Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

knew a long time ago. She made the most beautiful coverlets." His voice sounded thoughtful. "She would be much older than you. I was about your age back then."
    Nicoletta turned back to the flowers in the garden, gazing at the dewy petals to hide her expression. Her Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    mother! Vincente Scarletti had known her mother, and he remembered her! Who could not? The memories were vivid in Nicoletta's mind. All at once she wanted to weep. She had recognized the coverlet in Sophie's room as her mother's handiwork.
    Nicoletta? The voice was gentle, not wicked and teasing, not fiercely angry, but a tender, concerned inquiry. She experienced a strange warmth flooding her. It was disarming, that hypnotic spell enveloping her so that she couldn't help but reach for him with her heart and soul.
    As if pulled by a source outside herself, she glanced over her shoulder, her gaze drawn to the windows overlooking the courtyard. He was there, staring down at her intently. She could see the shadowy figure behind him pacing as if agitated. The don's attention was centered on her rather than on his important guest. It made Nicoletta feel cared for. She knew he felt her sorrow, and it mattered that he had touched her from a distance.
    Maria Pia probably would have said it was sinful, a gift from the devil, and wrong, but at that moment Nicoletta was grateful, and she smiled up at the lonely dark figure. He sketched her a small salute and resolutely turned back to his visitor.
    Nicoletta was returning her attention to Vincente and his daughter when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of something bright fluttering up on the ramparts high above Don Scarletti's study. It was Portia and her daughter, Margerita, their gowns billowing in the wind, watching her as did the huge winged gargoyles.
    A small shudder ran through her. She was being watched all the time, and she had allowed herself to forget already. The don seemed capable of driving out her every sane thought, something she dared not allow to continue. With so many eyes observing her every move she would have to appear "normal" at all times. Would it be possible?

Chapter Eight
    Nicoletta held her arms obediently away from her sides and made a face at Maria Pia. "She is sticking me with pins," she complained. "I have a few words to say to the don regarding this particular form of torture." She had spent a good portion of the day attempting to explore the palazzo, but for hours now she had been locked in with the dressmakers. Her patience was wearing thin.
    "If you complain one more time, Nicoletta," Maria Pia scolded, "I shall stick a pin into you myself. Any other girl would be delighted to receive such elegant garments. The extravagance is almost sinful.
    Although, truly, many of these gowns cover you so little as to be nearly indecent," she blithely contradicted herself.
    Nicoletta laughed, the sound so infectious that even the two dressmakers found themselves smiling. "You mean it is sinful for one such as me to be getting such fine attire."
    "Ballgowns with necklines that are far too low," Maria Pia groused. "You are a good girl. The Madonna is weeping—weeping, I tell you. You should not wear such gowns. It is not right," she said decidedly.
    "You look beautiful, my dear," the seamstress said sincerely. "It is a pleasure to dress so pretty a girl.
    We are almost finished."

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    Portia stuck her head into the room. "It sounds as if you are having fun in here," she said, a smile plastered determinedly to her face. Resolutely she made no reference to the scene she had caused the night before. "May I come in?" She didn't wait for an answer but moved into the room, her elaborate gown rustling as she did so. She wore the latest fashionable creation, her hair perfectly dressed. "You look quite beautiful, Nicoletta. May I call you Nicoletta? Have they begun your wedding dress? I shall, of course, plan the blessed event personally. Giovanni has told me you are to be wed almost immediately."
    Her eyes ran speculatively over Nicoletta's slim figure.
    Maria Pia lifted her chin, her faded eyes snapping with quiet fury. "I do not know why Don Scarletti is so insistent that Nicoletta marry him without a proper courtship. How does one calm the young girl's natural fears when she does not even know her bridegroom?" She threw her hands in