Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

the child's hair in comfort. "Good morn to you, sir," she said brightly. "Sophie has been wonderful, showing me around the grounds. I do not know what I would do without her."
    Vincente raised a skeptical eyebrow. "She is not pestering you?"
    Nicoletta's fingers slipped down the little girl's arm to take her hand. "Not at all. I am asking her so many questions, she probably wishes herself away from me."
    Sophie laughed nervously. "She is fun, Papa."
    "Fun, eh? I can believe that." The man reached down and ruffled his daughter's hair. "I must apologize for cousin Portia's behavior last night. I hope you were not thinking I agreed with her demands. She is rather spoiled and used to getting her way. The thought of a new mistress here is frightening to her. In truth, no one thought Giovanni would take a bride. My brother, Antonello, and I thought it our duty to provide heirs as Giovanni had declared no interest in the subject. Antonello has not yet wed, and my being widowed," he said sadly, "left Portia the woman of the house. But now Giovanni has chosen…
    you." There was a faint questioning note in Vincente's voice, as if he half expected Nicoletta to admit she had cast a spell over his eldest brother.

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    "And choose he did. I had not thought to take a husband," Nicoletta responded.
    Vincente threw back his head and laughed aloud. "Good answer. I am Vincente Scarletti. We have met, of course, on more than one occasion, but not yet formally." He reached for her fingertips and drew them to his mouth for a kiss while his dark eyes flirted outrageously with her. He bowed low. "Even had we not met before, you look very familiar to me. Perhaps I know your famiglia?"
    "Perhaps," Nicoletta answered vaguely. She was having a difficult time thinking clearly. There was a curious sensation in her head, a dark, oppressive feeling she had never experienced before. A heavy dread seemed to be spreading in the pit of her stomach. She felt the need to step away from Vincente, from his good looks and charm. The need to pull her hand from his was so sharp and strong, she actually did so.
    It was then that she glanced toward the wide windows of the palazzo. From the long balcony atop colossal columns surrounding the structure, Giovanni was watching them. He was as still as the mountains around them, as if he were carved from marble himself. A powerful, intimidating figure. At once she realized he was in her head, a dark fury driving him hard. She could feel waves of warning beating at her mind. He was demanding that she move away from his flirtatious brother. This was no soft whisper but a dark flow of anger, of black jealousy.
    Her chin rose a fraction in challenge as she stared back at him. Across the wide expanse of the palazzo their eyes locked in weird combat, her will against his. Slowly the malevolence faded, replaced by faintly mocking amusement. You cannot hope to win a battle with me, cara. You are far too young and innocent.
    The words were clear this time, not merely an impression but there in her ears, as if he had spoken aloud! Shocked at his power—the evidence of a true sorcerer, perhaps the devil himself—Nicoletta took a step backward.
    I prefer your dreams to your fears, piccola. He whispered it to her wickedly, reminding her vividly of the erotic dreams that had danced in her head the night before. He stood for a moment longer on the marble balcony, looking so much the aristocratico, a man so accustomed to commanding others that authority was stamped into his hard features. Giovanni Scarletti's white teeth flashed briefly before he turned and went back into his study. She could see his tall, muscular frame through the window as he gestured to someone she couldn't see clearly to enter the room.
    Vincente turned his head to follow her gaze. "Mio fratello is hard at work. So many meetings with the powers that be, you know. No time for fun." He shrugged casually. "Do not worry, signorina, I will see to it that your time here is not a dreary one." He smiled down at his daughter. "Sophie, I hope, will not be too bothersome. If she is, we will send her off to learn to sew those beautiful coverlets all women seem to know how to make." His head suddenly came up, and he stared at Nicoletta almost as if she were a ghost. His face paled beneath his bronzed skin.
    "What is it?" Nicoletta asked, curious.
    "Just for a moment you reminded me of someone I