Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

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    "Why were you crying so, Ketsia?" Nicoletta asked, kissing the girl on the top of her head. She pulled her hand out of Cristano's, since he seemed disinclined to let her go.
    "I thought the don might have hurt you," Ketsia answered. "You disappeared. And Mirella said the soldiers took Maria Pia from her hut in the dead of night. And Mirella said that it was just like you to run away and that the don would have you beaten and killed and the disgrace would ruin the entire villaggio for all time."
    Nicoletta burst out laughing, the sound happy and carefree, rising upward to float away on a friendly breeze. "Silly old Mirella. She loves to weave tales of terror." She grinned at Cristano. "Surely you did not believe her horror stories."
    Cristano glanced at the guards and lowered his voice in a conspirator's whisper. "The don had no right to claim you. If you had accepted my offer instead of being so stubborn, Nicoletta, he would not have had the power to touch you. Now I can think of only one thing to do to set you free."
    Nicoletta's eyebrows shot up. "Whatever you are thinking, Cristano, you must forget it. The don and I will sort things out."
    "You mean you will attempt another escape? You ran away once, and he caught you. I know that is why you disappeared from your home. But I have thought of a way to force him to let you go."
    Ketsia leaned into her, wanting to be cuddled. "I thought the don was handsome, but I do not want him to take you away. The villaggio is sad without you. You must come back, Nicoletta."
    "I have a plan," Cristano continued. "We will confess to the don that we have lain together. He will not want you then, and he will order you to marry me." Cristano stared at her. "It will work, Nicoletta. You must be guided by a wiser, older man in this."

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    Nicoletta buried her face in Ketsia's neck to muffle her laughter. Cristano was four summers older than she but a good ten or twelve years younger than Don Scarletti. "My reputation would be ruined, Cristano," she reminded him.
    "You would be with me, where you belong, and back in the villagio. There is much danger here.
    Everyone knows you will not live long if you remain in this place." Cristano puffed out his chest and stood, reaching down to pull her up with him.
    The dark, smoldering anger creeping into her mind burst into a flame of such intensity, Nicoletta grabbed her head with her hands and pressed hard in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing in her temples. Her gaze, almost of its own accord, sought the row of glaring windows. Don Scarletti was out on the wide, first-story portico, his black gaze glittering with a menace she recognized even from a distance. Watching her with merciless intensity, he vaulted easily over the portico wall and began to move toward them. All rippling power, he reminded Nicoletta of a stalking mountain lion.
    Her breath caught in her throat. As he neared them, she could see the dark shadow on his handsome face. He glided up to them and drew Nicoletta firmly beneath his shoulder. "Where is your chaperone, Signora Sigmora? She should accompany you at all times, cara. Your young friends are welcome to visit you, but you must remember that your actions are scrutinized at all times." He spoke gently, his tone as soft as velvet, his arms around her waist gently holding her to him, yet there was something very threatening about him, something she couldn't define.
    "I am Giovanni Scarletti," he said courteously but unnecessarily to Cristano, his gaze hard and glittering as it touched the younger man. "I believe we have encountered one another before."
    Cristano mumbled something inaudible in reply.
    Ketsia curtsied beautifully. "I am Ketsia," she announced, "Nicoletta's friend."
    "Ah, yes, of course I remember you." Giovanni smiled down at her with so much charm, the child beamed at him, as susceptible to his wiles as any woman.
    "I thought you were busy with your visitor," Nicoletta ventured cautiously. She was suddenly terrified of what Cristano might say or do. He could be thoughtless and abrupt at the best of times, fiery and sulky if he didn't get his way.
    "I will never be too busy to meet your friends," Giovanni answered in his gentlest voice. He bowed to Ketsia, who immediately burst into a fit of giggling. Behind the group's back he motioned Nicoletta's guards toward the palazzo and out of hearing.
    Cristano drew himself up to