iota, thinks Jacques-Vincent, returning his full attention to the
bounding rhythms emanating from the redhaired priest.
Just as last year, father and son Vivaldi decide to set off in good
time for Rome. Not only in case the winter weather turns bad and
delays them, but also because Federico Capranica has asked no
fewer than three times that they arrive for the beginning of
December at the latest. This thanks to the increasing requests
pouring in for private concerts to be given in the many palazzi of
Rome. Antonio has received a similar summons from Cardinal
Ottoboni, and this one he is clearly unable to turn down.
Paolina finds that the arranging of travel documents is
becoming a less and less complicated procedure, as if the Senate is
proud to allow ‘her’ Vivaldi to show the rest of the world what sort
of music comes out of Venice. Camilla feels well enough to show
her still hesitant husband the door. She is taking life more calmly
these days, confining herself to keeping an eye on how her
daughters and Paolina run the household. It took her a while to get
used to this, and at first the girls could do nothing right. Good
grief, how were these daughters of hers ever going to be able to
look after a husband, let alone a family? But as time goes on she
begins to see she was being unreasonable; they are all doing their
utmost, after all. And the place is always clean, which is a lot more
than may be said for every household in the neighbourhood!
Taking leave of Anna does not go well this time. She wants to come
with Paolina and Vivaldi because she knows she will miss her
singing exercises with the priest.
‘Maybe next year,’ Antonio promises. But she isn’t
persuaded, and marches off the quay in a huff without saying a
proper goodbye. It is a dismal day and the boat passengers soon
duck into the shelter of the cabin to warm themselves beside the
glowing stove. ‘What a joy it would be to be able to go all the way
to Rome by boat,’ mutters Giambattista later as, drenched in Padua
rain, they try to find a seat in the unheated stage-coach. Via Ferrara
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