The Venice Sketchbook

Juliet lies awake that night, thinking of Leo. After only a few hours’ rest, she attends her Drawing and Painting the Nude class. She has only ever seen drawings of nude men—this is her first time seeing a naked man in real life. The professor is pleased with Juliet’s work; she tells Juliet that she has aptitude with the human form. As class ends, her classmate Gaston teases and flirts with Juliet.

Another student joins Juliet as she leaves. They chat lightheartedly about the figure class, but talk soon turns to war when Juliet says she is from England and the student says she is from South Tyrol, a part of Italy that was once part of Austria. She is adamant that Hitler wants to be pushed into war and that he wants to conquer the world. She asks what Juliet will do if war does break out, noting that Juliet would be considered an enemy there, since Mussolini will side with Hitler.

Leo waits for Juliet outside her class. He invites Juliet to have lunch with him, insisting it would not be inappropriate and hinting that his wife does go out with other men, but Juliet stands her ground. She tells Leo that this is not fair to her, and she rebuffs his attempt to plan meetings at the tree where they kissed all those years ago.