| Part 3 - Lust I must have been well after noon when I finally awoke. The sun was peering through the window shutters. I pushed the shutters open and looking out over the water I was dazzled again by the beauty of the city that spread before me in a haze of milky light. "It's so wonderful," I thought. "If only ... " I turned around and looked at Tyler who was still soundly asleep. My heart was filled with tenderness when I gazed at his sleeping form. He had seemed so confused, so helpless when I had found him. Still, I couldn't believe ... In the light of the day everything that had happened last night seemed so absurd, so unreal. Couldn't we have imagined everything? How I wished that this could be true, really. It was so painful to ponder about those strange events. And the idea of someone stalking us, of following us to this very room was positively terrifying. But should we mention that to our kind hosts? Would Chiara and her aunt believe us at all? There was a faint knocking at the door rousing me abruptly from my reflections. I opened the door and there was my Italian friend with a breakfast tray in her hands. "Good morning or better buon giorno, my dear! It's already well after lunch!" "Hello Chiara, we were really tired ..." "But that's no problem! I thought you might need the sleep. The churches and museums can wait another day for you. All you really have to do today is prepare yourselves for the ball at my friend Carlo's house." "Carlo? We haven't met him yesterday, or did we?" "No, no, but you will tonight. His family owns a magnificent villa on one of the islands in the lagoon. We will be going there by gondola. You will like that, I'm sure. But we can talk about it later. Now enjoy the cappuccino while it's still hot and wake up that sleepyhead in your bed!" *** Moonlight on the water, torches gleaming in the night, the sound of water lapping at the boat, hushed voices full of anticipation, subdued laughter, the rustling of silk dresses. Our ride to the island was almost a magical experience. All of us were beautifully dressed as Venetian ladies and courtiers of the 18th century. The men wearing large hats with feathers, the ladies pearls and jewellery on their elaborate wig coiffures. How I loved these wonderful dresses made of precious fabrics adorned with laces and ribbons, the wonderful thick velvet capes and the elegant white masks which covered our faces. I was enjoying this immensely although as soon as the darkness had enveloped us I was beginning to feel a little uneasy again. Tyler had been somehow quiet during the whole day. He said he felt ill. He was probably getting a cold and preferred to sleep off the whole afternoon as well. I had not dared to mention the incidents of last night again and I was so relieved when he seemed to have recovered in the evening. Of course, he would not want to miss the ball, he said. "And naturally, a beautiful lady like you should not go unaccompanied to that festivity. Will you let me be your cavalier?" he sighed dramatically. "Even -- if I failed last night? " His smile seemed a little miserable, his eyes questioning. "Oh chivalrous nobleman, you have my unconditional love forever," I whispered and kissed him. And I meant it, really. *** Finally, we reached the little island in the lagoon. Torches were lit everywhere on the seaside entrance of the park. Quite a number of people were already gathered there, moving up to the villa, others just leaving their boots. That's how it must have been in the old days, I thought and smiled. Tyler smiled back and offered me his arm to lead me up the stairs to the big wooden entrance gate which was opened wide. There was laughter and music in the entrance hall. Fantastically masqueraded people everywhere: courtiers in fawn brocade, plague doctors with black capes and white masks with a long nose, elegant ladies with powdered faces wearing high white wigs, satyrs, graceful courtesans adorned with pearls and the numerous impersonations of the well-known characters from the Commedia dell' Arte. This marvellous spectacle leaving me breathless. We moved up the grand stairway leading to the large ball room on the first floor. There, a small orchestra was playing Baroque music and people were dancing. under huge antique chandeliers. Our Italian friends were greeted everywhere and we were introduced to countless people. But I could hardly follow their conversation. I didn't know where to look first. "Just stay here, Tyler said. "I'll leave our capes in the cloak room over there and get us some champagne." He disappeared in a crowd of people which left me now to study the wonderful illustrations on the high ceiling. Painted columns and balustrades could be found there from which Venetian aristocrats were looking down on us. I was so absorbed in these refined paintings that I didn't notice at first that someone had spoken to me. "Will you dance with me?" I turned round and there was a slender young man, not much taller than myself, beautifully dressed in silk and laces. The upper part of his face was covered with a black mask. He smiled. He bowed and took off his hat. Long auburn curls were falling down on his shoulders. I gasped. "Forgive me if I have frightened you, "he said in a soft voice. "This has never been my intention. "Now, will you come?" Not waiting for my reply he put his arm around me, took my right hand in his and started to waltz me around the crowded dance floor. My heart was pounding violently, I wanted to disengage from his embrace but he held me tight. "So why are you so afraid, cara mia?" He asked as if he was speaking to child, as if saying: "Look at me how could I ever harm you?" The room was twirling around me: faces, dresses, laughter, voices, everything dissolving into a haze of sounds and colours. But I had only eyes for him. Now I could understand why Tyler had not been able to resist this stunning creature. Look at these dark brown eyes which seemed to be lightened miraculously from within. Listen to that gentle silky voice which seemed to whisper against my face: "Just love me... and all your desires will be fulfilled ...." Turning round and round. Getting dizzy, feeling the heat. I hardly noticed that at some time or other we had danced out of the grand ball room and had come to a cooler place with large glass windows. A kind of winter garden filled with small lemon and orange trees, small sandstone statues of nymphs and fountain gods hidden between laurels. He whirled me around for a last time and together we fell down on a kind of divan. I was still trying to recover my breath after the fast dance. My head was spinning. Through the large glass windows I could look up at the night and the stars. He still held me close. "You remind me so much of someone I used to know," he whispered tracing the contours of my face gently. "Someone I loved to make flush and shiver in my arms." He ran a long finger along the side of my face down to the low neck line where my gown hardly covered my breasts. "Look, there are even pearls all over your dress ..." With all my strength I should have said: "No, no! Stop this! Please, release me!" But only a small sigh escaped my lips. He bent over me and placed a delicate kiss just above my breasts. "But you can go, if you like," he replied softly. "I won't force you." I took off his black mask to look into his dark brown eyes which seemed to be full of understanding and love. "Do I really have a choice?" I muttered, fearing he would perceive the inner fire that was already consuming me. "No, my lovely," he answered still smiling, but now the gentleness was gone from his eyes. And as he broke open my beautiful corsage fiercely the little pearls sprang off in all directions one after one. "I know this is wrong and still I am not able to stop it," was the last thought which popped up from the tiny remainder of conscious mind. "On the contrary", he replied between kisses: "You will beg me with all your heart that this may never end". |
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