Artful Dream

Chapter 20

Monday morning had arrived. Both Richard and Maggie were up early and their rooms were a hive of activity as they darted through the dividing door to each others room. Richard needed to borrow some hair gel and Maggie had run out of her own tissues and needed to steal some of Richards. Room service, in the meantime, were busy on the balcony setting out their breakfast table.

As Richard looked into the mirror fixing his hair, Maggie came up behind him and put her arms around his waist. She reached up and kissed the back of the neck. “How are you this morning?”

“All the better after a Nurse Harris’ massage last night.”

Maggie giggled, then slapped him on the behind, “Come on, breakfast is getting cold.”

After breakfast they both collected everything they needed for the day and made their way out of the hotel. Standing on the steps of the hotel the quiet streets from the weekend gave themselves up to the noise of vehicle engines and blaring car horns.

Richard looked at his cell. According to the Goggle street map, the Uffizi Gallery was only a fifteen minute walk from where they were. Maggie swapped her normal glasses for her prescription Ray Ban’s and took Richards hand.

“Come on.” She said. “It’ll be quicker to walk then wait for a taxi.”

Richard thought the same, so hand in hand they took a causal stroll towards the Uffizi Gallery.

They were both wearing what Maggie called, ‘their scuffs’. Old baggy jeans and t-shirt which by Italian standards made them look like a couple of tramps. Setting up an exhibition was very demanding work, so the need to be comfortable with what you’re wearing was paramount.

Maggie and Richard arrived at the rear of the gallery, to see an articulated lorry from the Netherlands in the loading bay being emptied by the gallery staff. Mr van Klerk was there with the curator of the Uffizi Mr Eike Schmidt. Once he saw Richard he came over concerned about his welfare. Richard was cursing ever going to that wedding fare yesterday with Maggie. He was having to tell one lie after another to fabricate a story of why he passed out. One thing was for sure, there was no chance of him finding time or a place to propose to Maggie today.

Tomorrow was not looking good either; Maggie intended to spend all day at the Book Festival wanting the morning to make contacts before delivering her talk in the afternoon. That really only left him Wednesday or Thursday morning to propose. Giovanni wanted them back for a farewell party on Thursday evening before their flight home on Friday. If no opportunities would lend themselves, then it was increasingly looking like he may have to proposal either in the airport or during the flight home. Time was running out.

Ruud van Klerk was lending the Uffizi his personal collection of Dutch Masters featuring the artists, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals the Elder, Paulus Potter and Dirck Hals. Richard watched as the crates were taken to the ‘Temporary Exhibit Rooms’ on the first floor.

Maggie had never been inside the Uffizi and was in awe of its grandeur. Huge paintings from the renaissance period mounted in their gold-painted frames hung against burgundy walls. Maggie did a double-take and pulled on Richards arm, “Is that the Birth of Venus?”

Richard looked over to where she was pointing, “Sure is, Sandro Botticelli famous painting.”

“The original!” said Maggie still tugging at Richards arm.

“Of course,” he laughed. “This isn’t Camden Market you know. No forgery’s here. ”

Richard walked on leaving her to take in one of the most iconic paintings in world alongside the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Realising she was getting left behind, Maggie ran to catch up with him.