The first thing I did when I woke up the next day was to throw open my window shutters. Instead of seeing the bustling city down below me I was greeted with the cite of the gorgeous countryside. The sunlight shimmered on the morning dew and the tide was out. It was beautiful- simply stunning. It must have broke Papa's heart to have left all this…
The sound of wood raddling below my window made me glance down. Uncle was already up, working on the cart behind the bicycle. I immediately smiled in his direction, raising my arm up for a wave. "Buongiorno, Zio Massimo!" His head turned up to me a bit surprised. "Oh, good morning, Ilaria." "Beautiful morning, isn't it?" "Uh, yes; I suppose it is," he then gazed around the place himself. "Did you sleep well?" I proceeded to ask. He turned back my way. "Yes. You?" "Yes, very well. Thank you!" "Good. Erm…. C-Come down to the kitchen and we'll have breakfast." "Alright!"
Choosing what to wear was agony. Everything I brought with me had lace trim, elegant fabrics, ruffles from Brussels and elsewhere. It was nothing special in Florence but it made me stick out like a sore thumb here. Whatever I wore would make me look like I was going on some very special outing. After a few minutes of analysing my gowns laid out over my bed, I decided on a light blue one with white trim. This is what we would call a "morning dress" in polite society. It also went well with the blue parasol Papa gave me. I did my hair up in blue ribbons to match and wore flat shoes. Zio Massimo didn't seem to know what to make of my outfit- again- but he didn't say anything when I sat down at the breakfast table.
The first meal of the day consisted of bread, cheese, and fruit. When that was over Uncle put away the dishes as I patiently waited in my seat for instruction. "So, what shall we do today? Are you going out on your fishing boat?" I politely inquired. "Not today. We're going into town." "Oh! Are you debuing me to your neighbours?" Uncle didn't reply right away but simply gave me a look. I don't think he was used to the language I was using. "I need a new net," was his gruff reply finally. "A net! Of course! That's fine too." He sighed rolling his eyes and I had to stifle a smile. He was a completely different creature from my father, and he was already starting to grow on me.
Uncle held the front wooden gate open for me. I exited and while he closed the gate, I opened my parasol. Oh, you should have seen the stare he gave me when he saw me lift it above my head. I responded with a kind smile and slight twirl of my umbrella. "It's a show of delicacy." "City folk," he muttered under this breath coming up to my side. I waited for him to extend his arm for me, and when he did not, I took the liberty to link our arms together. He blinked in shock and confusion. "What are you doing?" "Well ladies always take the arm of their escorts. It's for protection." "What am I protecting you from?" I shrugged. "Vagrants? Runaway carriages?" "Do you see any runaway carriages around here?" Taking his question to heart, I gazed around to see literally no carriages. "No…." My lips shyly replied while giving him an embarrassed look. He watched me for a second before sighing exasperated and shaking his head. "Oh, well. If it's what done….." "Thank you, Zio Massimo," grinning again, I let him take the lead.
Oh boy, we couldn't have been more conspicuous if we tried. Not only was I wearing the best-looking dress for miles, but I was also the only woman holding a parasol or linking arms with a man. Everywhere we went, we got countless looks. Looks and whispers. I took a page from Uncle's book and tried my best to ignore them, which was easier said than done. By the time we reached the centre of town, it felt like everyone was aware of our presence.
Uncle brought me to this rather scary-looking fishing equipment shop. The inside was full of grizzled, older men, harpoons, and fish guts everywhere. It was by far the scariest store I've ever seen in my life and I had absolutely no desire to go in there. Uncle must have read my horrified expression because he unlinked my arm, turning to face me. "Why don't you uh, stay out here? I won't be long." This massive grateful smile blossomed across my face. "Thank you, Zio. I'll wait here." With a single nod he went inside and I examined my surroundings again. It wasn't particularly busy out, though I wouldn't know what constitutes as "busy" around here coming from one of the largest cities in Italy.
Seeing as I had some time to kill, I began wandering around the square, or rather circle in the middle of the village. There was a fountain and lots of little independent stores about. Those around were still eying me unimpressed, but no one directly spoke to me. These two old ladies wearing kerchiefs strolled past me, side-eying me the entire way. Sensing an opportunity to finally meet someone, I instantly flashed them a smile. "Buongiorno!" Flinching a little, they scurried past me, frowning and muttering to each other. My smile faded as they disappeared into a little street leading away from the circle. "Uh….?" My arm wrapped around myself in a hug as these men who were sitting at a nearby café table watching me started to laugh and point. My cheeks sizzled a bright pink; I honestly felt like I was going to cry for a moment. And things only got better from there- insert sarcastic tone here.
The sound of some very loud boys entered the square right near where I was. I spun around in my lovely blue dress to find three boys, or should I say young men, laughing amongst themselves and being quite inconsiderate of the other town residences. Now they were the ones who had the attention on them, including mine. There were two boys, whom I supposed were around my age or so, being led by an older boy. I don't know how old he was but certainly not eighteen. Maybe twenty or so. He was doing the majority of the laughing and talking, with the two younger boys listening and following his lead. They didn't notice me standing there right away but that didn't take too long. A cold shiver ran up my spine when one of the younger cronies stopped to gawk in my direction; his jaw hanging open a little.
"And I say to the guy; you know what I say to him? I say I… Hey? Why aren't you listening? What's wrong with yo-….." The leader the pack went from telling his story, to chastising his friend, to gazing at me in the span of five seconds. His other friend also saw me then, acting stunned as well. The leader man said something to himself which I couldn't hear. Then he took some dangerous steps my way, causing me to tense up.
"What have we here, eh? A princess from Naples, or maybe Rome?" Oh god, just… everything about him was off-putting. His cheesy grin, his high-pitched voice, his scrawny legs, his half-grown moustache, and his arrogant attitude. Even his breath, which I could smell from here, was repulsive. Still, Papa raised a Florentine lady and expected me to act as so. I gripped my parasol and didn't move an inch.
"Good morning," I said in the tartest voice possible. Any gentleman from Florence could tell that tone was code for "get the hell away from me", but unfortunately this man- whoever he was- was no gentleman. I think he actually thought I was being sociable with him! His sickening grin grew wider.
"Out of towner, mmmm? Let me welcome you. I am Ercole Visconti; you may have heard of me." I have not. With a total inability to read my uninterested expression, he carried on. "I'm delighted to meet you, signorina. And I love your stylish clothes! Venetian, yes?" "Uh, Florence," I corrected, half-gritting my teeth. He waved his hand dismissively. "Ah well, all city dresses look the same." They do not. It took everything I had not to roll my eyes.
"I haven't seen you around here before. When did you arrive?" Ercole asked as he began to circle me like some sort of vulture. His forefinger rested beneath his bottom lip like he was inspecting me over! I continued to wear this gigantic frown on my face, hoping he'd get the message. "Yesterday." "Mmhmm. And where did you come from?" "Florence." "That's quite a long way from Portorosso. Why are you here? What brought you down to the Italian Riviera?" "I've come to live with my uncle." "You're uncle?" He paused, eying me straight in the face. "Yes." "Who is this "uncle"?" "Massimo Marcovaldo. I'm the daughter of his younger brother." "Marcovaldo? The one-armed fisherman? You mean to tell me that you're his niece?" He choked out in between chuckled. My frown widened, if that were possible. "That's right."
Both he and his friends burst out laughing, making me blush in anger and embarrassment. Ercole wiped his eyes and took another step towards me. "Ah, a fisherman's niece. You look nothing like a fisherman's niece, and definitely not a Marcovaldo. You're too beautiful to be from that family." "Excuse me?!" My finger twitched in rage. "I wouldn't have guessed that you and that massive brute were related, even if I had all the time in world," his arms extended wide for emphasis. He obviously didn't realize my eyes burning a hole through him right now.
"Sir, that gentleman is my uncle." "Ah, what's this? Is that the best you can do? City life kick all that vim and vinegar out of you, huh? Pfft! What a waste. I like my girls a little more feisty! Not this dull, dumb, docile baloney. Sorry, princess; you're just not my type. Such a pity, really," he began to walk away. Oh… Oh my god! Is he actually going to leave me alone?! Really?! It was that easy! Yay! There is a god and he is merciful!
His cronies looked utterly shellshocked, like they couldn't believe what they were hearing. But when Ercole motioned for them to follow him, they complied. As for me, I stood there, too relieved to even breath. I was made all the happier when Uncle finally emerged from the fisherman store with a net in hand. He was with some other old guy, who I took to be the shopkeeper, talking to him about me. He motioned my way with his head. "That's my niece; she just came in on the train yesterday. She was living my brother in Florence." "Oh, she's radiant, Massimo! She looks just like your brother. And the mother?" "Her mother is a descendent from the house of Medici." "The Medicis?! Really?!"
Of course this had to make Ercole stop right in his tracks. I felt this sudden wave of sickness as he peered back at me over his shoulder. "Did he say "Medici"?" My eyes winced shut and I prayed to be anywhere but here when this creep spun his heels right around and started to approach me again.
"Perhaps I was little too hasty. Girls from high society behave differently than mere local simpletons. Submissiveness is considered attractive in the company you keep, isn't it?" I didn't say anything, just shot him the most unimpressed glare I could give. "Ah, forgive me, signorina. I didn't mean to be so rude. Here, let me make it up to you! Let me welcome you to the village properly," his greasy hand stretched out, ready for me to take. My foot slid back somewhat. "Erm, no; no, thank you. I really must be getting back to my uncle." He reacted his hand but not his gross smile. "Ah, well. We have plenty of time to get to know each other. I look forward to seeing you around, my tesorina."