“I’m sure Dottor Vitali can arrange something. I’d be happy to show you what we’re doing but Professor Urbano is the one in charge. He worked on the restoration of Primavera under Umberto Baldini.”
“That’s another of my favorites. I’ve always loved Botticelli.” Julia’s tone was wistful. “That’s why we wanted to lend the illustrations. We wanted other people to enjoy them.”
Raven stopped, turning to face her. “Let me tell you how happy I was to be able to see them. I visited them almost every day. We were all so glad when you and your husband decided to extend the exhibit beyond a few months.”
“Thank you.” Julia’s smile faded. “I can’t help but think this is my fault. I persuaded Gabriel to let the gallery keep the illustrations while we were on leave with Clare. Now they’re gone.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“So am I.”
Raven regarded her curiously.
“You and Professor Emerson are both on leave? Are you a professor as well?”
“I’m a professor in training. I’m in the middle of a Ph.D. on Dante.”
“Where are you studying?”
Julia smiled. “Harvard. I’m still finishing coursework.”
“Professor Emerson is a Dante specialist, isn’t that right?”
“Yes. Clare’s godmother is a retired Dante specialist as well. Apparently, it takes three Dante specialists to look after one baby.”
Raven laughed, opening the door to the conference room. She gestured for Julia to enter before her, and she changed the sign on the door to indicate that a meeting was in progress.
“No one will bother you here. Do you need anything?” She placed the diaper bag on the long table that dominated the space.
Julia quickly sat down and began rummaging in the bag. She removed a large bottle of sparkling water.
“If you have a glass, that would be great. I try to drink a lot of water while I’m breastfeeding.” She removed her iPhone from her purse, placing it on the table in front of her. “If I need anything else, I’ll just call Gabriel.”
Raven retrieved a water glass from one of the cabinets on the far wall and handed it to Julia. She looked at the child, who had large blue eyes like her father and an abundance of fine, dark hair.
“How old is Clare?”
“She was born last September. She’s almost nine months.”
“She’s beautiful.” Raven touched the child’s head gently.
“Thank you. I think she looks like her daddy. But everyone says she has my mouth. Do you have children?”
“No.” Raven stiffened, looking from the child to her mother. “If you need anything, I’ll be in Dottor Vitali’s office.”
Julia poured water into a glass. “We’ll be fine.”
“I hope they find the illustrations.” Raven’s voice was quiet.
Julia looked up at her.
“I hope so, too. Losing them is much more than losing art.” Julia looked down at her daughter. “It’s like losing family.”
Raven nodded and exited the conference room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Mrs. Emerson was not what she had expected. She was younger and much nicer than many of the important patrons and donors who visited the gallery on occasion.
Raven felt sorry for her, recalling the expression of sadness she’d worn when talking about the loss of the artwork. It sounded as if the Emersons truly loved those objects. Now they’d lost them.
As Raven approached Dottor Vitali’s office, she noticed that the door was open.
Professor Emerson was speaking loudly in Italian, his voice trailing down the corridor.
“So the Carabinieri have interviewed all the local patrons and they’ve made attempts to speak to everyone who attended the gala when the exhibit opened. What did they think of William York?”
“Who?” Dottor Vitali sounded confused.
“The young man who accosted me at the exhibit opening. I pointed him out to you and you said he was a local recluse who’d given a substantial donation to the gallery in order to be invited.”
“I don’t know anyone by that name.”
Raven approached the doorway, taking care to remain out of sight.
“Massimo, you recognized the man and had your assistant look up his name. Remember? He’s shorter than me; about five foot eleven, with blond hair. He’s English, from Oxford, I think. You said something about his patronage of the restoration of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi.”
“Gabriel, my friend, I don’t know anyone called William York.”
Raven heard the sound of papers shuffling.
“Here is the guest list for the gala. His name isn’t on the list. Certainly I know of no connection between an Englishman and the Medici palaces. Palazzo Riccardi is owned by the province. They financed the restoration, along with a select group of Italian patrons.”