Page 183 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 13.

Is there something inside the locket?

“You must sit still. Stiller!” said Allori several times a session to the fidgety Carola.

“I don't know how the Duchess wears all these clothes,” said Carola. “They're like a suit
of armor. Look how stiff the sleeves are at the elbows!”

“For the last time, Carola,” said Allori, “If you can't be still, I'll find someone else.
You're not the only woman with a passible resemblance to the Duchess. I could get someone
tomorrow, if you're not able to sit still.” Truth was, though, he could not get someone tomorrow,
or if he could, she would not so closely resemble the Duchess. Carola was some eleven years
younger than the 33-year-old Duchess, but physically she shared many of the same
characteristics: an ampleness to her torso and bosom; a round face with thick nose, the tip of
which pushed down past the nostrils in a prominent downward peak; hair the color of soil in a
rich freshly watered garden; a tiny mouth rising high on a short upper lip; cheeks like apricots
and chin like the foldy part of a peach; and piercing brown eyes. Carola's hair, it was true, was
several shades darker than the lady Bianca, and of course, in her tavern-life, Carola did not wear
jewelry interwoven with her hair.

“It hurts!” fidgeted Carola, pulling at the rectangular locket strapped to the top of her
head.

“Don't touch it! That's what I'm painting right now!” Carola dropped her hands into her
lap. She hated the locket she had to wear on her head. The locket was affixed to a thick double-
strand of pearls; five pearls on either side of the locket, forming a kind of rungless ladder, with
each of the two strands laying sideways across Carola's head, holding the inlaid locket in place
directly at the top of the head. It was uncomfortable.

“I need to slide the locket back a little,” said Carola, “it's hurting.”

“You can't move it. I'm painting it.”

“I just need to slide it a half-a-thumbnail forwards or back; you set it right on a bone!”

“Twenty minutes, then I'll adjust it for you.”

“I can't wait that long.”

“You must wait that long.”

“I can't.” She shot her left hand up to the locket on her head, and moved it ever-so-
slightly, just so the clasp wasn't pressing down into her skull.

Allori dropped his arms to his side in exasperation. “Bianca!” he chastised.

“I moved it only a little bit.”

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