City of Stars (28 page)

She had the same effect on Georgia that her mother had, making her feel awkward and clumsy. But she was friendly enough.

‘Giorgio,' she said. ‘I have heard much about you.'

‘So have I,' said Fabrizio, coming forward to take Georgia's hand. He was like his father, much more so than Gaetano was. Tall and broad with black hair and a strong intelligent face, he looked every inch the Duke he would one day be. ‘I hear you are very close to my brother Falco.'

‘I am,' said Georgia. ‘He was – is – a good friend.'

‘And yet my father tells me you can shed no light on this terrible act of his?'

‘I can only say what I have already told the Duke – that Falco was depressed about his injuries.'

Gaetano came to her rescue. ‘Leave the lad alone, Fabrizio,' he said. ‘He can only tell you what you already know. Falco found his pain hard to bear – that and his inactivity.'

‘But these things he had lived with for two years,' protested Fabrizio, and Georgia could see he was really distressed. ‘Why give up now?'

‘Because Father had plans for him that he could not face perhaps?' said Gaetano quietly.

‘What plans?'

‘You must ask Father.'

Rodolfo came to show Fabrizio and Gaetano some find of his and Dethridge linked arms with Georgia. She could see what the whole outing had been arranged for – to give Luciano and Arianna some time alone together. She tried not to look in their direction but she was acutely aware of their voices behind her and found it difficult to concentrate on Doctor Dethridge's kind attempts to engage her attention. In the end he stopped and peered closely at her.

‘Yt wille not doe,' he said, shaking his shaggy grey head. ‘Sum thinges can not bee. Ye wol ende up lyke poore yonge Falcon if ye can not make up your minde whatte worlde ye live in.'

Georgia started. Did Dethridge know what Falco had done? Or was he just comparing her to a pale and lifeless boy because that was what her feelings for Luciano had reduced her to? You could never tell with him; he was the only person apart from Luciano who had ever made that dreadful permanent transition from one world to another so he might suspect something. Still, what he did know was bad enough.

‘I know,' she said quietly. ‘I know it's a hopeless case. But I can't help it.'

Dethridge patted her hand.

*

‘How was your journey?' asked Luciano.

‘Very interesting,' said Arianna. ‘I saw Volana and Bellona and Giglia. And now Remora. What a fascinating place!'

‘We don't need to make small talk now, Arianna,' said Luciano. ‘The others can't hear us. I missed you. I hate it that we can't be together without all these people around.'

‘Duchesse don't spend much time alone, as you are well aware,' said Arianna.

‘And do Duchesse have so much company that they don't miss their friends when they are away from them?' Luciano persisted, smiling.

She smiled back. ‘No,' she said. ‘Not so much as that. But you haven't been exactly a hermit. You seem very friendly with the new Stravagante. Has it been pleasant for you to be with someone from your old world?'

‘Not altogether,' said Luciano. ‘She has brought some painful associations with her.'

Arianna froze beside him. ‘She?' she said disbelievingly.

‘Yes. Didn't Rodolfo tell you? Georgia goes to my old school and I used to know her.'

‘So that is how girls look in your world!' said Arianna with a mixture of curiosity and scorn.

‘Not all, no,' said Luciano, nettled. ‘Georgia's a bit different from most girls. And because she wears her hair so short, we decided to pass her off as a boy.'

‘And a good job you made of it,' said Arianna bitterly. ‘You must have learned that from me.'

It brought back vivid memories of their first meeting in Bellezza, when Arianna was dressed as a boy and furiously angry with Luciano – as she seemed to be again now.

‘Come,' she said. ‘I must not neglect my hosts.' And she spent the rest of her time being charming to Gaetano and Fabrizio di Chimici.

*

Georgia and Luciano were both in poor spirits when they returned to the Ram. They had not had much to say to each other in the carriage and Doctor Dethridge had appeared to sleep for most of the journey. Some time after their return there was a furious knocking on the door.

Rodolfo strode into Paolo's kitchen, not looking stooped at all now. His eyes were flashing and he appeared furious. Georgia found him quite terrifying, just as formidable as the Duke.

But at least his anger seemed to be directed mainly at Luciano.

‘What have you done?' he asked. ‘No, don't tell me. I
know
what you have done. Befriending a damaged boy, spending every day and some nights with him. And then he falls into a mysterious sleep after apparently taking poison.'

‘This you knew before,' said Luciano quietly.

‘But now I have seen him,' said Rodolfo. ‘Fabrizio took me to meet his father in the hospital, since the Duke would not come to me. And I saw the boy. Did you think I would not know the body of someone who was away in the other world?'

He rounded on Georgia. ‘And you, you must have brought a talisman from your world. Have you any idea how dangerous that is for an untrained Stravagante?'

He strode up and down the kitchen.

‘You I can understand,' he said to Georgia. ‘A newcomer impressed by the demands of a sick boy. I suppose you have taken him there to cure him. But Luciano – after all I have taught you. How could you be so reckless?' He turned again to Georgia.

‘There is only one thing for it. You must bring him back immediately!'

Chapter 20

Flying Colours

Georgia woke up in her own world in a state of panic. She had almost expected Rodolfo to stravagate back with her, he was so furious. The idea of the black-velvet-clad figure turning up in her room and having to be explained if Russell bumped into him on the landing made her hysteria rise. But then she relaxed. Rodolfo was not here and, even if he had been, he would have been more than a match for Russell. It might almost have been worth seeing.

She hurried through the morning routine, anxious to get to Falco, but as she got near his house, she realised that she didn't know what to say to him. How could she persuade him to go back to Talia now that he was on the waiting list for his operation? And how would the Mulhollands be able to bear it if another boy was lost to them?

She respected Rodolfo but she didn't think he was right about this. Still her heart sank at the thought of defying him. Caught between him and the grief-crazed Duke, both wanting Falco back, Georgia couldn't visualise how it could possibly work out. Had she completely misunderstood her mission to Remora?

‘Hi, Georgia,' said Falco, letting her in. ‘How's everything?'

He was already looking better than he ever had in Talia. He was eating well and enjoying being part of an ordinary family. In fact he was rapidly becoming a twenty-first-century boy.

‘Not good,' said Georgia. ‘Can we talk?'

‘Vicky is out,' said Falco. ‘She has gone to a friend's house to practise in her string quartet.'

‘Rodolfo has found out what we helped you do,' said Georgia.

‘And he is not pleased?'

‘That's putting it mildly!'

Falco looked scared, even though he had never met Rodolfo. ‘He's not coming here, is he?'

‘I don't think so,' said Georgia. ‘Not if he didn't last night. He was so mad that I thought he might do it then.'

‘What for, though?' asked Falco. ‘What could he do?'

Georgia hesitated. ‘He wants you to go back.'

Falco turned ashen. ‘I won't do it,' he said fiercely. ‘I haven't done all this just to go back.'

‘Perhaps you should think about it,' said Georgia. ‘No, let me finish,' she said, because Falco was already protesting. ‘You don't know what effect this is having on your family. They're all there in Remora – Gaetano and everyone – and your father never leaves your bedside.'

Falco stared at her, the tears starting in his eyes. ‘But I can't,' he whispered. ‘It was too hard to do the first time. It will be worse for them all, especially Father, if I go back and then translate after that.'

‘Rodolfo wants me to make you go back for good,' said Georgia.

‘Then you must destroy the talisman,' said Falco firmly.

Georgia looked at him in astonishment.

‘Take the ring and melt it down – or throw it away,' he insisted.

‘You are amazing, you know,' said Georgia. ‘Are you serious? I thought you might want me to hang on to it in case you changed your mind.'

‘I don't want to be able to change my mind,' said Falco. ‘And if you get rid of it, I won't be able to.'

In the early morning Cesare was ready down at the track with Arcangelo for the second heat. He had been nervous at the first one the night before and the Ram had come in ninth. But today was different. He felt clear-headed, energetic and ready to ride.

He was wearing the red and yellow colours of the Ram and all around him were other jockeys wearing the colours of their own Twelfths. Some of the horses had been decided on only after the moonlight races and some of the jockeys even later. So Cesare had an advantage, because he and Arcangelo had been riding at the practice-track together for weeks.

‘That's the one to beat,' said Enrico to Riccardo, the Twins' Horsemaster, as Cesare manoeuvred Arcangelo between the ropes.

‘You think so?' said Riccardo. ‘He wasn't very fast yesterday.'

‘Just feeling his way into it,' said Enrico. ‘Trust me – that's the best combination in the Campo.

‘Surely nothing our Silk can't beat?' said Riccardo.

All the jockeys who had ridden in a Stellata before had nicknames. The Twins' man was Silk and the Lady's was Cherubino. Paradoxically he was the oldest jockey there, having ridden in fifteen previous races. He was thirty-three, though he still had the fresh baby-face which had given him his soubriquet. Two other jockeys besides Cesare were first-timers, waiting to acquire their own nicknames; they were running for the Lioness and the Water-carrier.

Emilio, Horsemaster for the Lady, was watching with Enrico and Riccardo in the wooden stands that now encircled the Campo. He was inclined to agree that the Ram had a strong combination this year, though reasonably confident that the pacts he had made would secure a victory for Cherubino and the Lady. Unless the Twins had laid out even more money on
their
pacts, of course.

In the last twenty years, the Stellata had been won by the Lady or the Twins fourteen times. But even the most elaborate and expensive pacts couldn't be sure to secure a victory, and other Twelfths, not so supportive of the di Chimici family, had managed to win on the other six occasions. The Ram, however, hadn't had a win for a generation. And the last time it had been won by Paolo.

The omens were looking promising for the Ram. They had a good mount and a jockey who was son of their last victor. And they had a secret augury of good fortune, which only the Horsemaster's house knew about – the birth of the winged horse. Cesare held on to that thought even though Merla was now missing. He tried to forget that this was the time the Ram should have brought Merla out and vaunted their good fortune to the whole city.

The horses were lined up and ready to start. The twelfth horse, the Rincorsa, which in this heat was the horse for the Scales, entered the ropes at a gallop and the race was off to a flying start. The Scorpion was first away and led the first lap but Cesare overtook their jockey Razzo on Celeste halfway round the second lap and remained in the lead to the end.

He was beaming with joy as Paolo came up to embrace him at the finish. All the Twelvers of the Ram escorted horse and rider back to the Twelfth, singing and chanting. While Arcangelo was walked round a small paddock to cool off, Georgia arrived.

‘Oh I missed it!' she said, disappointed. ‘How did you get on?'

‘He won,' said Paolo proudly.

‘It doesn't mean anything,' said Cesare modestly. ‘Everyone knows the heats don't count. It's only the race itself.' But he was still grinning from ear to ear.

*

‘It's a shame that the Duke hasn't got his mind on the race,' said Enrico, who had retreated with Riccardo to a tavern.

‘You can't blame him,' said Riccardo. ‘He's flesh and bones like us and they say the boy's going to die.'

Enrico shivered. He didn't want to think about it. ‘I think it might be up to us to do something about the opposition.'

Riccardo shrugged. ‘What did you have in mind?'

Enrico tapped the side of his nose. ‘Leave it to me,' he said.

*

Luciano and Dethridge were joining in the celebration breakfast at the Ram. Everyone knew it was just a heat but excitement ran through Paolo's house; the children were infected with it. The little girls had miniature red and yellow flags and were waving them enthusiastically.

‘Ram, Ram, Ram!' they cried. ‘I'm the best, I am!'

‘I think Cesare's the best this morning,' said Teresa, smiling at him.

Cesare basked in his family's praise. Winning the heat had given him a taste of what victory in the Stellata would be like and he couldn't wait to feel it again.

The happy atmosphere generated by Cesare's win took Georgia's mind off her troubles with Rodolfo. But not for long. As soon as she and Luciano were alone together, she told him what Falco had said.

Luciano was still smarting from Rodolfo's reproaches but when he heard about Falco's resolve it made him feel better.

‘He's a brave kid,' he said. ‘And I think we have to stand by him.'

Georgia nodded. ‘It'll take some courage to defy Rodolfo, though,' she said. ‘It means believing we're right and he's wrong.'

‘He doesn't know Falco,' said Luciano. ‘He doesn't understand what this means to him. I've disobeyed him before, you know. I came back to Bellezza at night-time – to see the fireworks I'd helped him make.'

‘And was he angry with you then?' asked Georgia.

‘No. He said it must have been Fate or something. Because I saved the Duchessa from being assassinated.'

‘But everyone pretended she had been?'

‘No, that was later – the second time. Another person got killed in her place and Silvia just decided she'd had enough. She thought she could do better against the di Chimici if she went underground. She's been quite active in Bellezzan politics since Arianna took over.'

‘Imagine having those two for your parents!' Georgia felt almost sorry for Arianna.

‘I often do,' said Luciano. ‘They're both incredible when you get to know them, but it's best not to cross them. Arianna's like both of them.' He sighed.

‘Do you think Rodolfo has told Doctor Dethridge and Paolo what we did?' asked Georgia.

‘Hee has in dede,' said a familiar voice. William Dethridge had come out to the stables with Paolo, to find them. ‘Ye are essaying to get that poore chylde translated.'

‘It was not something you should have undertaken without talking to us,' said Paolo seriously. ‘Not only is it a great step for the boy himself and much too advanced a manoeuvre for an inexperienced Stravagante, but have you given any thought to the consequences for both of you here? If Falco dies, as he will surely appear to do here and soon, the Duke will be looking for revenge. And his eyes will turn first to the Ram. Where he will find supporters of Bellezza and my family, not to mention several Stravaganti. Your act has put our whole brotherhood in danger.'

*

Unaware of the storms brewing for the Ram, Cesare was down at the Campo, looking at the track. There had been no rain for several days now and the conditions were looking good. Whenever there were no heats going on, bands of Remorans took the opportunity to ‘walk the track', treading the earth down so that it was compacted into a good surface for racing. Cesare nodded to a group of Archers who were doing so now.

‘Well ridden!' they shouted. Their horse, Alba, had come third in the morning's heat, ridden by Topolino, so they were quite pleased.

‘Well ridden, indeed!' said a short man in a blue cloak. He was wearing the colours of the Ram but Cesare didn't know him. That wasn't surprising; at the time of the race, all sorts of people came back to Remora to support their Twelfth, even if they had been away from the city for years.

‘Let me buy you a drink,' said the man, who seemed very friendly. ‘I'd like to hear all about you and the horse – Angelo is it?'

‘Arcangelo,' said Cesare proudly. ‘The best horse we have had in the Ram for years. Apart from one,' he added sadly, thinking of Merla.