Page 28 (1/2)

"I could not agree with you s of maltreatment were equal y evident, as she was clearly uncoown "I should like to pick up soful y at Alexia’s parasol "You understand, for a reconstitution of the necessary emissions"

"Of course"

There was no one around them in the temple hal way, but Madame Lefoux’s use of eupheer of being overheard

They made their way to the front entrance of the temple and out into the cobbled streets of Florence

Despite its general y orange overtones--Alexia’s dress fit right in--Florence was indeed an attractive metropolis It had a soft, rich quality about it that Alexia felt was the visual equivalent of consu a warm scone heaped with marmalade and clotted cream There was a pleasantness to the air and a spirit about the town that did not come from its color, but from some inner, tasty citrus quality It made Alexia wonder fanciful y if cities could have souls Florence, she felt, under those circumstances, probably had extra There were even little bitter bits of rind scattered about the place: the dense clouds of tobacco s fro from the church steps

There were no hansoms, nor any other ready form of public transportation Indeed, the entire city was apparently possessed of only one

Alexia was a profuse walker Even though she was a little sore from her mountaintop peril, she was equal to further exercise After al , she had been asleep for three days

Floote valiantly headed their expedition He was suspiciously fah a wide open plaza cal ed the Piazza Santa Maria Novel a, which Alexia thought sounded like an assembly of sainted literary pundits; down the Via dei Fossi, which sounded like a fascinating geological discovery; across a bridge; and down into Piazza Pitti, which sounded like a pasta dish It was a long walk, and Alexia had reason to be grateful for her parasol, for Italy did not appear to notice that it was Nove cheerfulness

As it turned out, the Italians beyond the wal s of the temple were a friendly, excitable bunch Several of them waved to Alexia and her party Alexia was mildly put out; after al , these were people to whom she had not been introduced and had no particular interest in knowing, yet they waved as she passed It wasAlso, it becaoverness had been reht Alexia that a great esticulations Although sentiments were often expressed a tad too loudly for Alexia’s refined sensibilities, it was indeed as lovely to watch as it was to hear

Even with such distractions as shirtlessrubber bal s around the bank of the Arno and a language that danced, Alexia noticed so fol owed, are we not?"

Madae and looked casual y back over her shoulder, using her parasol to disguise the ht not to wear those ridiculous white nightgowns I out in public in such a state"

Floote corrected his owns," insisted Alexia firmly

They walked on

"I counted six Do you concur?" Alexia spoke in a low voice, although their fol oere stil a considerable distance behind and well out of earshot

Mada to be done, I suppose"

"No, nothing"

Florence’s dirigible landing green was part of Boboli Gardens, a robust and extensive terraced park that lay in resplendent glory behind thecastle Alexia had ever seen In truth, Pitti Palace looked more like a prison of unusual y fine proportions They had to walk around the side of the ate, where they were checked by a unifor with lush vegetation The landing green was located directly behind the palace and on the sayptian obelisk, used as a tethering station, although no dirigibles were currently at rest The luggage depot and waiting area took the fore was delighted to show thee area, where Alexia found her trunks, Madas, and Floote’s scruffy portathering up their possessions, Alexia thought she saw Mada atop her hatbox but could not be certain what it was She was about to ask when the station clerk approached to have her sign a chit for their belongings

Once she had done so, the clerk glanced down and made a sudden face as he read Alexia’s name "La Diva Tarabotti?"

"Yes"

"Ah I ’ave ze"--he waved his hand in the air, apparently incapable of recal ing the appropriate English vocabulary--"thing, para you"

At which he bustled off, returning athat amazed the entire party

It was a letter directed to La Diva Alexia Tarabotti in round, sprawling script And it was not, as any person of sense ht have surmised, from Monsieur Trouvé Oh, no, this missive was from Mrs Tunstel

Alexia twisted the heavy folded paper about in her hand for a o to show that no o, Ivy wil always find you?"

"Perish the thought,off to hire a cart

The clerk kindly handed Alexia a letter opener, and she cut through the seal

"My dearest, darlingest of Alexias," it began in flamboyant style, and went on froo around London with you gone Al go, I tel you!" The missive employed Ivy’s preferred abuse of punctuation and reliance upon otten himself the lead role in the Winter Season of Forthwi!

Can you envisage that?" Alexia tried desperately not to "I a round and round like a top--"but I a quite comfortably to life in trade, rather too comfortably for my mother’s peace ofextremely well , and I have even made one or two improvements" Alexia relayed this information to the Frenchwoman, who blanched

"It has been less than a week How e can she possibly have done in such a short ti to convince herself

Alexia read on "‘I have even, I blush to admit it here in print, inadvertently precipitated a wildly popular new craze in earible travel I had the notion to affix fake hair fal s fro Lady Traveler h she had an elaborate hairstyle while stil staying warm Such hair the brunt of the aether breezes’you, Alexia, they are sel ing by the baker’s dozen! They have been heralded, only this , as the very latest in vital travel wardrobe accoutre fashion journals! Have enclosed clipping for your perusal’ " Alexia read this bit of the letter out for Madame Lefoux’s continued edification and then handed her the newspaper clipping

"‘In other shocking news, the dashing Captain Featherstonehaugh has announced his engage school! This has had the unfortunate side effect of putting about the ruer sister was thrown over for a schoolroo