Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

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    return me to Maria Pia Sigmora."
    One black eyebrow arched arrogantly. "I do not recall being labeled a gentleman even once in all the gossip reported back to me. A blackguard, a spy, an assassin, but never a gentleman. Walk with me, Nicoletta, or I shall carry you and awaken the entire household when we enter." His glittering gaze danced over her mischievously. "That would set the gossips' tongues wagging. Then they would demand I display our wedding-night sheets out the window of the palazzo for all to see."
    Nicoletta made a sound much like the squeak of a terrified mouse, so outraged by his suggestion that she tugged away from him and marched toward the palazzo. Better to face certain death than his smoldering sexual seduction. Her back was ramrod stiff, and she knew he was secretly laughing at her innocence.
    She stuck her nose into the air and assumed her haughtiest expression. Don Scarletti might be used to debauchery, but Nicoletta certainly was not. Adopting Maria Pia's pious attitude, she crossed herself and continued down toward the palazzo.
    The don easily kept pace with her much shorter strides. "I understand you recently helped to deliver a particularly difficult babe," he said.
    Nicoletta bit down on her lip. Men did not discuss such things as childbirth. It was unseemly. Everything he said and did was scandalous. He truly was a heathen. And clearly he did have spies reporting to him.
    How much more did he know of her? Doubtless there was little sense in attempting more subterfuge, attempting to mislead him further into thinking Maria Pia the true healer. Maria Pia had been the village midwife and wisewoman for years before Nicoletta's birth, but Don Scarletti certainly knew that Nicoletta herself was the unique healer, one capable of things she shouldn't have been.
    She peeked sideways at him from under her long lashes, trying to judge his mood. Should he decide to condemn her as a witch, she would not be able to defend herself. Accusing the don in turn of reading minds and being in league with the devil would be ludicrous. "It was difficult. I thought the mother would be lost. She is my friend." Nicoletta's voice was a thin thread of sound in the fog, and her tone did not invite further discussion on the subject.
    The don reached around her with both arms to pull his coat closer about her body, a strangely comforting gesture. "You are very brave, piccola," he said softly, his lips pressed to the top of her silky hair. "You know it is dangerous to roam these hills as you do. Aside from the danger of wild animals, there are many robbers hiding close by. At the moment the King of Spain has decided it is not worth the risk to attempt to conquer these lands, but it is still a dangerous time. That temporary reprieve from attack can change with any hint of weakness on my part. I want you to remain at the palazzo for your own safety. Once you are my bride, you may become a target for my enemies."
    "I am a healer." She made the statement very quietly, not defiantly, but with great dignity. "It is who I am.
    What I am. I must go where I am needed."
    "You are my betrothed. You will be my wife. That is who you are," he countered. "My wife will do as I tell her."
    She looked back at him, a faint smile curving her soft mouth. "It is possible you have mistakenly chosen the wrong bride. You did not even look at Rosia, and she was wearing her best dress. She always obeys the rules, and she remembers to wear her shoes. I do not obey very well at all. Ask the elders. Ask Maria Pia."
    "What would that angry young man say? Cristano? Would he say you do not obey?" There was now a Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    dark edge to his voice that made her shiver, as if all his male amusement had suddenly worn thin. It reminded her that she was completely alone in the night with him, and she was at his mercy.
    "No one would ever say I obey. Your spies should have given you a full report when they were scouting out your bride." As sensitive as she was to emotional vibrations, her heart was beginning to pound in fear.
    "You are favoring your leg more and more. Your injury cannot yet be healed completely. Perhaps I should carry you," he mused. "I should have been more aware. Come, piccola, allow me to carry you."
    Her dark gaze was eloquent as she sent him a swift, smoldering glare. His sculpted mouth curved sensually, and his black eyes glittered