Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

outside. The palazzo felt like a living, breathing entity, wholly evil to her. She didn't want to feel that way; she wanted to make it a home.
    "You are very quiet, piccola" Maria Pia said thoughtfully as they made their way outside.
    Nicoletta inhaled deeply, looking upward at the swirls of clouds drifting across the blue sky. No ominous birds circled above the maze. The wind brought her no message of an injury or illness. The tightness in her chest slowly began to ease. Cristano couldn't be dead or dying in the labyrinth, and, true to his word, Don Scarletti had soldiers moving through the tall hedges. She could hear their voices calling back and forth to one another. High up on the ramparts, several other men were using spyglasses in an attempt to peer down into the maze from above.
    "Well, it is my new sister-to-be." Vincente, along with Antonello, came through the corridor of green shrubs to make his way to Nicoletta. Both bowed politely, Vincente with elegance, Antonello stiffly, as if he was rarely in the company of ladies.
    Nicoletta smiled at them. "Have you two been searching for Cristano?"
    Antonello stirred uneasily. She watched the shadows chase across his face. He nodded, avoiding her eyes. Vincente shrugged casually. "I do not believe he is in the labyrinth. We would have found him by now. Gino's men are very thorough."
    Nicoletta agreed with him. She nodded toward the soldiers on the balcony high above them. "Has anyone told Margerita that Cristano is missing? She was on the balcony yesterday; I saw her. Possibly she spotted something from up high. She may have seen Cristano leave." She looked at Vincente. "She Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    might tell you if you ask her." She phrased her comment carefully so as not to offend. Margerita would be spiteful if Nicoletta asked her for information. Nicoletta had met other noblewomen like Margerita. They felt entitled to say or do anything to those of lower birth.
    Vincente's handsome features darkened visibly. His eyes glittered, for the first time reminding Nicoletta of his oldest brother. "If she saw anything and is withholding information to distress you, I will get it out of her," he promised.
    Antonello looked more uncomfortable than ever. "I will talk to her, Vincente," he said, his voice so low it was a mere thread of sound. "Portia's daughter can be stubborn as her madre."
    "She will do as I command, and certainly Portia will insist she cooperate," Vincente answered. "The young woman is far too indulged."
    "It is possible she saw nothing out of the ordinary, and perhaps she has not even heard of Cristano's absence," Nicoletta offered, fearing she had gotten the girl into trouble.
    "She has heard," Vincente said, frowning at her. He looked even more handsome with his frown. "Do not waste your pity on her, Nicoletta. Margerita lives to plague others. I will deal with her."
    Antonello sighed. "Do not distress yourself over Margerita, Nicoletta. I must concur with my brother.
    She is quite capable of withholding information just for spite. She does not want you here. She is young and spoiled and used to being the center of attention." He rubbed his nose thoughtfully, letting out his breath in a long sigh as if talking was a distressing business.
    Vincente nodded his agreement. "We have all spoiled her abominably. I am most careful with my daughter that she does not become like Margerita. At times I fear I go too far the other way." He looked fondly at his little girl, who was dancing in delight near an explosion of flowers. "I want her to be as good as she is beautiful, like her madre." He choked on the word, and looked away quickly, but Nicoletta caught the sheen of tears in his eyes, and her heart went out to him.
    Antonello rested his hand briefly on his younger brother's shoulder. Vincente sighed and shook his head.
    "I rely on Portia's advice, but it is most difficult to resist Sophie's tears when she wants something dearly."
    Nicoletta bit down hard on her lower lip to prevent pointing out that Portia had failed to do a wonderful job of raising her own daughter. "What happened to Margerita's padre?" she asked to change the subject.
    Antonello looked grief-stricken at the question. It was Vincente who answered. "Portia was raised with us here in palazzo as mio padre's, ward. She is a distant cousin. Another cousin, mio padre's brother's son, often lived here, too. He married Portia, and they had