italy
1576
Isabella hurried inside the house and quickly latched the door behind her. Despite the ordeal of her hazardous journey home, she felt no relief, only a sense of guilt at having arrived safely. Roberto, she reminded herself, at this moment languished near death in the nightmarish conditions at the Lazaretto.
She entered the kitchen to find her mother moving listlessly about as she prepared the midday meal. Her eyes, Isabella could see, were
