Casual Blog
Away from St Mark’s Square the back streets were quiet only muted sounds being heard. Snow was falling. White flakes tumbled down on masked costumed revellers, giving an appearance of fairyland.
Ludovico has chosen his costume carefully, or so he told himself. He wore a larva or volta mask. it was typically Venetian, white, and worn with a tricorn and cloak, which made up the bauta. His was not the full one, but covered the upper part of his face from forehead to nose and upper cheeks. It fitted his purpose admirably, as it concealed his identity. At the same time it enabled him to talk and eat and drink easily: more importantly he could enjoy the carousing to the full.
He had been undecided what to wear. However, Francisco, his valet had suggested the costume, just what a young man of nobility needed to help win a fair lady. No-one would know who he was so he could enjoy the sport to the full, and that was what Ludovico intended to do. So, he donned the costume and took the tricorn held out to him. He looked at himself in the mirror frowning slightly at the small green feather in the hat. It was an unusual design but certainly stood out. ‘Signore, it matches the bow on your shoes’ said Francisco, and with that he was satisfied.
Ludovico was bored. His engagement to a distant cousin had just been announced and a wedding date fixed, but he was impatient and saw no reason for not enjoying himself to the full. ‘Naturally’ his father had said ‘you must remain faithful for a while, at least until you have secured the succession, but afterwards, providing you are discrete, you can seek your pleasures elsewhere.’ The bride’s family came from Piedmont, and it was thought her brother was not too happy about his sister’s suitor, having heard certain rumours and taken a dislike to his future brother in law. The family thought it a good match. Ludovico was young his father had said and would settle down after marriage – and that was that!
That he had already started to seek his pleasure where he could had been evident, when his mother’s maid had been suddenly dismissed when it was discovered she was pregnant. Tremblingly, she had confessed all to the Duchess and while secretly hating her son’s indiscretion and brutality, as the girl had been innocent, had known there was nothing she could do. Her husband, when told, had been amused. His wife, seething with inward fury, assumed her customary bland face, but quietly ensured the girl left their service with at least some money and a few items of jewellery. After all the Duke said servants were easy to procure and these things happened. He showed no further interest in the girl and was secretly proud of his son’s prowess.
Kneeling on her Prie Dieu the Duchess sought refuge in prayer, hoping that something would intervene to turn her son away from the life of debauchery he and his friends enjoyed and which his father condoned.
Ludovico was enjoying the night. Various trysts had been made and his appetite whetted. He was on the point of following up one of these when his eyes fell on a slight figure, expensively gowned in pale blue silk with a mask to match. He saw dainty shoes peeking out from under the hem of her dress, and something about the figure attracted him. He’d been aware that someone had been looking in his direction, and, as he glanced over he crowds, had caught her gaze. Immediately she turned her head away and appeared to be engrossed by the person at her side, but she had glanced back at him before moving to the far side of the ballroom. He knew that courtesans as well as matrons of quality were at the ball that night. Women wore extravagent hairstyles, some cross-dressed to attract and entice their suitors and many a jaded appetite had been stimulated.
Whoever this person was she attracted him. She moved with elegance and style. Richly dressed she had an air of command and that intrigued him. He made his way slowly and deliberately across the room, sending out the message that he was interested. He gazed at her, his head slightly to one side.