Letters to Juliet

by Leia's diary

IT IS TOTALLY PROHIBITED TO PUBLISH THIS STORY ON ANY OTHER PAGE, FACEBOOK GROUP OR BEING NARRATED ON YOUTUBE! 10 years elapsed since Candy's return to Pony's home. As a birthday present, she's been offered a journey to Italy. But she must leave from New-York, the city in which Terry lives... (based upon CCFS by Keiko Nagita)

13. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

It took a long moment to Candy to recover her mind. During the first minutes, she had felt she was floating, her members numbed like if they were wrapped into cotton. Then, little by little, the excitement had taken over and brought her towards a state that reminded her of intoxication, an euphoria hardly controllable that transported her from laughs to tears.

- Terry… Terry is here! ... I found him! – She thought, as she looked at herself in the mirror. The reflection of her overwhelmed face was testament of this reality. Through her tears, she could distinctly perceive the joy shining in her eyes and pinking her cheeks. She brought her hand to her mouth and gave a muffled laugh, embarrassed by this excess of happiness that was intoxicating her. She stepped back, and with her eyes closed, stood with her back against the chest of drawers. Terry's beautiful face was coming back to her mind in a continuous loop, his deep and tender voice making her quiver from her tiptoes to her hair roots. She remembered that magical moment of their reunion, this thousand of shades gaze that captured hers, and this divine feeling of release that had seized her, so violently that it had knocked her out. She crossed her arms around herself to find back the warmth of his body against hers when he had embraced her and murmured her name, several times, to be sure that it was really her and not a daydream. She trilled, her heart beating faster. Terry's laughers filled the space, causing a knowing smile on her pretty face. These few hours with him had elapsed so quickly!

She sighed of delight and bit her lips not to scream, overwhelmed by this flood of emotions whose crazy intensity sharpened every nervous cell of her body. Trembling, she moved to the washbasin and cooled off her face and neck with a wet washcloth. This calmed for a while the nervousness that animated her, which revived up again when the neighbourhood church bell rang her seven strokes.

- Seven o'clock!... Seven o'clock only?... – she moaned, her eyes wide-opened with consternation – How I am going to wait until tomorrow to see him again? How am I going to hold out so long away from him?

She thought about Patty who was probably hopping up and down with impatience in her bedroom, and without wasting time, she left the guesthouse and ran up the street. It was not very appropriate for a lady of her condition to behave that way, but she didn't care. She was so happy! And she wanted to share her joy as soon as possible with her friend.

When, breathless, she pushed Patty's bedroom door, this latter, sitting at a table, was ending her meal. The handsome Doctor Biazini, sitting next to her, raised his eyes towards Candy, and immediately understood that she had just lived an extraordinary event.

- Patty… - murmured Candy, the emotion knotting her throat.

The young brunette put back her fork, pivoted on her chair and looked apprehensively at Candy. What she read in her eyes reassured her immediately. She let out a sigh of relief and ran towards her, her excitation making almost fall her tray, and took her hands between hers against her heart.

- Well?... You… He… - she asked, febrile, with tears sparkling eyes.

Candy nodded frenetically.

- Yes, Patty, yes… - she mumbled, her voice strangled by a sob of joy.

Carried away by enthusiasm, they let out, hopping, a torrent of hysterical screams that the doctor, stunned, rushed to moderate with scores of gestures to prevent the hospital staff from being alerted. He looked at them, lost in their mutual joy, and quickly felt that he was intruding. He discreetly slipped out, slightly disappointed that his leaving didn't get so much interest, and went back, shrugging, to his office, convinced that it was useless to try to probe these elusive beings named women, even more if they came from America…

---

- GOOD HEAVENS! YOU KISSED HIM?

Patty had so loudly exclaimed that there was no doubt the whole hospital had heard her…

- Yes, I did! – Chuckled Candy, blushing.

Lying down across the bed, their head leaning against their own folded arm, the two girlfriends were busy commenting the reunion. Patty, very demanding, wanted to know every detail, and Candy's revelation was just more than expected.

- My Goodness, Candy! I knew you could be daring but I would have never imagined you so keen! – She giggled with a mischievous look.
- Me neither – answered Candy, blushing even more – I don't know what crossed my mind. He was standing there in front of me, his hands in his pockets, staring down at his feet, and suddenly, unable to wait anymore, I wanted to shake him up and… I kissed him!
- This might have been a great shake! – Guffawed Patty – How was his face?
- Like that!- did Candy, mimicking the astonished air of her lover.

Patty's head tilted backward with a big laugh.

- I only wish I could have been a little mouse to watch the delightful sight of the Great Terrence Grandchester being stroke down by the mischievous innocent you are…
- To be true, last time he had kissed me, I had given him a slap to remember. I wanted to make amends… - chuckled Candy, beginning scarlet.
- I'm sure he did not have any difficulty to forgive you…

Candy nodded with a smile. She had so often regretted her vivid reaction in Scotland whereas he had lowered his guard and revealed his feelings to her. She had been so stupid! Furthermore, she had paid dearly this excessive pride because he had never dared to repeat the experiment, until she took the initiative this afternoon. Her heart began to beat faster at the thought that next time, he might want to prove her that he had not lost any of his boldness.

- But tell me, Candy, why aren't you with him now? – Asked Patty, a hint of reproach in the voice.
- Tomorrow night will be Romeo and Juliet's premiere and I did not want to disturb him during his rehearsals. He has lost enough time for today.
- Gosh! I wonder how you are going to wait until then! If I were you, I couldn't sleep!
- I think indeed that this night is going to be very long… - she sighed.
- If you like, you can sleep here. I can ask for a folding bed.
- Thank you, Patty, but I will not be of very good company. I'll probably be so agitated that you won't be able to sleep…
- Try anyway to rest few hours because I'll need you in the morning…
- I'm glad to, but what is it about?
- Alessandro told me this morning that I was allowed to leave the hospital. I need a place to stay. Do you think there is any room left at Roberta's?
- I don't know, but in any case, if she has no room left, we'll share mine. My bed is big enough for us both. And meanwhile, we'll look for a hotel to have you more comfortably settled.
- Please, don't! This is the only place close to the hospital and I don't want to stay too far from Alessandro… - she whispered with a little embarrassed smile.
- You've really caught his eyes!
- Oh Candy, I had never felt that for someone since, since…
- I understand what you mean… - she did, putting a loving hand on her friend's – I had also thought that my life would stop after Anthony's death and I would have never imagined I could madly fall in love with Terry…
- Madly, only? – Asked Patty, teasing.
- Not only… - answered Candy, bursting out laughing – but rather, hopelessly. Yes, Patty, hopelessly!

Someone knocked at the door and Doctor Biazini's brown locks appeared in the half-opening.

- Ladies… - he did with a knowing smile as he entered the room. Patty immediately sat up straight, giving correction to her relaxed posture in which she had blossomed during long minutes. They exchanged a knowing glance and Patty looked down, turning red.
- Will you please excuse me but I feel a bit tired and I'm going to sleep – lied then Candy as she stood up, having easily understood that she was, by her presence, disturbing their tender intimacy – I'll come tomorrow morning to pick you up, Patty…

That latter nodded.

- Thank you, Candy, see you tomorrow. Get a good rest.

The young blonde gratified her with a mischievous wink, greeted the doctor and left the bedroom. On her way to the guesthouse, her stomach called her to order and she fastened her pace, hoping that was some soup left in the kitchen. Mrs Roberta was ending to clear the table when Candy pushed the door.

- Ah, Miss Candy! – She cried out when seeing her – A courier has come to deliver something for you during your absence. I've put it in your bedroom if you don't mind.
- Not in the least! – Answered Candy while wondering what it could be.
- You look starving! Take five minutes to have a look at what has been brought to you and come back. I'm going to heat a good plate of soup, meanwhile!

Candy thanked her with a nod and hurried to climb the stairs that led to her bedroom. Intrigued, she turned the door handle and discovered, put on the pedestal table before the window, a big bouquet of red roses. With a trembling hand, she took the card that accompanied it and immediately recognized the fine writing that run on the paper.

"Dear Candy,

I'm looking forward to tomorrow and offering millions more to you…

With all my love,

Terrence "

Holding the note against her heart, she plunged her face in the bouquet, intoxicating herself with the delicious flowered fragrance. Dizzy, she let herself drop on the edge of the bed, without being able to think. Absorbed in her confusing thoughts that rushed in her mind, she did not notice the landlady's presence, who, having knocked at the door several times without getting any answer, had finally come in. She had then noticed the young woman, thoughtful, her gaze lost far away, and thought, sighing, that this young was going to eat a cold soup by dint of dreaming. But as she came closer, she distinguished the vacuous with wonder smile that hemmed her lips, and she opted for a backway out. She discreetly left backward the bedroom, and one last time, as she was closing the door, looked benevolently at the blonde dreamer, a nostalgic sigh inflating her big breast. All of this reminded her of a distant youth that had known many similar smiles. Delighted by these tender memories, she jauntily returned to her kitchen, privately convinced that the love she had seen in Candy's eyes would know the happiest of fate.

---

The nine church bell's strokes woke up Candy with a start. Too excited by the events of the day before, it was only early in the morning, overcome by fatigue, that she could finally get some sleep. Nevertheless, those few out of time hours had not allowed her to rest fully. She was feeling the weight of fatigue on her eyelids that tingled her eyes. But she immediately forgot it when the thought of seeing Terry again came to her mind. During few seconds, she doubted, her brain still troubled of sleep, but she was completely reassured when she looked at the bouquet of red roses that adorned the pedestal table. She blinked with a sigh of contentment, yawned and stretched herself, then tilted on the side and left her bed. She did not have time enough to have a bath, so she opted for a shower, the shared bathroom being located at the other side of the floor. Definitively awakened after a washing she had wanted refreshing and invigorating, her body powdered with perfumed talc, she dressed up with the pretty white dress she had bought in the beginning of her stay, which emphasized the golden colour of her skin. She brushed her rebellious locks and thought that she had done well to cut them few years before. She realized then that Terry had not said anything about him when seeing her.

- Perhaps he does not like it… - she thought, pouting.

She had not made any comment about that latter's hair however, that he had shortened of ten centimetres, lightening his shoulders and falling down with nobility on his neck. Too absorbed by their reunion, she had not thought of talking about it with him. But she admitted that this physical change had brought to him a maturity that fitted him wonderfully.

Hopping, she left her bedroom, and went down to the dinning-room. Mrs Roberta welcomed her with an affectionate smile and beckoned her to have a seat. A middle-aged couple was having breakfast and Candy greeted them as she sat in the end of the table. While Mrs Roberta was filling her cup with coffee, Candy evoked with her Patty's situation. The landlady grinned with embarrassment and replied that she had no more bedroom left for the moment. Candy then offered to share hers, proposal that received any objection. These little formalities settled, she devoured her breakfast, took her leave of her table companions, then went to meet her friend.

Patty was ready and waiting for her, though tormented by contradictory feelings. She was happy to leave her hospital room but she was also upset to have to go away from Doctor Biazini. That latter had reassured her however, promising to join her in the end of the day, but this did not ease her concerns.

- I've got two seats for the Romeo and Juliet premiere. Would you come with me, Patricia? – He had asked, plunging an eloquent gaze in her.

She had nodded, blushing, her heart beating at the prospect of spending the evening with him. Though she did not know at that time where she was going to stay, they had agreed to meet each other in front of the boarding house around height o'clock. This provided ample time to make herself pretty for him…

But Candy's arrival changed all her little plans…

- Bad news, Patty, you'll have to sleep in my bed! – She did, snickering – My landlady has no room left for this time.

- Well, we'll make the best of a bad hand – answered Patty, faking embarrassment – I hope you don't snore!

As a reaction, Candy's shoulders shook with laugher.

- Honestly, I don't know. I haven't slept with someone since I was six years old, and moreover, it was with Annie!
- I presume you did not snore at this age yet… And you are still too young to suffer this symptom…
- You'll be able to check it tonight only – retorted the young blonde as she stuck her tongue out at her – But meanwhile, I'm inviting you to come with me at Juliet's club.
- Well… How long would we stay there?
- Why are you asking that?

Patty looked down and said, embarrassed, with a voice barely audible.

- Allessandro has invited me at the Romeo and Juliet premiere, and I would like to have enough time to get ready…
- Come one, Patty, it's only ten o'clock! – Did Candy, bursting out laughing – We'll have all the time we need to get ready, trust me. I promise we won't go back late. You also have to rest. You're still convalescent.
- You are mistaken. I'm feeling great.
- If so, let's hurry to take a cab. I'm looking forward to introducing you to the girls!

---

Through the window of the taxi that was bringing them downtown, Patty, amazed, was discovering with her own eyes the places that Candy had described to her. Keen on History and Antiquity, she was impassioned before each monument, each building that the prestigious Roman civilisation had left as a legacy. She had not imagined that Verona could be so rich culturally and she gave thanks to fate to have diverted her from her original destination, fate that had allowed her to get acquainted with the attractive Doctor Biazini, and also to discover this magnificent town.

- Here we are! – Cried out Candy as she pointed out with her finger the trattoria Giulieta, nestled under the vaulted archways, in the bottom of the little shady square in front of which the taxi had stopped. The two young women left the vehicle and walked towards the restaurant where they were dressing the tables for lunchtime. Candy greeted everybody, introduced her friend to the staff, and asked about the ladies' club presence upstairs.

- They are eagerly waiting for you! – Replied the manager behind his bar, a knowing smile cheering up his sullen face.

Candy let out a chuckle and ran towards the stairs behind the wooden pearls curtain that hid the kitchen entrance. She climbed four at a time the steps, pushed the door and stopped on the doorstep. The four women were sitting around their working table and had begun to open the letters collected the evening before. They looked up as they perceived the young American, opened their eyes wide with surprise, then, in a split second, gathered around her, assailing her with questions that mixed with each other in an hilarious cacophony.

- Ladies, please, don't you see that you are suffocating her? – Intervened the wise Isabella as she tried to move away the circle of nosy persons. But it was Patty's arrival in the room that definitely diverted their interest.

- Let me introduce you my friend, Patty, who left the hospital this morning – said Candy, coming closer to her.
- My God! She's so pale! – Cried out Donatella as she ran to look for a chair – She cannot stay up. She must rest!
- I will bring some coffee and biscuits – added Maria, going down to the kitchen.
- Above all, don't refuse! – Discreetly whispered Candy to Patty while she was almost forced to sit on a chair.

Patty wisely obeyed, an amused smile floating on her lips. Candy had several times evoked the warm and friendly atmosphere that prevailed in the club, atmosphere which could turn highly charged according to each one's temper but which always remained entertaining and charming for the both foreigners they were. While nibbling a biscuit, she was enjoying the excitement that was taking possession of Juliet's secretaries.

- So, Candy, did you find him? – Asked Donatella, her eyes wide-opened and eyebrows arching impatiently.
- Yes, Candy, so then? – Repeated in chorus her club mates.

An enigmatic smile appeared on the young woman's face. For a few seconds, she left some mystery but she did not have finally the courage to make them wait any longer, and confessed with a nod.

- Yes, yes, I found him!
- Where? – Moaned Maria, almost crying.
- In front of the Piazza dell'Erbe fountain…

Before the four Italian women's searching and inquiring eyes, Candy, with a sly grin, pulled a chair towards her and sat in front of them.

- I guess you won't let me leave the room without telling you everything…
- That's right, Candy. You have to tell us the whole story – answered Francesca with a predatory smile.
- So be it… I have no choice… - sighed Candy, faking resignation, then, once they all sat down, she began her tell: her search in the streets of Verona, her doubts, her fears, then the meeting before the fountain, the unbelief that had seized her, followed by the unspeakable joy she had felt when nestling against him. Then their talking at the coffee shop terrace, their farewells on the boarding-house stoop that ended in a blaze of glory, as they were exchanging this shy but very real kiss.

- It is so romantic! It is so beautiful! – Cried out Maria, troubled, emotion making her crossing herself ten times while mentioning all the saints in heaven.
- Dio mio! – Added Donatella – I knew it! I knew it anyway! When this boy arrived, with a contrite look for not finding you here, I saw in his eyes that he would do everything possible to join you and that, at some time or other, your paths would finally cross. It was just a matter of hours…
- I would rather say, of minutes! – Went further Maria, which made grin Donatella of irritation.
- I'm so glad for you, Candy! – Followed Isabella, trying to dissimulate the emotion that had seized her – I've so much prayed for you, for him, for you both!
- And they have been answered! – Concluded Francesca, her eyes shining with enthusiasm – It's so good to have such a beautiful love story that ends that way. We couldn't hardly wish for more.

A smile of amazement enlightened Candy's face. She couldn't have neither wished for more than this fairytale encounter she had lived, so extraordinary that she had difficulty to realize it.

- Where is he, now, this handsome Terrence? – Asked Maria, recovering from her emotions.
- That's true, he's very handsome! – Added Donatella with a suggestive sigh – There is nobility in his gaze, in his move. Mamamiiiiiiiia!
- Get a grip, Donatella! – Retorted Maria, bitten by jealousy – He could be your son!
- He could be yours too since I think I know that you are a little older than me!... – replied Donatella with a cutting tone. This time, Maria's face turned scarlet. Suffocating of anger, lips pursed, she crossed her arms and turned her head towards the opposite direction with an expression of disdain that made her funny.
- What about his voice? Did you notice his voice? –Added Francesca, taking a special delight in exciting the two best enemies. She began to flirt with her eyes, looking for a paper sheet to wave it before her face like a fan.
- Deep and bewitching… - murmured Isabella, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
- Oh, DIO MIO! – They together moaned, with folded hands, raising their eyes heavenwards.

Terry had finally got them all to agree!...

Candy launched a puzzled look at Patty who was having trouble to hold a laugher. The young blonde brought her fist to her mouth, and coughed slightly to capture their attention, lost in their wandering thoughts.

- Let me then answer your question… - she did, mocking, to recall the quite deviation of the talking – I think that at this time, he must be rehearsing at the arenas. This is why indeed I will soon leave you to visit him…
- I wonder why you are still here… - giggled Francesca, her eyes shining mischievously.
- I wonder the same, too – answered Candy, chuckling – May I then put Patty in your care while I'm out?
- Don't worry at all! – Answered Maria, smiling at her friend – We'll pamper her. She'll get first class attention. By the way, does this girl like pastas?
- Yes, I do. I love that! – Straight out answered Patty who had well understood that it was better not to hurt Italian susceptibility, moreover when it was about cooking.
- In this case, I can leave with my mind easy – ironized Candy as she was standing up from her chair.
- You can, my friend, hurry to join your lover… - Said Isabella as she took her towards the door. Candy turned around and spoke one last time to Patty.
- See you later. Don't worry, I won't be late. You'll have time enough to get dressed up.
- Dressed uuuuup? – Asked Donatella with large inquiring eyes – Let's see… Would there be a man involved?

Patty's nose had already plunged towards her slippers, miserably staring at them, blushing. Candy grinned with embarrassment, realizing her clumsiness, and promptly ran away, leaving Patty to Donatella's inquisitive curiosity, who had already moved her chair closer to hers.

- Well, bella, what's the name of this man?...

---

Candy's heart began to beat faster as she arrived at Bra Square. In the middle, was standing the Roman amphitheater, majestic, with his arches wade of white and pink stones arranged in a ring, with originally surrounded the building along more than one hundred meters. As in every amphitheater, gladiators fights had occurred there, as well as venazione that were hunts of ferocious animals. With time elapsing, it had been abandoned, then in Middle-Age, had been used mostly as a source of construction materials for new buildings in the city. An earthquake in the 12th century had achieved this carnage so that the edifice, as he looked now, had lost much of its splendour from the old days, but remained despite everything, one of the most preserved in the country.

Since 1913, because of its exceptional acoustics, the shows, mainly operas, were performed there, bringing a new cultural impulse to the town. For Candy, Terry's presence in these places, represented the ultimate tribute to a mythical and glorious past. She had so much faith in him that she inwardly knew that he will distinguish himself tonight by his talent and by the passion he vowed to his job. After this, Terrence's name would be whispered in the whole city but also in every capital of the old Europe.

She sighed with contentment and began to walk around the arenas, looking for an opening. Most of them were closed or walled up, but she finally perceived a mid-opened door and she sneaked in discreetly, while the city staff was busy settling gates aimed at holding back but also guiding the future audience. She emerged on the left side, on an aisle that lined the inside of the amphitheater all along its periphery. Dissimulated by the bleachers above her that went by tens of rows up to the top, she carefully moved forward not to be seen. On the stage foot, an orchestra aimed at musically accompany the performance, was getting prepared.

As the musicians were numerous, Candy was able to come closer without being noticed and took a seat behind one of them, a double bass player, whose gigantic instrument would easily hide her from eyes. Suddenly, between two scenery elements, she distinguished Terry and her heart began to race, like a galloping horse. He was standing there, breathtakingly beautiful, dressed with a comfortable canvas pant and a faded blue shirt. The papers between his hands looked like some quotes of the play, waving them as he talked with some actors. Panting, her fingers tensing on the seat, she closed her eyes and tried to control her breath. But all of a sudden, Terry's deep and powerful voice echoed in the enclosure. The rehearsal was starting again. Fascinated and trembling, Candy, half-opened mouth, let herself go to the voluptuous sensation that was overwhelming her.

The scene, the second of act 4, was describing the moment in which Romeo was coming back from seeing the monk Laurence, after having begged him to secretly organize his union with Juliet. Joining his friends, and though evasive, he could not hide the passion that choked him. Was appearing then the young lover's nurse, played by an actress of rather great corpulence…

[Enter Nurse and PETER]

MERCUTIO

A sail, a sail!

BENVOLIO

Two, two; a shirt and a smock.

Nurse

Peter!

PETER

Anon!

Nurse

My fan, Peter.

MERCUTIO

Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the

fairer face.

Nurse

God ye good morrow, gentlemen.

MERCUTIO

God ye good den, fair gentlewoman.

Nurse

Is it good den?

MERCUTIO

'Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of the

dial is now upon the prick of noon.

Nurse

Out upon you! what a man are you!

ROMEO

One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to

mar.

Nurse

By my troth, it is well said; 'for himself to mar,'

quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I

may find the young Romeo?

ROMEO

I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when

you have found him than he was when you sought him:

I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.

Nurse

You say well.

MERCUTIO

Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith;

wisely, wisely.

Nurse

if you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with

you.

BENVOLIO

She will indite him to some supper.

MERCUTIO

A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! so ho!

ROMEO

What hast thou found?

MERCUTIO

No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie,

that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.

[Sings]

An old hare hoar,

And an old hare hoar,

Is very good meat in lent

But a hare that is hoar

Is too much for a score,

When it hoars ere it be spent.

Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll

to dinner, thither.

ROMEO

I will follow you.

MERCUTIO

Farewell, ancient lady; farewell,

[Singing]

'lady, lady, lady.'

[Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO]

Nurse

Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy

merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?

ROMEO

A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk,

and will speak more in a minute than he will stand

to in a month.

Nurse

An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take him

down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such

Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall.

Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am

none of his skains-mates. And thou must stand by

too, and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure?

PETER

I saw no man use you a pleasure; if I had, my weapon

should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare

draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a

good quarrel, and the law on my side.

Nurse

Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about

me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a word:

and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you

out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself:

but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into

a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross

kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman

is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double

with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered

to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.

ROMEO

Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I

protest unto thee-

Nurse

Good heart, and, i' faith, I will tell her as much:

Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.

ROMEO

What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not mark me.

Nurse

I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which, as

I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.

ROMEO

Bid her devise

Some means to come to shrift this afternoon;

And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell

Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.

Nurse

No truly sir; not a penny.

ROMEO

Go to; I say you shall.

Nurse

This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there.

ROMEO

And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall:

Within this hour my man shall be with thee

And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair;

Which to the high top-gallant of my joy

Must be my convoy in the secret night.

Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains:

Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.

Nurse

Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.

ROMEO

What say'st thou, my dear nurse?

Nurse

Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say,

Two may keep counsel, putting one away?

ROMEO

I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel.

NURSE

Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady-Lord,

Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing:-O, there

is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain

lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as lieve

see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her

sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer

man; but, I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks

as pale as any clout in the versal world. Doth not

rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?

ROMEO

Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R.

Nurse

Ah. mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for

the-No; I know it begins with some other

letter:-and she hath the prettiest sententious of

it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good

to hear it.

ROMEO

Commend me to thy lady.

Nurse

Ay, a thousand times.

[Exit Romeo]

Peter!

PETER

Anon!

Nurse

Peter, take my fan, and go before and apace.

[Exeunt]

- It's perfect! – Cried out Sidney Wilde, applauding, the rolled into tube play holding under his arm – Well! As we've started very early this morning and as I am almost hearing your stomach rumbling, I'm giving you an hour and a half of break. See you later and thank you for not being late…

No sooner said, the whole actors shook themselves and quickly dispersed, perhaps by fear he would change his mind. Troubled, Candy swept the theatre with her eyes, looking for Terry but she did not find him. She was still having difficulty to recover from his acting. Listening to him swooning with such realism and ardour about another one, though fictional, broke her heart. Chocking up, she stood up and began to move toward the backstage when a firm hand on her shoulder made her start.

- Terry? – She did, surprised, as she turned her head toward the young man – I didn't see you arriving!
- But I did! - He answered, brushing her with his feline smile – Since you walked in the enclosure, even without seeing you, I could feel your presence. Then I guessed you behind this double bass player, and my heart jumped for joy…

- I didn't want to get noticed. I didn't want to disturb you while playing – she did, with a hangdog look.
- Oh Candy, you will never disturb me, quite the contrary! Your presence here gives me the will to play better than usually. I want so much to make you proud of me!
- Oh My God, Terry! I am proud of you and I will always be. You've dazzled me, once again, and I can confess that… that I almost hate this Juliet you evoke with such enthusiasm…

- My word, Candy, are you jealous? – He did, bursting out laughing.

She opined, sheepish. With his index finger, he obliged her to raise her chin up and to look at him, then tenderly, he wrapped her cheek with his hand. With a deep voice, he stammered:

- Come on, Candy, haven't you yet understood that Juliet, it's you? And if I put my heart and soul into it, if I have so much facility and ease to pronounce these love verses, it because they are directed to you, only you, and this, since always…

- Terry… - she murmured, with wet eyes, leaning a little more her head against the palm of his hand

But they didn't have time to take profit of this moment of serene tenderness, interrupted by the indiscreet intervention of a technician. That latter, busy pulling lighting-cables, did not looked willing to bypass the couple of lovers.

- Sorry… - he did, irritated while jostling them.

Terry quickly turned around. Candy held her breath. In other circumstances, one's could bet that the insolent one would have received a good kick in the bottom, but miraculously, Terry did not react, happiness having removed all quarrelsome temper. Magnanimous, he contented himself with a shrug.

- Come, let's get a quieter place! – He did as he took her hand. They left the amphitheatre, crossed the piazza Bra, walked up Giuseppe Mazzini Street to arrive at the piazza dell' erbe. Candy recognized immediately the fountain and raised interrogative eyes at Terry.

- I wanted to come back here… - he confessed with an impish pout. She nodded. He took her by her arm, pivoted towards the extension of the square and added – You know, it's so wonderful for me to be with you that… that if our reunion had happened in a wasteland, the place would not have appeared to me less magnificent.

- Hopefully, fate has preferred to combine beauty with utility – chuckled Candy, nestling against him. She felt him laughing too and she smiled. Her head against his shoulder, she, in her turn, looked with admiration around her. The day before, she had not noticed the medieval paintings of the houses' walls and the architectural beauty of some buildings, but with Terry by her side, everything was sparkling differently, as if a divine light had covered the places.

Though it was not market day, there were no fewer tourists, who, while strolling, were looking for a place to eat. The young couple chose a little restaurant, without great prestige but whose appetizing odour coming from the kitchen filled the air of the whole terrace.

- Do you know that I haven't yet had the opportunity to eat a pizza since my arrival here? – Said Candy while the waiter was bringing her a splendid "Margherita". Before the size of the piece, she thought that it would have been better if she had ordered the one for children that looked impressive enough. Since she had found back Terry, she was not very hungry anymore. Usually, sadness would make her lose her appetite, but regarding Candy, it was love the only responsible. She was just hungry for Terry. His lonely presence was enough to satisfy her.

- I must tell you that you're surprising me, Candy. It's not like you to miss out on good things.. – He did with a teasing tone, bringing to his mouth a piece of "Regina".
- You are wrong. I've discovered many little culinary wonders but they are so numerous that I did not have the time yet to get acquainted with all of them. I must also tell you that… (She looked down, blushing)… that I'm not very hungry presently…

Terry's gaze got troubled. He put his fork back down and took his hand.

- Me neither… - he murmured – Me neither and I'm so happy to feel that…

She nodded, blushing even more and welcomed with a relieving smile, the waiter coming to fill their glasses with sparkling water. This little diversion allowed her to recover her control and she asked, simulating annoyance:

- You haven't said anything yet...
- About what?
- Well, you know…

Terry frowned with incomprehension.

- No, I don't see what you are talking about – he answered, doubtful. In return, elbows up, her head leaning against one of her hands, she twisted a lock of hair with her free other hand.

- You still don't have any idea?

Terry leaned back on his chair, giggling. He put his napkin down near him and said, narrowing his eyes with mischief:

- Good Lord, yes, I had noticed it! … I had seen it yet in New York, on the boat and I had thought… that it looked divinely nice on you!...

This is the first thing I saw, Candy… You looked sublime, with your short locks waving around your sweet face. I had always had tenderness for your ribbons that knotted your hair, but this time, I was finding a woman, terribly beautiful and attractive, and I thought that… that the teenager I had left ten years before, did not exist anymore, but the desirable woman who was under my eyes, had just made me forget all these long years lost without her…

Then this horrible thought crossed my mind. The one that had probably driven you to this decision. This never-ending sadness that becomes unbearable to live and against which you have to fight if you don't want to die. You draw a line under your past, you turn a new page, which, very often, comes with a drastic physical change to prevent the mirror from reflecting you towards something too painful to think about. Did you give up on me like I did, Candy? The day I decided to come back in the world of the living, the day I accepted I would never live with you, I had cut this hair that recalled me too much Terrence Grandchester, this son of aristocrat who did not even have the courage to hold you back. As the barber cut my long locks, leaving only, at my request, few centimetres on my head, I discovered a new person that was looking at me with some curiosity but without any indulgence. I did not like what I was seeing, but it let me all freedom to become Terrence Graham, this actor unattached and with no family, and I've lived with him since then… With time, my hair grew back but I always ttake care not to have them too long… to protect myself.

Candy was watching him quiet, thoughtful, staring at the tablecloth, a veil of sadness covering his frozen features. She did not need any word to understand the inner disruption that inhabited him. She could easily guess this feeling of semi-release she had felt when she also, had chosen to have her hair cut, some time after she had learnt that he had gone back to Suzanna. Despite this, with years elapsing, melancholy had little by little come back, this feeling of heaviness in all your being she had learnt to live with, or at least survive… With a lump in her throat, she put a comforting hand on his own. He looked up and she read in his eyes a deep sorrow, that she recognized, for having so often dealt with it too.

- It suits you very well too… - she painfully said, her voice strangled with emotion.

As an answer, he squeezed her hand very strong and addressed her a smile full of gratitude. They looked thus at each other a long while, without exchanging any word. They did need it. They knew each other too well, they had gone through the same ordeals. It was really very painful to be happy…

He was the one who finally put an en to this difficult interlude by evocating the burning topic of Patty and more specifically, of this man in white coat who sounded more particularly interested by the beating of her heart than the curve of her temperature. Candy began to laugh and explained the situation, emphasizing her worries on the speed with which this relationship had started.

- Let her live her life! – He said when she ended her tell – She's a big girl, she does not need any chaperone.

- This is what I force myself to think but I can't prevent myself form thinking that they've been a bit hastily. They've been knowing each other for a week only.

- Candy… I fell madly in love with you since our first encounter, on this boat that was taking us to Southampton. If I had been older, I would have kidnapped you on site to marry you as soon as we would have reached the land…

- This is called "being irresponsible", my young friend – she ironized to hide her trouble.

- No, this is called "being the luckiest of men"… - he answered as he sent her a gaze full of tenderness. Candy looked down, blushing, her heart beating out of her chest. The salutary bell strokes of the Tower Lamberti, at the other side of the square, helped her to recover.

- This is a damn tower! – Said Terry, as he turned around on his seat to better look at it.

- Indeed, it's very high! In the book of Verona that I offered to Patty, it's said that it's more than 80 meters height!

- Golly! At least from up there, we must have an uninterrupted view of the town!

- It must be absolutely beautiful indeed!...

The young man served himself a last glass of San Pellegrino, then pulled out some notes from his pocket that he left on the corner of the table.

- I fear that it's time for me unfortunately to go back to the arenas – he did with disappointment. Candy opined, sighing, and they both left the restaurant in the direction of the amphitheatre. As they were approaching the main entrance, he realized that they were going to separate for some hours and he felt his stomach knotting with contrariety.

- I can wait for this performance to be over!... – he moaned as they were standing in front of the door.

- And I can't wait to see you on stage! – She answered, her eyes shining with admiration.

Once again he brought his hand to her cheek and caressed it. He was never bored with the soft contact of her skin against his own.

- Don't worry for the tickets. I will tell the manager about your presence and I'll ask they keep the best seats for you.

- This won't be necessary, Terry. I have tickets already.

- Tssssss, tssssss! Don't concern yourself with that – he murmured, stealthily kissing her on the cheek. He would have wanted to embrace her but, perceiving the troupe members coming to his direction, he did not want to become the new topic of discussion. Noticing their presence, Candy stepped back, and greeted Terry with a discreet wave of the hand.

- See you tonight, Terry! You'll dazzle them all, I know it!

A slight smile appeared on the young man's face as he nodded.

- See you tonight, Candy…

Then he disappeared, taken away by the troupe's people who swept him inside. It was not the time to distract their best element!

Heavy-hearted, Candy walked in the direction of the club to join Patty. Later, they would come back to the boarding-house and would be busy finding the right dress for the evening. Despite all what she had taken with her, Candy surprised herself for the first time of her life to feel this anguish shared by most of women, the one that would make her doubt until the last moment:

What was she going to wear?

---

Alessandro Biazani had been hanging around for more than half an hour before Roberta's boarding-house. Hands in the pockets of his elegant tuxedo, he could not stop coming and going along the house, muttering to himself, complaining about this cranky idea he had had to come here earlier, since women obviously do not care about schedule and experience malicious pleasure in being late! Late, this is what they were going to be soon if they did not speed up the pace!

- Well! – He grumbled, looking for the umpteenth time at his watch – Five more minutes, and if they don't show up, I'll honk!

He looked at himself in the window of his car, readjusted his bow tie, and thought that dressed this way, he looked like a penguin. But he had to go through this to attend the performance in the arenas. It was highly recommended to be well dressed if you did not want to get unpleasantly noticed and admonished at the entrance. Suddenly, he noticed behind his own reflection, the boarding house's door opening finally. He turned around and had to lean against the car not to lose balance before the dazzling view that were meeting his amazed eyes. In his life, he had had the opportunity to cross pretty girls, but the two nymphs who were standing in front of him, were making him reconsider everything he thought he knew about female beauty.

Patty was the first one to move forward, a shy smile on her lips. He did not looked plainly indifferent to her new hairstyle, a boyish cut she had chosen, following the hairdresser's advises to whom she had been sent, in the afternoon, by the girls of the club. This haircut cleared her face and highlighted her big hazel-coloured eyes.

As it was impossible for her to do without eyeglasses, she had worn one of her prettiest pairs, some tainted horned-rim with rosewood highlights that matched the colour of her dress. Some hand-made chiselled lace covered the frame, thin and light like a feather. She had read in a fashion magazine that it was necessary to highlight the eye makeup when wearing eyeglasses to have a contrast with the lenses thickness, and she had been pleasantly surprised by the result. She was wearing an adorable tube-shaped silk dress that went down above her ankles. Some Japanese-inspired patterns, hand-made embroidered, scattered the shimmering fabric, whose pink colour mingled in a subtle gradation that went back towards the shoulders to end in an ivory colour, emphasizing the milky carnation of her arms. Pretty mother-of-pearl earrings and a string of French Polynesia black pearls completed the dress and imparted her a rare elegance. All these hours spent to do herself up for him had not been obviously useless…

- Patricia, you… You look delightful… - he muttered, taking the hand she was reaching out to him. Then his gaze moved towards the woman behind her, and he had to keep all his composure of a military doctor not to show the violent emotion that this latter, with her presence only, had just triggered in him.

Standing on the first step, a little bit apart behind Patty, she was resplendent, unreal, like an apparition. She was wearing a red silk floor-length strapped dress (the Red Patou, referring to its creator, Jean Patou), a dress whose cut very close to her body that she had thin and muscled, emphasized her exquisite shapes. She was carelessly looking at him, without realizing his trouble. With her hand, she readjusted her bed jacket-shaped silk cape that covered her bare shoulders, and that fell along the sides of her V-neck, letting subtly guess the curves of her breast. Candy ignored that the fashion designer had made that dress especially for her, following Annie's request. In her letter, she had related him a beautiful love story, Candy's, and had evoked the likely reunion with the man she loved. She had therefore asked him to imagine a dress that would reveal her friend's femininity and beauty while symbolizing the triumph of this love. She had also enclosed her measurements and had specified that someone would be sent to pick up the dress in the beginning of July, time of her friend's arrival in France. Thus, Patty, during their short stay in Paris, had discreetly asked for the hotel concierge's help in which they stayed, to have the said dress delivered, that she had hidden later in her luggage. As it was closed in a bow and wrapped in silk paper, Patty had discovered it at the same time as Candy, as she was hastily moving away every piece of paper. And when it appeared before their dazzled eyes, like a ruby in its jewel box, the brunette had thought, smiling, that the dressmaker had, without however knowing her, perfectly understood Candy's personality by offering a vibrant dress - that recalled her passionate temper – and voluptuously sensual, aimed at striking the loved one.

- Don't you think it's a bit… red? – Candy had asked as she looked at herself in the mirror. Patty had come closer and with her head beyond her shoulder, admiring at her friend's reflection, she had answered:

- No, absolutely not… It does suit you wonderfully.

Before Candy's doubtful pout, she had added, putting on her friend's head a lovely stain head-band on which was sewn a black cloth flower inlaid with precious stones:

- Tsssss, tsssss, tsssss! Tonight, Candy, it's your evening and also Terry's. God gave you the beauty of the soul but also the body's, which, contrary to you what you persist in believing, is honest and respectable, and I'd like, at last, that once in your life, you accept to honour this gift, this privilege that nature gave you.

- Well… I don't feel comfortable… I don't recognize myself… I don't recognize this person in front of me who looks so… so…

- So pretty?

Candy had nodded, looking down, but Patty's little cheering laugh had made her look up.

- Ah, Candy! – She had cried out while making her swivel towards her – When are you going to accept that you are beautiful? Yes, you are! And tonight, you are going to make many heads waver on your path – You are wearing the right dress for that – And there is no shame to be like you are, especially when you intend this perfection for the one you love! I already know what he will think when he sees you: that he is the luckiest of men for being loved by you, beautiful and generous, all in body and heart harmony. Come on, for once, Candy, stop searching to justify for what you are! Be frivolous, light-hearted! Taste, fully enjoy the pleasures that life gives you. Don't you deserve it after all what you've been through? Believe me, when you are old and wrinkled like an apple, it will be too late to regret your pretty features!

- Well! – Had answered Candy, laughing nervously, disconcerted by her friend's dithyrambic praise – You know how to be convincing even if I think you are excessively indulgent with me…

- I've above all an excellent sense of observation!

- Don't forget to recall me to send you to the ophthalmologist when we are back in America – had ironized the pretty blonde while tossing her a wink full of mischief.

- I you want so! – She had gone further, sticking her tongue out at her – But before this, let's rather focus on this evening, which, as I recall, is very important for me too!

- In that case, my dear Patty, let's stop our chatters and let's hurry up! The clock is ticking!

Patty had nodded with a quick movement of her head and had returned towards the pile of clothes heaping up on their bed, for, after many fittings, choosing this splendid dress that had just made her transalpine admirer melt away. Now, as she was standing before him, so worried about having disappointed him, the admiring way he looked at her tranquilized her. Though he wasn't indifferent to Candy's amazing beauty, he was leaving it to others to burn under her light, like this English he had met the day before, and who looked willing to be burnt to the grown through one move or gaze from her. Him, the unrepentant seducer, had quickly understood that searching to conquer her meant essentially to face an impossible challenge for which he did not have the madness or the calibre. It was like venturing on a land inhabited by gods, which, by his quality of mere mortal, made it impenetrable. Without any hesitation, he preferred the young brunette's calmness and softness who was looking at him, blushing, to the furious flames of passion that her blonde friend could cause in him.

Recovering his control, he hurried to open the door of his car, and with a gesture of the hand, invited the two ladies to sit down on the rear bench seat.

- You look so beautiful and so elegant, my ladies, that I'm just a pale figure compared to you both. I would almost look like your chauffeur… - he ironized, sitting on the driver's seat.

- A chauffeur in a tuxedo is unusual, I must say… - answered mischievously Candy as Patty giggled, half-hidden behind her fan – but you would almost be deceptive, truly…

The doctor let out a big sigh of disappointment and turned towards his two passengers, with an air deceptively contrite.

- May I nevertheless hope for your indulgency?

- Don' worry, Alessandro! – Intervened Patty, wondering if he meant it or was just teasing them – We gladly take you as a chaperon! And let me also add that… this tuxedo suits you very well!

She once again took shelter behind her fan, her cheeks flushing of her boldness, that implicitly revealed the emotion she had felt when she saw him. The doctor in white coat had immediately seduced her, but the dark-suited handsome brown-haired man had definitively won her.

- In that case…- did the chauffeur Biazini with a delighted smile. He loved when Patty behaved daring… - I'm your humble servant! I hope you won't mind being driven in such a modest carriage. My Rolls is getting repaired…

- If it makes you feel better, dear Alessandro – chuckled Candy, discovering with amusement this new aspect of Casanova. "A charmer with a sense of humour; Patty was definitively ruined!" – I've been driven in worse than this…

He did not know that she was referring to the carts in which she had travelled on her way back to America, after leaving Saint-Paul. This rough ride she had bravely undertaken to find Terry. Terry… In a few minutes, she would be with him! In a few minutes, with her heart swelled with pride, she would see him on stage, and she wanted to appreciate every moment of it. Overwhelmed by the emotion that seized her, she turned her pretty face towards the window and began to stare vacantly at the cityscape passing before her eyes.

Few minutes later, the doctor's Fiat 502 stopped behind a long file of cars that were waiting their turn in front of the arenas esplanade. During their slow progression, one's could get entertained with the continuous ballet of valets to whom everybody entrusted his vehicle to get it back at the end of the evening, after the performance. One of them finally came towards them and opened the car-door to the two young women.

- Ladies, welcome to the Verona Arena. We hope you will have a great evening – he did, greeting them both ceremoniously, while evaluating, from the corner of his eye, their grace that he found exquisite. If he was lucky enough, they would look at him in return, and he would have the opportunity to contemplate their delicate features, especially those of this amazing blonde whose magnetic green eyes as well as her scarlet and sensual mouth, invited him to recklessness.

Without letting notice his trouble, he gave a ticket to the driver as a receipt. This latter put it in the pocket of his tuxedo jacket, then, holding his theatre tickets, he turned to Patty and, with his most charming smile, offered his arm to her, that she accepted with a shy nod, which did not dissimulate her nervousness. She tossed a discreet gaze to her friend who nodded with a knowing smile, and let herself getting guided on the red carpet that led to the amphitheatre entrance. Candy, two steps behind the couple, followed the walk while glancing with amazement at the antic edifice enlightened by lanterns hanging on every arches pillar. The main door had been wrapped with scarlet velvet curtains that heavily fell on the ground. Held on both sides by a rope, they let glimpse at the hall the young woman had proceeded along which in the morning. Feverish, she engaged in the passageway. Two theatre employees, in dark suit and white shirt, their hands behind their back, were, on the other side, waiting for the spectators and were welcoming them with a gentle smile. Candy noticed one of them opening wide his eyes as he saw her and discreetly hitting his colleague with his elbow, who opened wide his mouth too like if he was going to catch and eat a fly. Embarrassed, she looked down and speeded up, squeezing more strongly the velveteen pocket she was holding in her hand. In her haste, she did not notice the ticket inspector and bumped into him without being able to avoid him. Confused, she mumbled some empty apologies and as a diversion, gave him her invitation, the one given by Juliet's club with her name on it. The man, around his fifties and with an austere face, examined the ticket with a suspicious gaze, and suddenly, straightened up, unable to hold a start.

- Miss Andrew, this is an honour to welcome you here – he did, bowing with a syrupy voice – I got informed by Mister Graham about your coming. Let me take you to your seat…

- Well… - answered Candy, turning to Patty and her companion.

- Of course, your friends are kindly requested to join you… - he added, as he invited them with a wave of the hand, to follow him.

Candy sighed with relief and followed the lead of the unknown person who looked nevertheless very informed about her. The amphitheatre, able to welcome more than twenty thousands people, was crowded. The young woman shivered at this thought, and wondered if Terry would not be too much impressed by all these people here to see him. Intimidated, she crossed, without a glance around her, the vast lawn that crawled with people, taking care to raise her dress up not to stumble. The tickets inspector led them to the golden square, the VIP place located as close as possible to the stage and that offered the best view. Terry had not laughed at her at all! She climbed the two rows of seats, and sat on the third one, next to a very elegant, little grey at the temples man who was busy reading the programme. Much later, she would learn that he was the friendly bank manager that kindly hosted Terry who had invited him in return. According to the usual custom, each spectator had lighted a candle, giving the strange feeling that thousands of bright stars had landed at the foot of the pink-marbled stone staircases. Loud voices mingling with whispers resounded in the enclosure in a vibrating echo in the air, tumultuous and ardent from which rose an atmosphere of solemn fervour. She looked up and perceived the stars appearing little by little in the unclouded red glowing sky of this peaceful summer night, and she sighed with pleasure.

Normally, she should have been sitting on the stairs that gravitated by the hundreds all around. These areas of a more affordable price were farer from the stage though keeping an extraordinary acoustic. The people sitting there used to bring with them or rent a small cushion, essential item to relieve their behind from the stone hardness. Candy knew that her club girlfriends were in the audience, but there were so many people that despite all her efforts, she had not been able to perceive them.

Bellow, in the pit, the orchestra musicians, ready, were waiting for their master's arrival. Finally, the conductor appeared before his music stand, and with a magisterial gesture, raised his baton. Thrilling, Candy glanced emotionally at Patty sitting close to her, who took her hand, smiling benevolently. Silence settled quickly and the first notes of Hector Berlioz' music resounded. Nothing had moved yet on the stage, then, all of a sudden, the curtain rose on a medieval set, representing a public square. Candy's heart jumped out of her chest. Two young men from the Capulet house were standing on the stage, joined in the following by a duo of the Montague house. The young woman's breath began to accelerate. Knowing the play by heart, she knew that Romeo was about to appear… At last, he was there, handsome, irresistible in his dark blue doublet and lighter-edged high collar, with two grey-blue puffed sleeves, tightened at the elbow. A leather belt surrounded his waist, and a pair of tights, with a colour similar to his doublet's, covered his legs with dark-leathered and thick-ended shoes. A dark-colour hat on his head gave him the appearance of a page, but when he opened his mouth, his voice resounded in the enclosure, all the nobility of his origins stoke the audience, and murmurs of admiration ran among the auditory. He was at a few meters from her only, no more than ten meters, and she could without any difficulty distinguish the regular features of his magnificent face that she contemplated lovingly. She glanced around and noticed that she was not the only one to vow such adoration to him. Young women's necks were stretching out in his direction, eyes were opening widely, exchanging between them explicit points of view. A hint of jealousy mingling with pride took possession of her. On one side, she was pleased of Terry's success, but on the other side, she could not stand the attraction he had on women, of any age besides, and who were staring greedily at him without restraint.

Then, as he recited his text, she caught him looking furtively towards the golden square. Her heart raced then stopped dead, cut in the impulse by his clear eyes, penetrating, that had just met hers. She noticed the furtive shadow of a smile appearing on his lips and she hiccupped, stroke down with emotion. When she opened her eyes again, he was not looking at her anymore. He had become Romeo again, this fickle lover madly besotted with some Rosaline whom he was going to replace, without further ado and few scenes later, by another one, named Juliet. Disconcerted, she pinched herself to check she was not dreaming, then, reassured, came back to the play, staring at Terry, who was moving on the stage with a bewitching easiness and grace.

Arrived the awaited time of the ball in which Romeo was meeting Juliet. A grin of contrariety appeared on the young American's face as she saw him embracing and kissing the heroin on her lips. It was, though, a chaste kiss, but it remained a kiss! Terry's lips had met another woman's lips, and this evocation was sufficient to destabilize her. How many women had he kissed in his career? And… How many out of it? She had to pull herself together! He was just doing his job after all… But when came the young couple's wedding time and the one of their wedding night, she had to face the fact that watching a Romeo and Juliet performance was not perhaps the most appropriate thing for her still weakened heart… It was true that their very fresh reunion had not allowed them to settle a serene relationship, which, though tender and knowing, suffered some reserve, a modesty they would have to tame. Thus, doubt and anguish of losing him manifested themselves in her. And this Juliet, too pretty to be honest, wasn't doing anything to reassure her!

She tried to calm down and began to breath more slowly. The night had fallen, the air had become colder. All up there, a star-studded black sky was competing with the enchanting sight of the arenas lights. While busy contemplating it, some long-buried old memories slowly resurfaced in her mind: her meeting with the good-looking but arrogant aristocrat on the boat sailing to England, then their back and forth in Saint-Paul, the May festival, their holidays in Scotland, their first kiss… Then Elisa's trap that had separated them, her leaving for America, their reunion in New York and its gloomy ending that had turned into a uniform and monotonous life, a life that had lost all taste and desire without him… With a lump in her throat, she opened her eyes again. Romeo was now in the Capulet vault, holding a lifeless Juliet in his arms. How much time had passed? Lost in her mind, she had not seen time elapsing. She immediately felt invaded with a feeling of guilt that she chased right away, too absorbed she was by the mythical scene happening before her eyes and that she feared so much.

ROMEO :
Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe

That unsubstantial death is amorous,
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour?

For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again. Here, here will I remain
With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest,
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss

A dateless bargain to engrossing death!

[Kisses Juliet, then speaks to the container of poison.]

Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on

The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
Here's to my love!

[Drinks.]

O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

[Dies.]

With her eyes full of tears, Candy watched at Terry, lying on Juliet's body. That latter woke up, then discovering the horror, seized a dagger to pierce her heart with it and join her Romeo in death. Romeo… Terry… A feeling of deep sadness and anger overcame her. The fictional character was mixing too easily with reality, with their reality. She shook her head, eager to get rid of this feeling of unease that inhabited her, and that would disappear as soon as the curtain would fall. Finally, the outcome happened. Prince Escalus left the stage, taking with him the representatives of the Capulets and the Montagues. The lights turned off and the said curtain closed in on the theatre. Immediately, in a common impulse, the spectators stood up and frenetic applauses and admiring hisses burst out from all directions. A deafening rumbling of acclamations rose from the stone rows of seats and spread out in waves in the whole hemicycle. Carried away by the euphoria, people were stamping their feet enough to make the floor shake, asking for the return of the actors. Finally, the lights turned back on and the whole troupe appeared on stage, hand in hand. Terry was standing in the middle of the group with the young and pretty actress who played Juliet, greeting the audience and answering to their cheers with friendly waves of the hand. Tears of joy and pride were running on Candy's cheeks. Carried away by her enthusiasm, she let herself put two fingers in her mouth to accompany the hisses of admiration that were bursting out around her. Hilarious, Terry's head tilted backward. How he loved her bad manners!

Bunches of flowers were piling up by tens at their feet. Terry leaned forward to pick up one, then, as he got up, looked at Candy, and the quivering she saw on his face alleviate her definitively. There was no doubt anymore. He loved her, purely and unequivocally. All of this was for her, only her. It was what he had always wanted to share with her. And now as it was possible, he was feeling the most filled of men.

"To offer you millions of others…" – echoed this sentence she had read the night before. Discreetly, she kissed her hand and blew a kiss to him. He closed his eyes and half-opened them back as he had been touched by a heavenly flame coming to warm up his soul.

Sidney Wilde spoke at this moment to introduce his actors. Whishing to prolong the prevailing cheerfulness, he began by the less important role to end by the main one, Romeo's. As he was about to say Terry's name, he took a break of a few seconds, half-smiling, then, puffing out his chest, he proudly cried out:

- And in the role of Romeo, Terrence Graham from Broadway!

Applauses increased in intensity under the talented actor's wondered eyes. He was used to success in America, but discovering that he could impress a foreign audience, in a historic setting such as the arenas of Verona, was leaving him astonished, without any reaction. Stunned by the tremendous welcome he was being offered, he closed his eyes and listened to the clamours and screams that filled his heart and his soul. On the third curtain call, despite the screams of ovation that hadn't lost force or enthusiasm, the curtain fell definitively. The acclamations gave place to murmurs, and the enclosure began to empty. Candy, thrilling, emerged from the atmosphere of general trance that had seized the audience, and turned, hesitating, to Patty who, noticing her confusion, asked her:

- How do you feel?

- Good, I think… - she answered, swallowing with difficulty. A mocking smile appeared on the brunette's face.

- You'll have to get used to it, my poor Candy! This is what happens to girlfriends of celebrities!

- I don't know if I will be able to keep on. This so powerful, so intense, so…

- In this case, you should have fallen in love with a latin-greek teacher or with my neighbour, the stamp collector. It would have been more reassuring but certainly less exciting!

- Don't laugh at me…

- I would never do this! – She did, being much more ironic – But… Honestly… Aren't you elated before such popular keen interest? Didn't he deserve it after all the pleasure he gave us during two hours?

- Of course! But… (She was contritely looking at her like a little girl) I've realized that he's not really mine in those moments…

- And he'll never be! He's an artist! Don't forget that the one who captured your heart he's not this Terrence Graham who made vanish most of tonight female spectators, but is this Saint-Paul's unbearable and arrogant English aristocrat, Terrence Grandchester, Terry, and that one, believe, he's truly yours!

- You don't like him, do you? – Said Candy suspiciously, with a sideway glance.

- You're wrong. I like him very much. But next time he calls me "Four-eyes", I'll break his fingers!

Candy started on her seat.

- What? He's still naming you that way?

- Yes… - answered Patty, with a stiff air.

- Believe me, he won't do it again! You'll see! Roooooooooh! How irritating he can be sometimes!

Patty rolled her eyes over to demonstrate her approval, and Candy chuckled.

The golden square was now almost empty. The three young people decided to leave in their turn the amphitheater. Candy wanted however to try and see Terry and wondered how to proceed. Perhaps the inspector could help her. At this moment, a staff member came towards her.

- Miss Andrew, Mister Graham would like you to join him in his dressing room. Would you follow me, please?

Candy nodded, blushing, and she glanced interrogatively at Patty.

- Don't worry for me. Alessandro will drive me back.

The young surgeon, standing behind her, nodded frenetically.

- Good evening, Candy! – She added with a knowing wink.

She answered to her friend's allusions with a strained smile, then turned around, and guided by the theatre employee, pulled out in a path that was disappearing behind the stage. A few yards away, sitting on the last busy seats of the golden square, a grey-haired old man, his hands leaning on his Venetian aristocratic crafted cane, was looking at her, thoughtful, going away. Narrowing his eyes, a little laugher of contentment shook his shriveled body as he turned his head to a younger man next to him whose complicity with was in no doubt.

- I think, Roberto, that our task is well and truly over…

- I think so too, My Lord…

- All we can do is to let those two baby birds fly away…

- It looks like a very promising flight, My Lord…

Count Contarini chuckled before his servant's suggestive observation.

- Promising is the appropriate word, my friend. In this regard, it would be reasonable to go to my tailor for a new suit. It is far more likely that we'll be invited to a wedding soon…

End of chapter 12