“I’m sure you will,” Floriana said vaguely, gazing dreamily at the diamonds.
Costanza flinched as they heard the front door slam downstairs. Floriana snapped out of her trance. “Is that your mother?”
“It can’t be.”
“You said she had gone out for the day?”
“She has.”
Floriana hastily pulled off the earrings and placed them on the dressing table. “Well, if she catches me here, so what? What’s the worst she can do? I’m certainly not going to steal out of the window like a thief.”
Costanza wrung her hands anxiously. “You’re my friend and that’s that,” she said, trying to be brave.
They heard steps on the stairs, then the countess’s familiar voice. “Costanza!” Costanza threw her friend a helpless look. “I’m in my bedroom, Mamma.”
The door opened, and the countess peered in. When she saw Floriana, her initial reaction was one of horror, but she swiftly composed herself and forced a saccharine smile. “Hello, Floriana,” she said tightly. “What are you two up to?”
“I’m trying on dresses for the party.”
Her mother scrutinized her daughter. Distracted by her ambition she strode over to get a better look. “I like the blue on you,” she said, grabbing the skirt and pulling it down. “Though, it’s a little tight.”
Costanza sighed. “I’m holding my stomach in.”
“Not enough,” replied the countess briskly. “Too much pasta, my dear.”
“I could wear the white.”
“And look like a meringue?”
Costanza’s exuberance deflated like a balloon. “What shall I wear, then?”
“You shall wear this one, but Graziella will let it out for you.” She noticed the diamond earrings on the dressing table and guessed that Floriana had been trying them on. She inhaled through dilated nostrils. “And you can wear these,” she said. “Floriana, the earrings, please.”
Floriana suffered a stab of disappointment. She lifted them carefully and dropped them into the outstretched hand.
“I was going to lend them to Floriana,” Costanza exclaimed without thinking.
“To Floriana? Whatever for?”
“For the party.”
The countess gave a little snort. “My darling, Floriana isn’t going to the party.”
Floriana’s anger mounted. “I am going to the party,” she interjected firmly.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, my mistake. I didn’t know you’d received an invitation.”
Floriana flushed. “An invitation?”
“Yes, you can only go to the party if you have an invitation.”
“You have one, don’t you?” Costanza asked as her mother clipped the earrings onto her lobes.
“There, that’s better. Nothing like diamonds to lift a frock.” She smiled at her daughter. “You look quite lovely, Costanza. You’ll be the belle of the ball.”
Floriana felt dizzy with mortification. “No, I don’t have an invitation,” she replied quietly, and to her fury her eyes began to sting with tears.
“She can come with us, can’t she?” said Costanza.
“I wish she could, darling, but if she hasn’t been formally invited, it would be rude.”
“But Signora Bonfanti adores her.”
The countess shrugged. “I’m sorry, Floriana. What a disappointment. Still, it’s only a party.”
Costanza bit her lip. She wanted to wrap her arms around her friend, but her mother stood between them.
Floriana drew back her shoulders and lifted her chin. “You’re right,” she said. “It’s only a party. And you, Costanza, are going to shine brighter than the brightest star.” She was damned if she was going to let the countess see her cry. “I should go now.” There was an awkward silence as she stood up to leave.
“You don’t have to,” said Costanza at last, bravely defying her mother.
The countess pulled a sympathetic smile, but it was void of any real feeling. “She’s very strong,” she said as Floriana closed the door behind her.
“Why haven’t they invited her?”
“Because she’s not of our world, darling.”
“Does it really matter so very much?”
The countess placed her hands on her daughter’s shoulders and fixed her with eyes as cold as gunmetal. “Listen to me, Costanza. It matters more than you can imagine. You are from a good family—don’t ever forget that. Money comes and goes, but you’ll always be an Aldorisio. Floriana is a nothing, a no one. She’ll marry one of her kind, and you’ll forget you were ever friends. But you, my love, will marry one of your kind—or at least a man worthy of you in terms of wealth. Life is tough. It will roll over you if you’re not nimble enough to jump on top of it.”