'When did it happen?'

Part of Holmes despised his own slightly voyeuristic curiosity, but he felt obliged to make some sort of conversation, and he'd never been that good at small talk.

'Just yesterday,' said Daniel, not meeting Holmes' eye, but instead fiddling with one of the boat's cushions,

'Oh,' said Holmes in surprise, 'I'm…well…I…' he bit back what he was going to say – that having the reading of the old lady's last will and testament the very evening after she had died seemed a little quick off the mark – and finished lamely 'I'm so sorry, once again, for your loss…'

Cursing his conversational ineptitude, Holmes turned his gaze to the buildings they were passing by, as their boat made its way along the Grand Canal. It was getting dark, and the lanterns on the boats which still thronged the water would have created a charming spectacle in happier circumstances. They were heading towards the office of the late Lucinda Trelawney's solicitor, which was located somewhere in the North of the city. When Daniel had announced that he was on his way to hear the will, and naturally invited Edwina to come too, there didn't seem to be much of an option as far as she was concerned. Holmes himself had not wanted to intrude on a private family occasion, but Morris had silently pleaded with him to come along, and he had not wanted to abandon his friend.

……..

'What do you make of this Daniel chap?' asked Morris, lighting another cigarette with fingers that shook slightly. They were in the small waiting room outside the solicitor's office, only family members having been permitted at the reading of the will itself.

'Jumpy, but that's to be expected I suppose,' mused Holmes, 'we took him by surprise…'

'…it's just too dreadful!' Morris exclaimed suddenly, 'poor Edwina…'

'yes,' said Holmes,

'I shouldn't have let her come to this,' Morris angrily stubbed out the only slightly smoked cigarette, and reached for another,

'She'll be alright,'

'She's very sensitive,'

'Well…she's got you. And her cousin of course…'

'This was supposed to be a holiday!'

'Mmm...'

There was a moment's silence.

'I'm sorry to have dragged you into this old chap…'

'That's quite alright, Morris,' said Holmes evenly. 'The city looks interesting at any rate. Did you happen to see…'

Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden opening of the office door

'Mr Trelawney,' came a heavily accented voice from inside, 'please wait,'

'We have heard all there is to hear,' said Daniel, emerging into the waiting room, 'come on Edwina,'

'I'm sorry,' they heard Edwina say, 'thank you for your help in any case…'

'Grazie signore,' said Daniel over his shoulder, bitterness written into every line of his form, 'Arrivederci.'

'What happened…?' asked Morris tentatively, 'Edwina?'

A few seconds later Edwina too emerged. Morris was already on his feet, and he strode over to put his arms around her.

'Oh Morris…' she started to sob, 'Morris, I can't bear this…'

'It's alright, dearest, I'm here…'

Holmes turned away, feeling terribly awkward. He looked for Daniel, but realised that he was no longer in the waiting room,

'Mr Trelawney?' he called, making for the door. But the narrow passageway outside – both the small pavement down the edge and the canal – were empty. The boat they had hired to take them to the office, and asked to wait, had also left.

Feeling mildly irritated, Holmes turned back into the waiting room, where Edwina's sobbing had thankfully subsided.

'Right,' said Morris, seeing that Holmes had come back, 'we're going to a hotel.'

'No,' said Edwina

'Edwina, darling, you need to rest… And we can't stay…well…it wouldn't be good for you to stay at your aunt's…'

'We're not going to a hotel or to my aunt's,' said Edwina, and sniffed with an air of finality, tossing her head backwards. When she swung it back to look at the two men it was with a bright, if somewhat forced, smile

'This is a holiday, correct?'

'Well, hardly…'

'This is a holiday. And we're going to enjoy it.'

'Yes, darling, of course, but…'

'No buts, Morris. We're going out.'

…….

'I hope Edwina's alright, she's been gone a while…'

Holmes drank the last of his brandy and looked round for somewhere to set down the glass. The salon was swarming with young men and women in evening dress, many sporting the classic Venetian carnival masks, but boasted few tables…

'Holmes? I said I hope Edwina's alright…'

'Oh, yes…sorry…Um, I'm sure she'll be back soon…'

This was the third such salon they had visited. Holmes had preferred the last one, where there had been a string quartet playing Vivaldi from behind a wooden grill to entertain the customers. This one was merely hot and crowded, catering for the post opera crowd who arrived fairly drunk in any case and were not terribly discerning…

'Excuse me, are either of you called Morris?' came a voice with a faint accent that Holmes could not quite place. He turned round to see a young woman standing behind them. She wore no carnival mask, and her pale, sharp face was framed by folds of sleek brown hair.

'I am,' Morris answered her, 'what…?'

'There's an English girl in the ladies powder room asking for someone called Morris. She's quite upset…'

'….I knew this was a damned stupid idea,' said Morris, 'I'll fetch her, Holmes, we had better find somewhere to stay for tonight…'

He strode off, leaving Holmes with their new acquaintance

'Thank you, Miss….?'

'Erin Aquilla,' she answered

Holmes raised an eyebrow, but she continued smoothly

'And what is your name?'

'Holmes.'

'Well good evening, Mr Holmes,' she said, fixing his eyes with hers. He met her gaze, and returned its searching intensity.

'A word of advice, Miss…Aquilla. Next time pick a less obvious pseudonym.'

Her smile widened, oozing self assurance, and

'This evening is turning out to be more interesting than I thought,' she declared, snapping open her fan with a flick of her wrist.

Holmes knew he should head for the exit and try to find a boat willing to take them to a hotel, but something about this young woman was highly intriguing

'Sorry about my friend,' he found himself saying, 'he didn't mean to be rude. It's been a…difficult day.'

'I'm sure. The girl was very distressed. Hysterical, even.'

Holmes felt vaguely that he ought to be sticking up for Edwina,

'Her aunt died yesterday. She only found out a matter of hours ago…'

'How terrible,'

'Yes… I… I should be sorting out a…'

'…a hotel?'

'Er, yes, a hotel…'

'I can personally recommend the Hotel Europe. Fabulous views.'

'Oh…Well, thank you…That sounds excellent. I had better go and see if I can find a boat…'

'Would you mind awfully if I shared a boat back with you?'

'I…'

'It's just that it's so late…'

'I…er…'

He met her eyes once more.

'Of course…' he said.