Free Masquerade by Fornasier Kylie Page B

hairdresser until I am certain they are trustworthy and exceptionally skilled. In the meantime, Anna is satisfactory.’ She smiled at her lady’s maid.
    ‘Perhaps if you did not share your every secret, thought and desire with your hairdresser . . .’ said Veronica.
    ‘Well, it works very well, in my opinion,’ said Orelia, jumping in. ‘Your mix, I mean’
    ‘Do you wish to try?’ said Angelique. ‘Anna can do you next.’
    Orelia shook her head, her hair catching the sunlight like flames in a fire. ‘Maybe another time.’ She looked around. ‘I love these plants you have up here. It’s like a garden in the sky.’
    Angelique glanced at the potted plants distractedly and nodded. ‘Have you enjoyed your first week in Venice? Don’t count the dinner party at Ca’ Grissoni last night. I should’ve known it would be a bore.’
    ‘It’s been interesting.’
    ‘Wonderful,’ said Angelique, ‘because there’s many more weeks like that to come.’
    Orelia cocked her head to the side. ‘How long does Carnevale last?’
    ‘Five months! It ends on Shrove Tuesday, but then there are two more weeks of Carnevale forty days after Easter.’
    ‘God help me,’ said Orelia dramatically.
    The two of them laughed and even Veronica raised a smile while keeping her eyes on her book. A moment later, Maria emerged onto the rooftop. ‘A note for Signorina Orelia,’ she said, holding out an envelope.
    Angelique stopped laughing and Veronica looked up.
    ‘Me?’ said Orelia, taking it from Maria as if she were accepting a court order.
    ‘Open it,’ said Angelique, looking at the envelope with intense curiosity. There was nothing written on the front, no name, no address. Whoever had sent it to her, must have delivered it personally or had it delivered by messenger with precise instructions. But who would be sending something to Orelia?
    ‘I think I’ll read it later,’ said Orelia, trying to push the envelope into the pocket of her olive green dress that she still insisted on wearing whenever she could.
    Angelique swiftly grabbed the envelope, and swung herself out of Orelia’s reach to inspect the contents. There was a note and a key inside. Angelique unfolded the note and read aloud, ‘Join me for the opera tonight at the La Fenice in the Doge’s box.’ Angelique’s voice broke as she read out the initials. ‘B.D.’
    Orelia took her note from Angelique’s shaking hand. ‘There’s no name on the invitation.’
    ‘The messenger said the note was for the girl with
red
hair,’ said Maria. ‘You are the only one of that description.’
    Angelique turned away and squeezed her eyes shut until pinpricks of light filled her vision. She would not cry. Not in front of Veronica and Orelia. Not with her hair soaked in urine.
    ‘Well, I’m not going,’ said Orelia, her voice sounding far away.
    ‘I think we should
all
go,’ said Veronica. ‘The Doge’s box is the best box at La Fenice. There’s no better view of the stage, I’ve been told. I’d give anything to spend an evening in there. As Orelia said, there is no name on the invitation. Let’s all surprise Bastian.’
    ‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’ said Orelia.
    ‘Si, are you sure that’s a good idea, Signorina Veronica?’ echoed Maria.
    Angelique turned around, displaying a dazzling smile. ‘It’s a perfect idea!’

    Angelique wrapped a long black cloak around herself then covered her face with a white veil edged with lace that she had made herself. She assessed her reflection in the mirror and nodded approvingly. She was dressed perfectly for an occasion that required the utmost secrecy. She was going to visit a witch.
    No one saw her leave the palazzo, which in itself was a slight disappointment to Angelique. Finally, she had a secret and there was no one to observe it. Her father was attending a senate meeting at the Palazzo Ducale, while the servants were busy doing whatever it was servants did when they were not attending to