Baronessa

Professor Hartt recalled that, at one of what Berenson liked to call his Sunday afternoon “tea fights,” he was surrounded by contessas, baronessas, and principessas in true Don Giovanni style.

By five o’clock, contessas, baronessas, ministers, ambassadors, fashionistas, and local goddesses of Cinecittà began streaming across the huge piazza in front of the Farnese.

“Oh, these Italian mothers,” replied Ciceri distractedly. “They’re all the same, baronessas or not. Their first concern is that their son eats enough for three people. Everything else is of lesser importance.”