Island of Mermaids (13 page)

On the steamer Carla disclosed to Althea that she had received permission from her mother for this trip only because she would be in the care of Cristo.
‘
But you know, Althea, that I must have Kent for my partner,
’
she said emphatically.

‘
Of course,
j
ust as you wish,
’
replied Althea indifferently. The restaurant which Carla had selected was in the Via Aniello Falcone and the garden terrace gave a panoramic
view over part of the city and the Bay beyond.

Carla
’
s appe
ti
te was usually a healthy one, but Althea no
ti
ced that the girl ate most sparingly. Belatedly she realised that this indica
ti
on should have given her the clue to what happened afterwards.

During the meal a young man came towards Carla and greeted her effusively. She introduced him as Gregorio, invited him to sit down and take a glass of wine.

Then before the meal ended, Carla and Gregorio excused themselves.
‘
We are preparing for you all a great surprise,
’
Carla explained over her shoulder.

Kent and Althea glanced at each other for enlightenment, than at Cristo, who declared he knew nothing. It was not Carla
’
s birthday, nor even his.

The small orchestra had played during dinner without anyone taking much notice, but now the leader called for
silence
. The crowd turned their chairs expectantly as Gregorio walked on to the small platform and addressed the microphone. The restaurant had acquired a charming new singer, he said, and appealed to the audience to welcome this talented young lady. A moment later Carla came forward.
‘
Signorina Carlotta Marchetti,
’
announced Gregorio, and led the welcoming applause.

‘H
m, this is a new venture,
’
remarked Kent softly.
‘
So this is why she dragged us all here.
’

‘
My cousin has a magnificent voice,
’
put in Cristo indignantly.

‘Y
es, but what will her mother, the Signora, say?
’
queried Althea in an apprehensive whisper.

Carla sang well, choosing several well-known songs, including the famous
‘
Ritomo a Sorrento
’
and finishing with a couple of gay Neapolitan songs in which she invited the audience to join in the chorus.

Althea, in spite of her qualms about the consequences of this crazy departure, had to admit that the girl not only had a very pleasing voice, but poise, too. In her apricot dress contrasting so well with her shoulder-length black hair and
faintly
tanned skin, she projected herself and her personality. The audience warmed to her and at the end gave her a tremendous and enthusiastic ovation.

Carla, flushed with triumph, eventually rejoined her companions and waited for their congratulations, but only Cristo complimented her.

Kent said,
‘
So this is your debut?
’

Carla agreed.
‘
Who knows? Someone might hear me sing here and discover me.
’

‘
How did you meet this man Gregorio?
’
asked Althea.

‘
Oh, he comes sometimes to Professor Scarpelli
’
s house and listens while we sing. Then, if he is interested, he will offer the engagement. He is in touch with many cafes and cabarets here and in Rome and other places.
’

‘
An inexpensive way of acquiring young talented people,
’
said Kent.
‘
What did he pay you? Five pounds?
’

‘
Oh, we have not discussed the money yet,
’
Carla
’
s tone held disdain that so sordid a subject as money should enter the blissful situation.
‘
But he has promised that after tonight I shall earn much money. Money entirely of my own
!’

‘
But what d
’
you think your mother is going to say?
’
Althea asked.

‘
Mamma? Oh, she will be persuaded that there is no harm in it. She will understand,
’
replied Carla comfortably.

‘
I doubt it,
’
snapped Althea.
‘
She was not very willing to allow you to come to Naples for the lessons. When she finds out that
‘

‘
Oh, but please, Althea—and you, Kent, no one must tell Mamma. You must swear that you will keep silent. Also Cristo, although naturally
you
would not betray me, your cousin.
’

Evidently it was understood that such secrets were kept between relatives of the family, thought Althea, although she would scarcely have trusted Cristo if he could turn a situation to his own advantage.

‘
What does Cristo think about it?
’
Althea asked.

He leaned back in his chair, held his wineglass at arm
’
s length.
‘
Young people are more
modern
now. We
’
re not so caged in as our mothers were. Why shouldn
’
t Carla sing where she wants to?
’

‘
Why indeed?
’
echoed Kent.
‘
Why shouldn
’
t she ruin her voice so that when she
’
s twenty-five all that she
’
ll be fit for is croaking in some smoke-filled night-club?
’

Althea glanced at him in surprise. So he really cared about Carla and her voice!

‘
Do not be angry with me,
’
pleaded Carla softly.
‘
You do not know how important Gregorio is. He
’
s a great impresario.
’

‘
Of course he told you so himself
!’
was Kent
’
s sardonic comment.

‘
Does your professor know that he offers engagements to the pupils?
’
asked Althea.

‘
But naturally,
’
replied Carla.
‘
Gregorio is a friend.
’

‘
So even the professor is probably not above pocketing a handsome commission on these transactions,
’
put in Kent angrily.
‘
Really, if I
’
d known about these shady dealings, I
’
d have thought twice about encouraging you to come over here for lessons. You should have stuck to your visiting teacher, Carla.
’

‘
Oh, you are both against me,
’
she complained, her face drooping.
‘
I have to learn to sing to many people, not just stand by a piano. When I do that, you say it is wrong.
’

‘
Opera-house audiences and people eating and drinking at an open-air caf
e
are quite different types,
’
said Kent.

Carla began to smile.
‘
I think you are becoming quite jealous, Kent. You don
’
t like me to be noticed by someone important like Gregorio.
’

‘
I don
’
t like it when someone exploits you, Carla,
’
he declared.

‘
What is the word?
“
Exploit
”
—what does it mean?
’

‘
Making money out of you because you
’
re ambitious,
’
he told her.

Althea noticed that he did not refute the suggestion that personal jealousy might enter into the present situation.

‘
Now you have spoilt my evening,
’
Carla protested.
‘
But you will promise not to tell Mamma yet? Later on, perhaps, when I
’
m a success, she will not mind.
’

‘
I don
’
t know that I
’
m going to encourage you in this escapade.
’
His face was dark with anger.

Carla turned to Althea.
‘
But you will swear not to tell,
won
’
t you?
’

Althea hesitated. Then she said,
‘
Well, I suppose it
’
s not really my business. I
’
ve no authority to tell you what you should or shouldn
’
t do.
’

‘
Of course,
’
agreed Carla.
‘
So you will swear?
’

‘
Yes,
’
agreed Althea. She promised because she guessed that Carla would find it very difficult to maintain the deception for long. Sooner, rather than later, her mother would become suspicious about dinners in Naples, and demand an explanation.

On the late-night launch run specially for home-goers to Capri, Althea was pleased to find Brian Telford, who had spent the evening in Naples.

She introduced him to the others in her party. Carla
’
s comment was,
‘
So you are the artist? Oh, I
’
ve heard much about you.
’

Kent gave the young man a sharply appraising glance and merely grunted an acknowledgment, while Cristo sighed heavily and grumbled,
‘
Another Englishman! All Italy is full of the English.
’

Whatever their relations, Althea was grateful for Brian
’
s unexpected appearance, for it meant that Cristo could not monopolise her during the sea crossing. While Carla and Cristo chatted in their own language, and Althea sat with Brian, it was Kent who isolated himself and stood in the
stern
of the launch.

At the Marina Grande Brian was invited to share the taxi to take the five up to Anacapri, although he protested that he didn
’
t want to make a nuisance of himself.

When the two girls and Cristo alighted at the gates of the Villa Stefano, Althea wondered what Kent and Brian would find to say to each other on the remaining part of the journey. Kent had been strangely silent, even surly, since Carla
’
s debut at the restaurant.

As Carla and Althea approached the main entrance of the villa accompanied by Cristo, Carla squeezed Althea
’
s arm and whispered delightedly,
‘
I am very happy. I have made Kent jealous. I told you I would lea
rn
from you.
’

Before Althea could reply, Cristo said,
‘
I wonder if I could interest that man Gregorio in a new car. Is he well off, Carla?
’

‘
Very rich,
’
answered Carla.
‘
He does not have to buy an old ruin of a villa and rebuild it himself with his own hands. He told me he has a lovely house near Rome and also a villa on Ischia.
’

Althea smiled in the darkness.
‘
Goodnight,
’
she called to both the others, and walked towards the
‘
gingerbread house
’
.

The evening had provided her with a tremendous amount to ponder on, most of all, Kent
’
s curious displeasure over Carla
’
s appearance as a caf
e
singer. She wondered now if Kent really loved Carla, but was hesitant about declaring his affection, partly because her mother was still fairly antagonistic, partly, perhaps, because Carla was so young and he was reluctant to force a decision on her too soon. Or was his resentment caused purely on account of the girl taking an ill
-
chosen opportunity to appear in public at an immature state of her training?

Carla had boasted that one day she would sing in Kent
’
s operas. Althea wondered if, for one reason or another, he shared those ambi
ti
ous hopes.

In any case she had found the events of the evening unsettling, but was too tired to analyse the real reasons. Matters would have to sort themselves out tomorrow or some other time.