Maybe This Time I’ll Win Part 12
“Bravissimo!” everyone gathered in the formal gardens of Villa Vittorio shouted exuberantly while applauding the dance performance of Maria-Theresa and the Helliconiades dance troupe featuring the guest of honor and soon-to-be bride, Sally Bowles.
Sally blushed with a bow as she smiled widely towards her proud parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson-Bowles, her soon-to-be in-laws, the Conte and Countess Cavallo, her adoring fiancé Luca, and his close friend Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini. Sally rushed from the stage breathlessly to Luca’s side. “Oh, thank you darling Luca! I missed performing so much! It was such a thrill to be back on stage!” Sally gasped with excitement.
“Mi amore, you know I am always your greatest benefactor in supporting your acting career and dreams,” Luca said with a smile while hugging his fiancé close.
“May we have everyone’s attention!” Conte Cavallo called out to the attending guests. “Thank you all for joining us in the auspicious occasion of the engagement of our dear son, Viscount Luca Cavallo, and his very talented and beautiful fiancé Miss Sally Bowles, of the Jackson-Bowles family of Lancashire England.” “On behalf of my dear wife, Countess Cavallo, and our honored guests, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Bowles of Lancashire, I propose a toast to the happy couple! May the Lord bless this union and their lives together, and may the Lord bless Italia and England,” Conte Cavallo proclaimed while raising his glass high. “To the happy couple!”
“To the happy couple!” everyone responded in unison lifting their glasses of champagne.
After the toast, Mrs. Marjorie Davies and Sir Joseph Duveen joined the group to congratulate the happy couple. “Ambassadress Davies and Sir Duveen, may I present to you my dear friend and university colleague, Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini from the University of Turin,” Luca said. “Rita, Mrs. Marjorie Davies is the wife of the American ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mr. Joseph Davies. Mrs. Davies and her art historian and advisor Sir Joseph Duveen are guests of madre and padre while searching for new art for Mrs. Davies extensive collection,” Luca continued.
“It is an honor to meet you both,” Rita replied with a slight bow and extending her hand.
“Likewise,” Marjorie and Joseph replied with a smile and shaking Rita’s hand.
“My family may be in need of your appraisal and assistance Sir Duveen,” Rita continued with the smile waning from her face.
“How so?” Sir Duveen replied
“Well, I don’t want to bring a cloud over this joyous occasion, but as I’ve mentioned to my friend Luca, there’s talk of some dark times for Jewish Italians ahead, including talk of new laws that would potentially result in me no longer being allowed to work at the university and continue my important medical research,” Rita said with a sigh. “With all of the increasingly concerning actions from Hitler in Germany, for example the 1935 stripping of German citizenship of Jews and basic rights and increase in antisemitic propaganda and efforts to Aryanize businesses and professions, I fear that Mussolini will follow suite very soon here in Italy,” Rita said with grave concern. “I’ve heard from Jewish friends in Europe of their homes and material possessions being confiscated under dubious circumstances. My fear is that these things shall soon come to pass here in Italy. So, my family and I must prepare. We have a substantial art collection that we would like to have documented and protected.” “Do you think you may be able to help Sir Duveen?”
“Oh, my dear, my heart breaks to hear of your concern,” Sir Duveen said genuinely. “Of course, it would be my honor and privilege to assist however I can.” “And Miss Sally Bowles, you’ve indicated that you’d like to become my protégé for art appraisal, restoration, preservation, and collection. This would be an excellent project to join me on if you’d like,” Sir Duveen said with a smile.
“Oh, you mean it Sir Duveen?” Sally said excitedly.
“Absolutely I mean it,” Sir Duveen replied with a smile.
“And I am happy to also lend any assistance I can as well,” Marjorie added. “Ambassador Davies and I continue to watch events in Germany and Italy as well as all over Europe with great concern. And we are here to assist wherever possible,” she added sincerely.
“This is all too much to be true,” Rita said humbly. “I never expected such an outpouring of support. “I am sincerely grateful to you all.”
“I left the Nazis in Germany to escape their extreme efforts of suppression,” Sally sighed. “I knew Italia was fascist under Mussolini, but I thought it was a more benevolent form of fascism that benefitted the Italian people and was different from what the Nazis are doing. I have so much to learn about the world and politics,” Sally said with a sigh of exasperation and humility.
“I’m afraid we are often shielded from the worse impacts of politics, including fascism, in our societal bubbles,” Conte Cavallo added. “There are many evils disguised as lawful acts and presented as best for the nation to take us back to some idealized past where we were supposedly at our greatest. But in fact, these are authoritarian policies that seek to divide and conquer to allow for dictators to arise and suppress all opposition.” “We all have much to learn, my dear Sally. You are not alone,” Conte Cavallo continued with conviction. “Today we celebrate this glorious engagement and soon the wedding!” he said with a cheer. “And then we continue the fight together against all of our oppressors to ensure not only our safety and livelihoods but that of our friends, neighbors, and fellow countrymen as well.” “So, lift a glass to all of us and to freedom!” Conte Cavallo said with gusto. “Viva Italia!” Now, let’s enjoy the joyous party today and prepare for the wedding celebrations. For we need much joy to sustain us in the fight ahead,” Conte Cavallo concluded with a cheer.
