Signora Bonfanti kept out of her husband’s way, and he never sought her out. He barely noticed Floriana, in the same way that he never noticed the stray animals who hung around the terrace at lunchtime, but he did notice Costanza. He seemed to enjoy his youngest daughter’s flowering friendship and asked Costanza endless questions about herself and her family. Costanza told Floriana that Beppe had invited her parents to dinner and that they were now close friends. Floriana didn’t see the significance of this. She cared only for Dante, his mother, and his dog.
Five long years had passed since Floriana first met Dante and now summer was here again. But this time it would be better than any other because he was coming home. She had heard from Costanza, who had heard from Giovanna, and there was to be a big party to celebrate his homecoming. Floriana lay on the sand and felt a shiver of excitement ripple across her skin. Dante was finally coming home. They would be reunited at last. It never occurred to her that he might have fallen in love with someone else, or that he wouldn’t fall in love with her, because she had lit a candle every single day for almost five years and sent her wish up to Jesus. With such constant badgering it was inconceivable that He would have the heart to ignore her.
“So? Which do you think? The blue or the white?” Costanza asked the following afternoon, laying the dresses on her bed. They had taken care to sneak into the house while the countess was out, and their mischief gave them a heightened sense of excitement.
Floriana sat back against the pillows and took a good long look at both. “Well, the blue is pretty; the white is a little bridal, don’t you think?”
“So, the blue?”
“Put it on.”
Costanza didn’t need further encouragement. She hurriedly slipped it on and stood before the long mirror that leaned against the wall. She was curvier now, her breasts large, her hips wide above short, porcine legs and small trotterlike feet. She loved her food and ate copious quantities of bread and pasta for comfort while she lamented her clumsy body.
“Do I look fat in this?” she asked, biting her bottom lip and pulling her stomach in.
“Of course you don’t,” Floriana lied. “You look voluptuous. Italian women are meant to be voluptuous.”
“You’re not.”
“I have hips and breasts.”
“Not like mine.”
“But you have the grand title and parents. Which would you prefer?”
“I should diet.”
“Then diet.”
“It won’t make a difference in time for tomorrow night.”
“Then eat and be happy. The blue looks lovely, really it does.”
“What are you going to wear?”
“I have nothing special. I’ll probably borrow a dress of Aunt Zita’s. She’s more or less the same size and she’s very vain, so she’ll have something pretty.”
“You can borrow some of my jewelry,” Costanza volunteered, suddenly feeling sorry for her.
“Really?” Floriana’s eyes widened.
“Let’s have a look.” She hurried to her dressing table and opened her jewelry box. “These were my grandmother’s,” she said, withdrawing a pair of diamond earrings.
Floriana gasped. “They’re exquisite.”
“Put them on.”
“I couldn’t wear those.”
“Why not?”
“Your mother will have a fit.”
“She won’t know until it’s too late. Anyway, why would you care what my mother thinks? Here, put them on.”
Floriana clipped them onto her lobes. She pulled out the stool in front of the dressing table and sat down, then looked at her reflection with wonder. The white diamonds shone like icicles against her brown skin.
“See how they light up your face?”
“They’re beautiful.” Floriana sighed, pulling her hair away from her neck. “I love the way they catch the light and twinkle like stars.”
“Then borrow them.”
“Oh, I couldn’t. They’re too valuable.”
“Please, it would give me pleasure to see you in them.”
“I feel like someone else—an impostor.”
“But you look like a princess.”
Floriana stared at her reflection, her heart expanding with a sudden longing for something she could never be.
“My mother has a big jewelry box of gems, all inherited from my grandmother,” Costanza continued. “I’m going to inherit them all one day.”
“You’re very lucky.”
“I know. But that’s all I’m going to inherit. Papà lost a fortune and still hasn’t managed to make it back. Mamma hopes I’ll marry money, then we’ll be rich again.”