propelled his wife somewhat precipitously onto the dance-floor.
Stiffly, the elderly matron allowed Frederik IV to lead her
in the first minuet. The king was not impressed. She was short and
fat and did not look as though she was enjoying the evening. This
was a sharp contrast to the many other Venetian women he had
met over the past few days. He knew already that he would miss
Venice when he got back to Copenhagen. Not just Venice, but all its
beautiful, proud women who in their self-confidence did not
hesitate to initiate a conversation with him. Frederik IV already had
a quiet eye on Caterina Querini. He had made her acquaintance
earlier this evening, but the many guests had meant their encounter
had been only fleeting. She was young and had a lovely figure and
perfect teeth. With every smile they seemed to compete with the
shining string of pearls she wore draped over her gown in the latest
fashion. He had not been able to see her eyes properly through her
mask but he was confident they would be in keeping with the rest
of her. The minuet seemed to last forever. Applause and thanks to
the procurator’s wife were courteous but brief.
Frederik IV did not even have to approach the dais, for
Caterina had already stood up and stepped elegantly onto the dance
floor. As a matter of course she accepted the invitation of the ‘Duke’
who, thrilled, took her cool and silken hand in his. She looked
boldly at him and it was Frederik IV who had rather shyly to avert
his eyes from her gaze. This dance was faster than the last. The
king and Caterina spun merrily and ever closer about one another.
Caterina, a mischievous sparkle in her green eyes, made sure their
bodies never touched. This so agitated Frederik IV that he made a
somewhat over-enthusiastic movement, thereby catching Caterina’s
pearls in his lace cuff. Before either of them knew what was
happening the string was burst and the costly pearls scattered
themselves over the floor and into every corner of the hall. Frederik
IV recoiled so violently that the music came to an abrupt halt. At
first nobody could make out what was going on, but the hall soon
felt that something was amiss and all fell still. Vivaldi sat bolt
upright and watched whilst a huge pearl rolled straight towards
38
15-42 Chapter 1.indd 38 22-11-2007 14:08:56
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