Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

continued to hold her hand and smile sweetly at her. She even managed a small nod to Ketsia. Nicoletta tried not to laugh at the way the two little girls were behaving and instead suggested, "Sophie, will you show Ketsia the kitchen and introduce her to Bernado? Ketsia, Bernado is the best cook in the world and Sophie's good friend. Sophie will get you a wonderful treat from the kitchen." She winked at shy little Sophie. "Do not forget to get me something, too. I trust you will take good care of my friend for me."
    Again made to feel important by the errand, Sophie took Ketsia's hand, and they skipped off together toward the palazzo.
    Nicoletta sank onto the green carpet of grasses, her knees giving out on her. "It's possible I will have gray hair before this wedding takes place," she said to Maria Pia. "Cristano, the dolt, told Don Scarletti he had ruined me."
    Maria Pia shrieked her outrage so loudly that birds rose into the air from the treetops, scattering across the sky. She made the sign of the cross in every direction, including over Nicoletta three times. "That boy needs a good hiding! Has the Don ordered you back to the villaggio?" There was a hopeful note in her voice.
    "He did not believe Cristano. They are having a talk." Nicoletta tilted her head, frowning. "Maria Pia, do you remember that boy from the villagio over on the other side of the hill? The odd-looking one who did not grow up in his mind? He would be so sweet, smiling at everyone, but when someone would cross him, he would go berserk. He was first an angel, then a devil, as if he were split in half. I would never have believed it if I had not seen it myself." Nicoletta wrung her hands. "Could someone appear perfectly normal and yet hide madness within? Could he be ever so quiet and calm yet capable of throwing a woman off a tower?" she asked worriedly.
    Maria Pia glanced at the soldiers to ensure they couldn't overhear the conversation. "You think the don might suffer such an affliction?"
    "I do not know if such a thing is possible." Nicoletta watched the maze for signs of a violent confrontation. As always, from the moment she had arrived at the palazzo she felt as if she was being watched. She glanced up at the ramparts, and, sure enough, amidst the gargoyles with their hard, flat eyes she spotted Portia's daughter. Margerita thought herself protected by a squat, hulking stone creature, but her crimson dress billowed out with sweeps of the wind. She seemed to be always lurking, watching with hate-filled eyes.
    "I will not be the wife the don needs, Maria Pia. I cannot entertain the aristocrazia as Portia said I must."
    Nicoletta nervously swept back her hair. "I cannot live this life with all eyes watching my every move. I want to go home where I belong. I almost wish the don had believed Cristano. I think I could manage Cristano, but there is no one who can manage the don. He frightens me in many ways. I do not trust my own reaction to him."

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    Maria Pia murmured vague reassurances, patting Nicoletta's shoulder helplessly. Even she could not save Nicoletta from the don.
    Nicoletta smiled at her a little grimly. "I am surrounded by enemies, but I do not know if they are mine or the don's. There are many secrets here, things I do not understand. Someone is always watching." She glanced at the soldiers some distance away. "And those guards are serious about following me." A mischievous grin replaced her melancholy mood, her irrepressible good nature refusing to be defeated.
    "At least they did not enter the room with the dressmakers."
    Maria Pia smiled in spite of herself. "You are scandalous, bambino .."
    Nicoletta stood as Giovanni sauntered out of the maze. At once her heart beat fast at the sight of him.
    He was so tall and powerful and good-looking he took her breath away. But he was alone, and he looked ruthless, implacable. Nicoletta glanced past him in an attempt to see Cristano, but he didn't follow Giovanni out of the labyrinth. She stood very still, waiting for the don to reach her side.
    Giovanni reached out to wrap a length of her shining black hair around his hand. "Do not look so frightened, cara. I will not lock you in the tower, at least not yet. But my heart cannot survive all these men who seem to be worshiping at your feet. We must marry soon, or I shall be fighting duels on a daily basis." He tugged on Nicoletta's hair until she was forced to step