"Riccardo!" Liza was calling him, hurrying toward him with her arms outstretched. "You did a wonderful job," she said warmly.
"Dear Liza!" He embraced her back. "I couldn't have done it without your help."
Liza laughed and indicated Justine.
"Here's the one you should really thank. She told Guido to give you the job."
Riccardo turned puzzled eyes on her.
"I suggested a hotel to help Liza," she said hastily, "and the Busoni was the only name I knew at the time. I had no idea that it was yours."
"Nonetheless, I am in your debt, Signora. Good night. Good night, Liza."
He turned away and jumped down into the barge. He was going, and she knew that if he left like this she would not see him again.
And she must.
The barge engine was starting up. She had only a split second to decide.
The next moment Liza gave a little shriek as Justine went running out onto the landing stage and leapt.
Chapter Nine
This time there were no comfortable cabbages to break her fall, but Justine managed to land on her feet at the bottom of the barge, steadying herself by seizing hold of Riccardo. He swiftly put his arms about her.
"Signora," he protested, "you cannot go on hurling yourself into my boat whenever the mood takes you. People will talk."
"If you'd waited I wouldn't have had to throw myself at you," she pointed out with impeccable logic. She was feeling light-headed and in good spirits. The crazy impulse had improved her mood.
The barge swerved and with one hand he hastily seized the tiller, which he'd abandoned to clasp her. But he kept his other arm about her.
He did not ask why she had done such a thing, nor did she explain. She would have found it hard to do that, even to herself.
Although it was late, there were still lights on the banks of the Grand Canal. Their reflections glowed in the black water, shivering and dancing as the last boats went home.