Chapter 11
Three days later I was at the royal palace. I had just finished the viceroy's portrait and covered it with a final layer of varnish based on amber and turpentine. I was showing the finished work to Marcantonio Colonna when a servant knocked at the door asking for him.
“Would you excuse me, please?”
After about half an hour he returned, visibly upset.
He hesitated at the door, then came up to me and took my hands.
“Donna Sofonisba...” I looked at him aghast. “My heart bleeds for you but I have to give you this news.”
I was overwhelmed by a rising feeling of dread.
“What is it, Your Grace?”
“Well...” his voice failed him. “Something terrible has happened... Carlo d'Aragona's galley has been attacked by Barbary pirates off Capri.”
I felt as if liquid fire was flowing throu
