Wedding in Venice

Chapter Three

It was definitely the boatman from the previous day, wearing slightly more today: a sleeveless black vest and a pair of threadbare jeans that ended just below the knees.

Close up, he was even more overpowering. Justine had to resist the temptation to stare like a dizzy schoolgirl.

He shouldn't be allowed, she decided. That tan, those white teeth, the strength she could sense in his hand, with its hint of even more strength leashed, the glint of the devil in his dark eyes – there ought to be a law against him.

But if there was a law, he would ignore it. She knew that already. He would ignore anything that didn't suit him.

At the moment it seemed to suit him to keep hold of her hand, although she was sitting upright now, and there was no need.

He sat down beside her.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "That was quite a tumble!"

"Not as bad as the one you took yesterday," she reminded him.

"But I landed safely in the water."

"Well, I landed safely on – cabbages? I'm sitting on cabbages?"

"And onions and potatoes and lettuces. This barge belongs to the Hotel Busoni, and I'm taking supplies to the kitchens."

"Well, I'm very glad you were passing just then, or it could have been really nasty. The water wouldn't have done my camera any good."

"Then I'm happy to have been of service," he said with an air of chivalry that sat oddly with his threadbare clothes.

He squeezed her hand gently between both of his.

"I hope I haven't squashed the vegetables," she said, reluctantly disengaging her hand and feeling around gingerly. "I don't want to get you into trouble."

"Please don't worry about me," he said gravely.

"You're sure your boss will be okay?"

"Let's say I can handle anything he's likely to throw at me."

"Hey, how do I get out? That ledge is way above me."

"Because this is low tide."

"You mean I'm trapped here?"

"Only until we reach the next flight of steps."

He pointed to where she could see steps cut into the stone, about ten yards ahead.

"But we're not moving," she said.

"That's because we've hit a traffic jam," he pointed out, indicating several other barges, bent on the same errand, that were blocking their way.

"Where's Dulcie?" she asked, looking around.

"Your friend is back there. We moved on for a bit after you fell."

Justine could just make out Dulcie standing by the water, at the place where she had gone in. She waved and caught her attention.

Dulcie doubled up with laughter, and indicated that she would walk along the canal's edge to join her, but Justine firmly waved her back for fear of damage to the lovely wedding dress. Dulcie nodded, agreeing to wait.

"I'm taking the pictures of Dulcie and Guido's wedding," Justine explained. "You know Guido, don't you?"

He grinned.

"Everyone knows Guido. He's crazy." Seeing her puzzled look he added, "In Venice, that is a compliment."

"I see – at least, I think I do."

He extended his hand again.

"I am Riccardo Gardini."

"I am Justine Bentley."

They shook hands.

"Will you remain in Venice for long?" he asked.

"I don't know. I've got a few days before the wedding, then I'll stay on to get some shots of the city, but I'm not sure just how long that will take."

"It will take a lifetime," he said at once. "You will never come to the end of Venice. There is always one more beauty to be seen, one more mystery to tease you. So you must stay here forever."

"Well, it's beautiful enough, I agree, and I really want to see it all."

"Then I shall arrange it so that you do."

The lordly way he said, "I shall arrange it," made her lift her eyebrows. Just who did he think he was? And what did he think she was? An easy pickup?

"Say that you will spend some time with me," he coaxed.

He was the most dangerously attractive male that she'd met in a long time. Did anything else matter?

And then she saw something that drove everything else out of her mind.

"Oh my goodness, look at that!" she breathed.

"Maria Vergine!" he exclaimed, looking around. "What's the matter?"

"That!" she said, pointing over his shoulder. "Oh, help! I've got to get out of here, fast."