Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

another piece of cheese and grinned at Maria Pia. "I shall remain with you."
    Maria Pia made a show of rolling her eyes and crying to the heavens for patience, but, all the same, she looked pleased. "You are probably right about Cristano." With a reluctant sigh she gave up the dream of settling Nicoletta down through marriage to the handsome youth. "Being a peacock and having a quick temper, he should marry a woman who will not stand out quite so much to other men."
    Nicoletta raised her eyebrows but refrained from commenting. She had a difficult time understanding how other women accepted the fate of becoming wife and helpmeet so eagerly when she felt the loss of freedom would be intolerable. Married, she would never be able to live the way she was expected to live. She had always roamed free. Because of her differences, she did not have to adhere to the many unspoken rules that bound other women. It hurt to see childhood friends like Lissandra make disastrous matches, yet they really had no choice. Nor did many of them appear to realize that their marriages could go wrong. They seemed to harbor the illusion that matrimonial bliss would instantly ensue upon their arranged unions, even to men who were uncaring or cruel. Lissandra would be a brood mate and a workhorse for her husband, and she would die at an early age without ever knowing true love.

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    Nicoletta pressed two fingers to her forehead, to the sudden painful throbbing brought on by her thoughts. She glanced out the window at the beckoning hills. At times like this, she wanted to disappear into nature's embrace and be free of such continual battering at her emotions.
    Maria Pia shook her head sharply. "Oh, no, you cannot go out there. If you do, I will not see you again for days. You are no longer a bambino to run and hide when you do not want to face something." She waved a hand at the window and the mountains beyond. "Once you find your way to the hills, even I cannot call you back."
    "You still call me a bambina," Nicoletta pointed out with a teasing smile, forcing a brightness she did not feel.
    "I should not put up with your foolishness," the older women reprimanded, but in truth, she could not bear to see Nicoletta unhappy. No one in the villaggio could, not for long. When Nicoletta smiled, she brought them the sunshine. Maria Pia's gaze traveled lovingly over the young woman. Not even her worn and faded clothes could dim her natural beauty. "I do not see how we can so disguise your womanly appearance, Nicoletta." Her gaze fell on the small bare feet. "Where are your shoes?" she asked as she so often had to.
    Nicoletta shrugged, unconcerned. "In truth, I do not know. Nor will I be needing them. I think bare feet will add to the illusion of a child." She laughed softly. "Ketsia has quite a task keeping track of the things.
    Yet it keeps her occupied and out of trouble—and perhaps relieves your worries at the same time."
    "Donna Maria Pia!" Cristano's booming voice nearly shook the hut. "I must speak with you."
    Maria Pia wrapped her shawl around her shoulders as she shuffled to the door.
    Nicoletta made a face. "Do not let that vain peacock into our home," she hissed.
    "Behave yourself," Maria Pia demanded, and she opened the door.
    Cristano rushed in, almost smashing Maria Pia flat. He knocked the breath out of her and had to catch her to prevent her from falling. Maria Pia slapped at his hands and pursed her lips, clucking with disapproval like an old hen. "What are you about, Cristano?" she demanded.
    Nicoletta burst out laughing as Cristano, mortified, turned bright red. Maria Pia silenced Nicoletta with one eloquent look. Cristano shot Nicoletta a withering glare and recovered his dignity sufficiently to face the older woman. "I have come to ask for Nicoletta's hand in marriage. She cannot be counted among the eligible women for the Bridal Covenant."
    Maria Pia smiled sweetly and patted Cristano's arm. "What a thoughtful boy, to consider such a thing, but you seem to have forgotten that she is a year too young for marriage yet. She will not be included in the don's Bridal Covenant." She was leading him to the door. "It was kind of you to offer to sacrifice yourself," she added wryly, "but there is no need. Nicoletta will remain unmarried at least another year."
    As she addressed and patted him, she thrust him out the door and closed it firmly. Then, having uttered an