Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

eyes.
    Giovanni smiled at her with his abundance of masculine charm. "You must tell Sophie of all your duties, so while you are away, she can look after Nicoletta properly. Of course Sophie must be in the wedding party and attend you with Ketsia, cara. We cannot do without either of them."
    Nicoletta exchanged a genuine smile with him, grateful that, with all of his duties, the Don would recognize the little girls' insecurities and help to combat them. Poor Sophie needed attention from her family desperately. "It grows late, Ketsia. Where is Cristano?" She looked to the don, her dark eyes eloquent, begging him to allow her to check on him.
    "He was sulking in the maze when last I saw him, and refusing to return to the ladies," Giovanni said, disclaiming responsibility.
    "I saw no one," Antonello said, "but I took the short cut through."
    "I have never found that short cut," Vincente groused. "I walked only a small distance on the outer edges and saw no one other than Portia out for her daily walk."
    "Perhaps he has gone home," Maria Pia ventured, knowing well Cristano's fiery nature. If he was angry or humiliated after his talk with the don he might easily storm off, forgetting he had escorted Ketsia. Yet the child could hardly be expected to make the journey home unattended.
    "Perhaps someone should seek him in the labyrinth." Nicoletta glared at the don.
    Giovanni regarded her silently for a moment, then summoned one of the guards. They spoke briefly, and the guard quickly did a search of the outer maze.
    Maria Pia shook her head. "Likely he has gone, Nicoletta. Likely he will be angry and sulk for days."
    The fog was beginning to seep in from the ocean, and the air felt much cooler. Bands of white drifted over the walkways of the palazzo, lending the sculptures an eerie, unearthly appearance. Nicoletta was growing accustomed to the strange images, but she could see that both timid little Sophie and the usually bold Ketsia were becoming nervous.
    "I will escort Ketsia home," Nicoletta said. Perhaps Maria Pia was right. Cristano had a fiery temper and more pride than most. After being chastened by the masterful Don Scarletti, he would be too humiliated to face any of them. "I often walk the hills and know the paths well. Besides, I have a need to check on Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    my hillside garden."
    Giovanni laughed softly, his mocking male amusement grating on her raw nerves. "I will hardly allow you to roam the hills, Nicoletta. Your roaming days are over now."
    "I will escort young Ketsia, and Nicoletta also," Vincente offered, bowing low.
    Giovanni's dark eyes were at once hard and glittering. Nicoletta could feel the power running through him, the edge of darkness, the shadow of violence. "Nicoletta will not leave the palazzo. I will send young Ketsia safely to her mother with two of my personal guards. If you wish to accompany them, Vincente, all to the good." He glanced down at Nicoletta. "You are shivering, piccola. You must go inside where it is warmer." Having made it an order, he signaled the soldiers.
    Vincente shrugged, hanging on grimly to his smile. "There is no need for a procession for one small child.
    I will allow the guards to take on the task. If you will excuse me, Nicoletta, I have duties to attend."
    "And I must go bathe," Antonello added, bowing slightly toward her.
    Giovanni did not relinquish control of Nicoletta, his arm clamping her body to his. "Come, Ketsia, kiss Nicoletta good-bye, for now. I will inform the servants that you may visit whenever you desire to see Nicoletta or Sophie. My guards will escort you home and will tell your mother, that you are always welcome here and that they will attend to your safety on your return journeys. No tears now. You do not want Nicoletta to be sad."
    "Do you mean it?" Ketsia demanded.
    "I do not say things I do not mean," the don said softly.
    Ketsia hugged Maria Pia, Sophie, and Nicoletta, the last so hard and long that the don was forced to pry her little fingers from Nicoletta and gently send her on her way with two of his personal guards.
    Finally the child walked off, tall and straight and self-important between her very own soldiers.
    "Thank you," Nicoletta said, in spite of herself. Giovanni Scarletti was a paradox to her. On the one hand, she sensed he was a dangerous, violent man, and yet he could also be gentle and thoughtful. It was difficult not to be intrigued by him. Not to be