May 1730
Venice and TriesteAs Antonio's reputation continued to grow, so did his absences from Venice. He traveled to Roma often and to Mantua – no doubt to see Anna Girò – and returned to our city periodically. It was reported that he was completing some new work and desired the comfort of his own private apartment or the familiar surroundings of his studio at the Conservatorio.
As for me, Rachel and I had grown accustomed to each other and the flame of our marriage dimmed. I still loved her and she showed all the love I would expect from a wife, but my travels and her inability to produce a child altered our relationship in ways that I didn't expect.
Often, when I arrived home from a trip and Manola would open the door for me to enter, my first sight would be of Rachel sitting on the
